The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-12
Splendid New Cruiser Slides Into tho
Water at Boston.

Boston, Aug. Hunted States cruiser, No.
II, was launched from the shipyards OF Harrison
d LOring at clock this afternoon. The yards
were crowded with people who came to witness
the launching. Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Solely represented the government. Governor
Russell and several members of the legislature
were present from Massachusetts. The city OF
Boston was represented by members of the board
of aldermen and the common council At the
appointed hour the signal was given, aud amid
the cheers of the spectators the vessel slipped
slowly down the grooves. As she took the
water she was christened the Marblehead by
Mrs. C. F. Allen, of Salem.
The Marblehead's principal dimensions are:
Length OF beam on mean load-water line, PSI
feet: extreme breadth, 81 feet: depth Of hold to
under side of spardeck plank amidships, 10 feet
s inches; draft of water, mean normal, IA feet
inches; displacement, to lOad-water line, 1000
tons; area of immersed midships section, Cos
square feet; indicated horsepower, 400; max
lmum speed per hour. Is knots in smooth water.
She il a twin-screw protected cruiser, with poop
ana fOrecastle decks and open gun deck be-
tween. fitted with water-tght deck, rainbow,
and 17}a pounds plating at the sides, reduced to
length OF the vessel. The torpedo outfit will
consist of six torpedo guns for launching
torpedos There will be an electric plant on
board. The battery will consist of two 6-inch
breech loading rifles, mounted one on each side
of the cruiser; SIX 6-pound and two 1-pound
rapid firing guns and two Calling guns. The
by two triple expansion engines of vertical in
verified type, one on each side OF the vessel, of
5.4oo horse power, with cylinders of 2ola, SO and
63 inches in diameter, and stroke of 50 inches.
The vessel was designed by Chief Contractor
Theodore B. Wilson. of the United States navy.
The machinery, which is to be placed in posi-
ton few months after launching, was de.
signed by Engineer in Chief George W. Mel
vile, OF the navy department.. Nothing
but cast steel and wrought steel has
been used in the construction, except for
cylinders and valve chests. ALI the pumps
etc, are in duplicate The main engines
proper simply turn the screws. The engines
will be supplied with steam from five so-called
Scotch boilers. The main boiler is dOu BILE
ended and has two furnaces in each end. The
two donkey boilers of the same diameter and
number of furnaces give total crate surface
for all boilers that will be used in developing
fall power OF 500 square feet The working
pressure to be carried is 163 pounds to the
square inch. The boilers are entirely of steel
with corrugated furnaces. The shield plates
are over one inch thick. Chief Engineer Heaton
who has been over thirty years in the service
says that the engine and boilers are unusually
fine in every respect
Her complement of officers and men will be
go and it il rumOred that Commander George
IL. Wadleigh, United States navy, will be the
officer who will command the stanch looking
craft when completed. And that she will not
disappoint those who will sail in her is a.tcstcd
by the constant encOmiums of old seamen on
the points that make a ship seaworthy Asa
menacer to encroachers on American rights she
will, is manifest by her battery, prove AZ
formidable as any OF her class.