Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-28
.THETEXASlAUNCHED
The Ceremony at the Norfolk Navy
Yard This Morning.
INDIANA REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
Tomorow's Prohibition Convention
at Cincinnati.
REP UBLICAN CLUBS MEET.
INDIANA REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
REPUBLICAN CLUBS MEET.
LAUNCH OF THE TEXAS.
The First Battle ship of the New Navy Con
mitted to the Wave.

The First Battle Ship of the New Navy Com
mitted to the Wave.
PORTSMOUTH, Va, June 2S.-The Norfoll
navy yard and Constructor Francis T. Bowles
have secured signal triumph in the successful
launching of the great battle ship Texas here
today. The scene, in spite Of fine rain
which fell during the entire forenoon
was a most animated one. About $4,000 spec
tators were in the yard and as many more
were on steamers. tugs, yachts and the
opposite shore of the river. Standing
on the launching tower erected from the
launching platform we're Miss Madge Houston
Williams of Texas and her mother. Mrs. VIII
Hams. Lieut.. W. S. Cowies. the private secre-
tary of Secretary Tracy and his official repre-
sentative on this occasion, and Ensign Hillary
Phones of the navy.
The red. white and blue cords holding the
bottle Of wine were tied to staff mounted by
a star emblematic of the lone star state. Al
1f:16 o'clock the signal ready was given.
Miss Williams, uttering the words, Il
christen thee Texas broke the bottle
of wine on the bow of the noble vessel and she
started. 1t was just forty-six seconds from the
time the bottle was broken that the Texas was
standing in the stream as firm as land battery.
Five minutes later she WAS moored to her wharf.
There weee many notable persons present and
the governor Of Maryland was represented by
six or seven members of his staff.
THE FIRST BATTLE SHIP.
The Texas is the first battle ship of the new
navy. simple shot can totally disable a
cruiser. but the armored battle ship has much
greater endurance and can take the risk of re-
ceiving the fire of heavy guns, knowing that the
vitals Of the ship are protected by armor.
In cruisers armor is sacrificed to speed and
coal endurance, and they are expected
to use their superior speed to escape
from more powerful ships In battle ships speed
is sacrificed to armor and armament, two or
more large guns are carried, and the loading
mechanism, crew and machinery are protected
from immediate destruction by armor. They are
expected to take part in hotly contested sea
fights where hard blows and stubborn
endurance will win the day. The battle
ship differs from the monitors in carving
the heavy guns high above the water. SO that
they can be used IN all ordinary weather at sea.
and in carrying numerous additional breech-
loading and rapid-fre guns. The space not oc-
cupied by these guns affords comm0dious quar-
tiers for the crew. The monitors heavy guns
cannot be used in rough water and only
few Of the smallest rapid-fre guns can be
carried.
The Texas holds prominent position in the
development of the new navy. The majority
of the ships laid down prior to the Texas were
more or Less reproductions of the best cruisers
built in Europe, but when the first battle ship
tary of the Navy offered prize of SIS, 900 for
the best design for either vessel.
The construction of the Texas was authorized
BY an act of Congress approved August 8, 1885,
and circular embodying the conditions of the
competition. the principal requirements and
data was issued August 81, 1886.
Numerous designs were submitted and in the
spring of 1887 the board of naval experts
unanimously decided that the best was that
submitted by Mr.. VIM. John, an English naval
architect of the highest reputation, who has re-
Gently died.
The same act of Congress authorized the
building of the battle ship at a navy yard and
the Norfolk navy yard was selected. At that
time il was entirely lacking in the mechanical
appliances and other necessary facilities of a
modern ship building plant, and the workmen
were totally inexperienced in building steel
ships. Much time was necessarily occupied in
forming the nucleus Of plant and in organ
izing and instructing the workmen, and it was
not until June IL, 1889, that the first keel plate
was laid.
At the present time the workmanship at the
Norfolk navy yard is unsurpassed. The largest
battle ships can be built with economy and dis
patch
The L. s. s. Texas is a steel armored, twin
screw second-class battle ship of 6, 1876 tons nor
NAL displacement Her principal dimensions
are:
Length between perpendiculars. ..... go feet
Lxsrsne ore snth y teet men