The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-11
CRUISER NUMBER Il.
She GIided Off the Ways at II
O'Clock To-Day.
CHRISTENED THE MARBLEHEAD.
It Was . Married Woman and Not q
Maid Who Broke the Wine Bottle
Upon the Prov and Gave tho ship its
Name.
ESPECIAL TO THE NEWS. /

ESPECIAL TO TUE SEws.I
Boston, Mass, Aug. 1l.-In the Harri-
son Loring sh'pyard, South Boston, this
afternoon the latest addition to the un-
armored feet Of the United States. the
cruiser Marblehead. dipped her prov into
the ocean.
She is known on the books of the navy
as cruiser No. IL, but she was christened
"The Marblehead" in honor of the bril-
liant naval history OF the famous old
Cape Ann town.
1t was a brilliant and fashionable as
semblage that cheered the noble vessel as
she glided off her ways and entered the
waters. The launch was perfect sue
cess.
The hour of breaking the magic bottle
over the vessels prov and of pronounc-
ing the words that Christened the cruiser
fell TO the lot of Mrs. G. 4. Allen, daugh-
ter OF the Hon. Charles II. Allen. presi-
dent OF the Central National Bank. 1t
was few minutes after l o'clock when
the signal was given.
Mrs. Allen then performed her duty in
graceful manner, there was a creaking
OF blocks. a half smothered cheer, a splash
and moment later the cruiser foated.
Four hundred people witnessed the
launch.
Secretary Tracy was represented by As
sistant Secretary Solely. Gov Russell
was invited and also all the Massachu-
setts members OF both Houses Of Con-
gress: After the launching, the cruiser
was towed over to the Atlantic works at
East Boston. where her machinery will
be put in.
The Marblehead is the last of the three
2,0C0-ton cruisers authorized by the act of
Congress of Sept Z, 1883. The first of
these three 'second-class. partially pro-
tected cruisers, 1.-THE Detroit, was launched
at Baltimore on Oct. 20 last year. The
second one put into the water was the
Montgomery at Baltimore on Dec. fol-
lowing.
Harrison Loring received the contract TO
build the Marblehead on Nov. IL, 1885,
with the condition that she should be
completed, ready to be turned over to the
government 80 months from that time, or
by May. II last. The price agreed upon
for building this vessel, that is, for her
hull and machipery, was $674 900, with
penalties prescribed for non-completion
within the limit agreed upon In the con-
tract. 1t is probable that these penalties
will not, however, be exacted by the gov
ernment, but Congress alone has the
power of deciding to the contrary.
The principal dimensions OF the cruiser
are: Length on water line, 257 feet;
beam, 81 feet: drauRht, 14X feet; dis
placement, 1000 tons; maximum horse
power, 5.400; speed, IL knots. An incen-
tive TO reach higher speed than the one
agreed upon is contained in the contract,
In which the Government has promised
premium of SIS, 900 for each quarter of a
knot maintained in excess OF the speed
guaranteed at the final four hours steam
trial; and for each quarter of knot that
she falls below IL knots, n penalty of the
same amount will be exacted from the
builders.
The motive power Is provided by triple
expansion engines, OF the vertical in
verted type, one on each side of the yes
sci, and connected with each Of the twin
screws. They may be run at maximum
sDeei OF 1S5 revolutions minute. Below
the steel protection deck, in water-tight
compartments, are three double-ended
main boilers, aud two auxiliary boilers
for heating, ventilating and other light
machinery. The vessel has bunker
capacity for 455 tons OF coal, which may
be SO distributed as to secure The best
possible protection to eng ines aud boilers.
The vessel has no armor plating. so de-
fined, but her protective deck, which
starts at n point below the water line at
the sides, curves upward amidships. aud
is eleven-sixteenths OF an inch thick on
the slopes, nine sixteenths on the level
over the machinery, and slightly thinner
at the ends. This deck is intended to
give protection to the machinery, maga-
zines and steering gear against the fire
from machine guns The coming tower
/
The battery will consist Of two six-inch
breech-loading rifles, one mounted for
ward on the forecastle and the other aft
on the poop deck, the crews being pro-
tected from the enemy's fire by steel
shields 80 inclined that the shot striking
them will be defected; eight five-inch
breech-loading rifles mounted on spon-
sons, four on each side of the ship: six
ix-pounder and two one-pounder rapid
firing guns, and two Calling guns.
Among the novel features Of the vessel
are Golfer dams extending nearly the en-
tire length of the ship on each side of the
water-tight deck. These will be filed
with cellulose, n waterexcluding materi-
nj manufactured from the fibre OF the CO.
coanut. The practical value of this ma.
terial lies in its tendency, in fact its abil-
ity, to close holes pierced by shot from
the guns of an enemy. The quarters for
ward room and junior officers and the
crew will be well fitted up.
Contrary to the practice, as followed in
the larger cruisers, of dispensing with
masts and sails for auxiliary power, the
Marblehead has two masts, and is to
have the rig of n schooner. Expenses for
coal can thus be reduced by proceeding
under sail when not in a hurry.
The machinery is to come from the
Quintard Iron Works of New York, and
will be put in at the Atlantic Works, the
vessel beng afterward taken back to
Loring's for the finishing touches. in
cludine electric lights aud interior. The
Marblehead will be the largest war yes-
sci built in Boston since 1s4s when the