The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-07
THE TEXAS TAKES WATER.
launching of the Battleshlp and Her Chris
taninsr by q Texaa Belle.

launching of the Battleshlp and Her Chris
tening by a Texas Belle.
About 5000 people braved the storm on
Tuesday, June g. which prevailed at the Nor
folk {Va) Navy-yard, to witness the launching
of the battleship Texas. The sight as the i'm
mense steel structure slid from the ways was
worth all the discomforts endured by the spec
tators. The river was alive with vessels Of va
rious kinds, all of which were crowded with
sightseers many OF whom were notables from
all parts OF the country.
1t was arranged by Naval Constructor Bowles
to lanch the ship at IL o'clock, and the wedg-
ing up of blocks and the removal of the shores
under the ship began early in the morning.
A platform was erected above the main laDch
ing platform, and seated thereon were Miss
Madge Houston Williams, the young Texas
lady who christened the battleship, and her
mother, Mrs. Margaret Houston Williams. Miss
Williams is granddaughter of Gen. Sam
Houston, the "hero Of San Jacinto." and the
first President of the Republic of Texas, after
wards Governor of the State and United States
Senator. Miss Williams was born at the
Houston homestead in Texas July Is, 1872,
where she still lives with her mother. She is
a blonde, and was dressed IN navy-biue
yachting cloth, trimmed with white, and wore
a jannty yachting-cap in the center of which
was the lone star of Texas
AS the Texas started slowly down the ways,
Miss Williams broke bottle Of champagne on
the ships bow, cried in loud clear voice, II
Oh risten thee Texas" Then amid hurrahs and
yells, the footing and screeching of steam
whistles, and the playing of the band, the big
warship shot with great rapidity into the wa
ter, swapping the settings of her restraining
hawsers as though made of Irvine, until her
Roadway had been checked, when she was
towed to the dock.
Not hitch of any kind occurred, and the
builder of the Texas, Naval Constructor Fran
els T. Bowles, was overwhelmed with congratu-
lations.
After the lanchng Commodore Weaver, Com
mandant of the Maynard, gave a luncheon to
the Washington and Maryland visitors and to
the officers of the Brazilian cruiser Almirante
Barroso. All work was suspended for the day.
The officers. foremen, and clerks enjoyed
banquet in the molding- loft, and the workmen
had q banquet ut Casend Hall, in Portsmouth.
Five hundred workmen from the Richmond
Locomotive Works, where the Texas's engines
and boilers were built, headed by band, came
down aud marched over to the yard. With
them were President Trigg and Superintend-
ent Delaney. of the Locomotive Works.
The Texas is a steel armored, twin screw,
second. class battle. ship of $685. tons normal
displacement. She is 300 feet long, 81 feet one
inch broad, and has mean draught of 90 feet
six inches when carrying about 500 tons of
coal. There is bunker capacity, however, for
$50 additional TONS The main armament con-
sists of two 12-inch breech-loading guns, each
weighing 461 tons, mounted in two turrets en-
echelon, one being on the starboard side aft,
the other on the port side forward. The Sec
Ondary battery consists of four six-pounders
and four three FOUNDER rapid firing guns, with
four II nm. Hotchkiss guns, all mounted on
the gun.deck behind 14-inch plating, two Cat
ling guns, and two 81 nm. Hotchkiss guns,
mounted on the bridge the same in the mill
tary tops. and two three-pounder rapid-ire
guns ON the flying bridge. There are SIX tor
pedo tubes, one in the bow, ono in the stern,
and two on each side; strong ram bow adds
to her offensive powers