The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-09
A FORMIDABLE wAR-sHIP.
l-aaa.iI
Successful launching aand Christening of the
Indians he deIphia

|
The great ba.tle;sfiip Indiana, tho mos.
formidable lighting craft ever built on the
| American Continent. was successfully launched
at the Cramps Shp.yard. Philadelphia, on
Tusday Feb. IS. The special train from Wash
| ington bearing the Presidential party arrived
at the ship-yard at precisely l2 o'clock noon,
and was met by Mr.. Charles Cramp aud con.
Quoted to the raised plat form at the bow Of the
Indiana. Rain and hail were falling in tor.
rents as the President and party reached the
platform, and the weather could not have been
more disagreeable. Anawning furnished pro.
lection, however, aud the distinguished guests
were kept dry.
The party were kept waiting for three. quar-.
tiers Of an hour while wcrkmeu knocked away
and sawed the supports from beneath tho hugo
battle ship. Hydraulic jacks were in position
at the bow, for use in case the vessel should
stick but they were unnecessary for the iron
clad monster glided slowly down the ways
She settled beautifully in the water and
reached mdstream before the anchors were
cast. In very short time the Indiana was
moored to the wharves. where are also the
partially completed cruisers New York and CO.
lumbia.
Miss Jennie Miller, daughter of Attorney
General Miller. gracefully performed the act of
christening. which was done in the usual man
ner by breaking bottle of champagne across
the vessels bow. The inclement weather did
not materially reduce the size of the crowd, for
it numbered fully 10000 people, many of whom
were without umbrellas or protection of any
kind.
Among the distinguished people present were
President Harrison, Secretary of the Navy
Tracy, Postmaster General Wanamaker Attor-
ney- General Miller, Senators Voorhees, and
Turpie, of Indiana in honor Of which State the
battle-ship is named, and many others. After
the lanch the Presidential party were escorted
to the Cramps Offices, where an informal ban.
quet was given them. There was no speech
making and the Presidential party boarded the
train at 240 p. N. aud started for Washington.
where they arrived at $40 D. m.
The Indiana is 34S feet long on the water
line. and is 50 feet three inches BEAM Her
displacement is 10. 400 tons, but with full sup
ply of coal and stores on board she will draw "a
feet and displace II 600 tons of water. She will
be propelled by twin screws aud her engines
will be three in number, having 10000 horse
power. The engines will be of the triple ex-
pansion type and will be built abreast in water
tight compartments and will give speed of
from ISL to 16 knots, the guaranteed speed be.
ing Is knots.
The armor will be as nearly impervious to
shot as 1t can be made.
The armament of the Indiana will be as fol-
lows Four 13-inch guns 40 feet long, mounted
In pairs in the two main turrets; eight S-nch
guns, mounted in pairs in the four tnrrets at
the corners of the casemate; four 6inch guns,
mounted in broadsdes. with splinter bulk
heads back of them; 90 6-pounders and rapid
firing guns; eight 1-pounders and Calling guns
aud six torpedo tubes.
The armament has some strong points pos
sessed by none of the battle.ships or cruisers
now aAoat One is the hight of the guns from
the water line. which will enable them to sue
cessfully attack the unarmored ends of foreign
war-ships. She will be able to throw 6.400
pounds at one discharge of her main battery
alone, which is 1000 pounds more than any
other warship foreign or native, is capable Of
discharging The Indiana and her sister vessel
now building will cost Sc, 100000.