The morning call., 1893-10-07
THE DAY is NEAR.
Preparing to Launch the
Oregon.
AN ALL ROUND FIGHTER.
Batteries That Are Irresistible When
Concentrated on an Object of At
tack-Oregon Girls Selected.

A strange sea-monster is the battle-ship
Oregon when viewed from the platform
surrounding her ponderous frame. about
which circle swarms of mechanics too
busy to stop to talk and too intent upon
the work of preparing the big vessel for
her first dip in the waters of the bay OF
San Francisco.
Planted firmly upon the stocks some
thirty feet above the surface of the ground,
the Oregon looks like a monster turtle
lying upon its back. There are no grace
full lines or sweeping curves to admire.
Simply broad expanse of riyeted iron
plates greet the eye. impressing the sight
seeker with the enormous strength and
solidity of the battle-ship. Viewed from
distance the Oregon assumes a most at
tractive appearance. Strength and speed
are exemplified in every detail OF her con-
Struction.
The day of the launching of the Oregon
is drawing near. 1t has not been definitely
determined upon. but 1t is not very dis
tant. Two OF the fairest daughters OF the
Webfoot State have been selected to press
the button that shall send the big ship
sllppin down the ways and to christen
her in the name OF the people OF the Ia
cfic Coast
Pretty Miss Eugenia Shelby, daughter
of Eugene Shelby. assistant superlnten-
dent OF Wells, Fargo & Co.'S express at
Portland, will press the button. and Miss
Daisy Ainsworth. daughter of Captain
AinswOrth of the Alnsworth National
Bank, Portland, will do the rest.
AS fighting ship the Oregon Will be
capable Of defending herself in any posi-
ti0n. She can concentrate the ire OF SIX
heavy guns on any point of attack, and her
I1ft rnfn IN
powerful, if focused upon a given point
of attack, to crush in five-inch armor
Naval experts claim that the 8-inch and
6-incn rifles of the batte-ship Will do lore
execution in an attack on fort or earth
work than her 13-inch guns. The reason
for this suppositon is that stone or metal
cannot resist the constant concentrated
fire of an 8-inch or 6-inch gun, as no time
is allowed the defense to recover from the
shock of broadside from such battery
before another round is fired. The rapid
ity with which a battery of light rifle guns
can be handled offsets their lesser pene-
trative power.
The British gunboat Temeraire sllehced
the Citadel at Alexandria by the concen-
trated fire OF its ana inch guns In few
hours Dombardment. This same strong
hold had been shelled for twenty-fOur
hours by some Of the heaviest guns in the
British squadron without any apparent
effect.
The battle-ship Oregon is built to make
a rapid-fire fight at close range. and will
also be equipped to stand Off an enemy at
long range. The Oregon's 13.inch guns
will be mounted in barbettes, and all four
of these can be used for either n starboard
or port broa dside. Secondary batteries of
rapid-fire Hotchkiss and Gatling guns are
mounted in the military top and in the
superstructure. About dozen Hotchkiss
rapid-fre cannon can be brought to bear
simultaneously upon an approaching tor
pedo-boat or boarding crew. a Hotchkiss
rapid-fire gun throwing 6 or IA pound
conical bullet can in the hands OF an eX-
perienced gunner be made to shoot with
the accuracy of an ordinary rife in the
hands of hunter. Four men usually con-
stitute the crew of a rapid-ire gun, and
these can load, aim and fire the piece at
the rate Of about thirty shots minute
and 10 good execution.
At Taltal, Chile, during the recent revo-
luton, tho 14-pound rapid-fre guns of the
torpedo cruiser Almirante Lynch silenced
a land battery of Krupp "a and 60 Founders
In fifteen minutes.
The Oregon can have every available
structure above her deck line and SUPER
structure. not including her barbettes. sh OF
away and be in as good fighting trim as
ever.
A special committee from the Portland
Chamber of Commerce will be present at
the launching 1t is the intention of this
body to donate a suitable sum of money
for the purchase of an elegant souvenir
for the occasion on behalf OF the people
of Oregon.
"The launching of the first battle-sbip
ever constructed on the Pacific Coast will
be an event for special notice." said Mr
Scott. "Oregon people intend to lend q
hand to ma ke it such"