The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-29
THE TEXAS LAUNCHED.
INSPIRING SCENE Ar roRrsmoUrH.
Fair Maiden OF the Lone Star State Chris
toned the BattIsship-Bain Made Mat
ters Disagreeable-A History.

PU'Ap AAAcVH luRubhuu UcDplp bicfcN VIZ
rain-storm yesterday morning in the Ports
mouth nayy-yard and stood ankle deep IN
mud TO witness the launching of the battle
ship Texas, and they considered tho sight 10
be worth all their trouble and inconvenience,
IA the immense structure Of iron and steel
slid from the launching ways like thing OF
life and Naval Constructor Francis I. Bowses.
the builder. was overwhelmed with congratula-
tons aud his name sent 70 the top notch OF
builders in this country
The navy-yard gates we're thrown open at
$3.50 ociock and the multitude of people VINO
had assembled IN front of the gates Tor an
hour or longer were admitted to the mud
soaked yard and It's by-wsys 20 stand there
| for over an hour IN the pouring rain q await
the much-advertlsed event. From this time
on there was constant and steady stream OF
people. who patiently waited in the rain and
sticky mud.
THOSE PRESENT.
! At 10 o'clock all work was stopped in the
| navy yard. and twenty minutes later Mss
/ Madge Williams, the gOduIOther OF the
| Texas. who had come all the way FROM the
! Lone Star State 20 say. Il christen thee
! Texas " was ESQ rted 10 the launching stand
/ by Lieutenant Hillary =. Jones. ON the
stand were General Meredith. chief OF the
| bureau of printing and engraving Lieutenant
! ". ). COwies secretary 10 Secretary OF the
! Navy 3. +. Tracy and Commander IN CHIEF
| of the Naval Reserves Of the United States
/ Special Examiners of the Treasury Depart
ment Martin and Campbell Pay Director
/ Luca. Pay Director tldrldge, Commodore A.
/ w. Weaver. Lieutenant Hillary p. Jones.
/ Passed Assistant Engineer Kenneth McAlplne
+ and Assistant Surgeon Shirley Hope Among
the civilians were ex-Congressman George
+. Bowden, Mayor 5. Marx, OF Nor
! . IL 4
S S. Nottingham and Kenton {.
Murray. of the Landmark; Captain Il. T.
} Loyal. John }. Deyer. Captain W. j. Mayo
! O. v Smith Or. James Parrish, w. ). Lang
| horne, Colonel Harry Hodges. Captain James
! w. McCarrck and j. G.. Fiyeash OF the
! Public Ledger. The ladies were Hiss Alder
/ dice Mrs. Baker and Miss White, OK WASH
ington. d. c.: Miss Weaver. Mrs. w. x. Mayo.
/ Mrs. Dr. Parrish Mrs. b. =. Loyal, Mrs.
/ Kenneth McAlpine Mrs. .. Y. Smith, Mrs.
! w. 5. Langhorne. Mrs A. J.. Woodwork. Mrs.
! Eldridge and Miss Fannie Downing. Cover
nor Brown. OF Maryland, was expected, Dut
| could not come. He was represented by the
! following members Of his stat General
Hennarky Douglass. General William Lee
! General Alex Brown. Colonel Sherlock
Swami. Colonel Charles II. Carter. Colopel
| John c. Legg. who came down on Governor
| Browns steam yacht Nalnena oecfetIry
! Tracy did not come, but was represented by
Lieutenant Cowles The commanding and
other officers of the Brazilian man-of-war
| Alnrrante Borroso were present aud received
| special attention.
All the sautes were fred prior to 10 o'clock,
as the danger Of starting the ship was con-
sidered too great after that hour.
COMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS.
Bv arrangement with HarbOrmaster Balm
the river below and above the launch was
patrolled by launches with the harbormas-
ters aboard and no vessel, raft or boat was
allowed 70 risk obstructing the way after II
o'clock.
Captain McGlensy had charge of the
/ river policing about the Texas. FOR remoY-
ing the keel blocks were employed wenty-
| fOur men under Quarterman Powers, forty
/ eight men under QuaTtermen Graves and
Hall. and niuety-sx laborers under Lead
/ iDgmen Holman. simmons and Rea attended
the removing of the shares and driving the
wedges
| w. +. Powell and Clyde Smith handled the
starboard-end Of oar, and &. +. Slate and T.
! l.. Birmingham the port one, while b. Meads
/ Jordan Grant and Y. b. Biisoiy had charge
! of the hydraulic Jacks.
Master Shplifter Owens was in charge OF
| these men and supervised the whole under
| the direction of Naval Constructor +. L.
| Bowles. Assistant Constructor Van Landt
was on board the Texas in charge Of twenty
| two men under Carpenter Craig Master Iron
| platter HRzlet and Mr. Lewis directed by
| William HollOman. who had charge OF the
| hawsers and checks. Thus 2S5 men were at
| work around. under and on the Texas when
! she was launched Dir. HaZlet had charge of
bringing her safely alongside the dock and
be fulfilled his service 10 the complete salts
| faction OF his superOrs
The launching platform was in two sec
! tiOns, or double, rather, containing a small
platform raised above the main one. On this
| Miss Williams and the other prominent per
/ efpod and from fhera fha Loffla xryoc
broken.
GAILY DRESSED.
Constructor Bowles had arranged to have
| tho ship sawed of as near 10 IL o'clock
! as possible. and as that hour approached
| the thousands in the yard had been IN
creased by the landing of steamers, all
/ paily dressed with bunting and with the
! wedeinp up Of the blocks and removal of
shores under the ship kept everybody in an
excited state of mind.
Atll:15 o'clock the last block was knocked
| out. and all that held the big battle
ship was a white oak beam, and one minute
! later force started IN saving this away. Miss
/ Williams. with the bottle in her hand stood
| with Lieutenant Hillary 7. Jones on her left and
| Lieutenant Cowles on her right. waiting the
| signal from Constructor Bowles which came at
! 1l:I7 O'Clock and as the Texas started slowly at
| first to glide into her native element. Miss
/ Williams christened her in clear voice with
the name Oh 1tAtE. IAIA NhIiNHb tAp
hurrahs and wells, the footing and screeching
of steam whistles and the playing Of the band,
the ship shot with great rapidly into the
water the whole time only absorbing forty
six seconds - Soon after the ship was swung
around with lines and fastened TO the dock
with the assistance of two tugs. There was
not the slightest hitch in the launching and
the only accident that happened consisted IN
the fact that Mr.. Thomas Smith was struck
in the mouth by a maui.
MISSED THE SIGHT.
There were, of course a number Of funny
incidents connected with the launching. but
of course, only q few have 50 far become
generally known. There was one gentleman
by the name Of Brown, of Waco. Texas. who
had come all the distance of 1000 miles to
see the launching of the Texas. aud who
waited a good while. but finally became impa-
tient and went out 10 get drink. When lie
returned the Texas had been launched.
ITS HISTORY.
The United States steamship Texas is a steel
armored. tWin-screw. second-clAss battle-ship OF
$685. tons normal displacement Her principal
dimensions are: Length between perpendicu-
lars. 20 feet extreme breadth ca feet inch;
moulded depth. 80 feet inches; designed
draft OF water forward. % feet; designed draft
Of water aft % feet. The mean draft will be y
feet inches when carrying about 500 tons Of
coal with which amount she can steam i, Ito
miles at her estimated highest speed, II knots.
or 3. 500 miles at 10 knots. There is bunker