The sun., 1892-05-01
LAUNCH OF THE BANCROFT.
SIZE n TIE NEW PRACTICE VESSEL
FOR THE NAYAL CADETS.

A Ninsature Msp-o,-yvnr that Can Rseht sf
Necessary-sshe Breaks lfer Guys and
Runs Away into the Mud-Not Hart.
The United States practice cruiser Bancroft
which is designed for the use OF the Naval
Academy at Annapolis. was launched yester-
day morning at tho shipyard OF the Sam.
uel L. Moore 4 Sons Company ut Eliza
bethport, where she was built. The
baby cruiser" as naval officers have
already dubbed her. showed amazing
spirit upon her liberation from the timbers
which have cradled her during her building
and took to the water literally like duck.
Even before the tail piece. which was the last
bond between her and the shore. was sawed
through. she Quivered like the ship in Long
fellows poem. and broke away with such vigor
that her blue-eyed and fair-haired christener.
Miss Mary Frances Moore. had to act with un-
common liveliness to smash the champagne
bottle over the vessels steel nose before she
rushed away into Staten Island Sound. The
Bancroft plunged deep into the water. amid
the shouts OF several thousand people and
the shrieking Of the whistles OF tugs and ex-
cursion steamers, and. Swapping all the guy
ropes provided to check her course. swan
across the open water with speed which
grounded her In the mud on the opposite side.
Fortunately the mud was soft. and n couple Of
tugs succeeded after brief struggle in pull
ing her out without damage.
The launch was n success in every particu-
lar. and was more spirited than most events Of
the sort. for the reason that the vessel was
nearly completed. was literally covered with
bunting. and carried upon her decks swarm
of shouting people. AS n rule. no one is al
lowed to slide down the ways on u United
States ship except dozen or SO. laborers. who
are needed there to handle the restraining
lhr Bancroft is the smallest vessel Of the
new steel navy. The act anthoriZinG her con on
war ship in miniature. for the use of The cadets
OF tho National Naval Academy. heretofore
ship Constellation. but. while this has given
them practice in scamansh'p nnd discipline.
has left their sins na mntrn IN ths aa hana
sn wss s to s' & tos The 5
aboard the best Of the new ships. and she was
to be, so CONSTRUCTED as to make a small though
ssnsd
il. is6i. to build her Fl Tor s35o.0Uo and began
at seo55etsy 5snoy Tracy na@ed ne he
tl?y'' ta?y of I'll the ,Nayy under President folk
water during the winter; When She was
tons fmis"" Of the finished vessel She was CON.
pleted to her decks and handsomely painted
IN the white of the new navy. with red below
Assnt bschof Of the company n t2cs COX party
Shich snclosed the ship and began, hammer-
Moore. with flushed cheeks. mounted the flag
hesked patiorm at the and dvcrid LAID
SfS %tS rcd s @%e H rSpsps s0vsa
Moore is the. daughter Of MilleIrF Moore. the
treasurer Of the eomrany; She is srit til and IND
ehrysanthemnms. Her father, stood beside
her her nstracrions nt The party on the platform
included Chief Of the BureS% OF EnGneenG
Ws3n u NAVAL ayi nonye who
built the Naine:. Chief Engineer Charles J.
Mcconnell. Chief Engineer Moore; Judge Ad;
After a half hour Of hammoring the, shores
cradle. Then. came the saving Of the tail
PIECE Miss Moore sraspta tot ths S2te a Tta
her % eyes as SLAPPED. @ She gave m excited cry as
the bancroft broke away before the timber was
SvGef and leaned Is In
TsnSroft fsssS Saving as she did So ehristen thee
After the Bancroft had sped her course and
the comrany's docks. where she will be COM
pleted. These are her dimensions:
Length on water line. ls7 feet inches length
ALL lss fee, pchss he. Sre1Gh OF 1.a% 81 d.s,
ss, ofwa tss' M r. @ IaaFn. D
e fss Of 'rS nc SaF o pns os
load water line. 9.53 tons.
The Bancroft Is expected to develop speed
diameter. with pitch OF Z feet, She will he
rgged as barkentine without head booms.
and will have a sail area for $40 square feet.
For main battery she will have four 4.inch
rapid fire guns In projecting sponsors pro-
tectcd by, shields. The secodary battery will
consist of two O-pounder. two 3-pounder. and
one .1.pounder rapid fire guns. one :'7-mm.
revolving cannon. and one Gatling gun. There
will be two tubes for automobile torpedoes.
With her equipment the vessel is to cost
1896. $50.
RRINGING RESSIA,S REIEIPTs