The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-27
WAGON WHEAT
Highest Market Price.
ARCADE MILLS.
BATTLE SHIP OREGON
Uncle Sans Most Powerful War
Vessel Launched Yesterday.
San Francisco Bay Alive with Decorated
Craft of All Kinds and the Land
Black with Cheering Spectators.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26.-Shortly be-
fore noon to-day the battle ship Oregon
the first vessel of her class constructed on
the Pacific coast, was launched from the
ways at the Union iron works, in the pres
ence Of one of the greatest crowds of peo-
pie that ever assembled there to witness
a similar event. The representatives of the
army and navy, city officials, general gov
ernment officials, and of the States of Cali
fornia and Oregon, and a large number Of
invited guests were present il the shipyard,
while on every street and on every hillside
and house top from which view of the
works could be obtained thousands of
enthusiastic spectators were gathered That
part of the bay directly in front OF the
Union iron works was entirely occupied by
a great fleet of steamboats,, tugs and craft
OF every description, all decorated with
bunting and loaded down with hundreds
Of people eager to witness the ceremonies.
A number of small government vessels
were among the throng lying in the bay,
and at the moment the last stays were
knocked away and the several thousand
tons Of steel commenced to glide down the
ways, hundred salutes were fired bands
OF music played national airs, thousands of
every steam whistle within a radius OF a
mile of the works joined in the chorus
The launch was entirely successful, and the
new battle ship now lies in front of the
Union iron works, awaiting her completion
which will be pushed as rapidly as possible.
A temporary platform had been con-
structed around the bow of the vessel, and
on this were the army and navy officials,
representatives of Oregon and California
and other guests specially invited by the
Union iron works. Previous 20 the launch
patriotic airs were played by the band
from Mare Island navy yard and some
short ceremonies held, including the de-
livery of prayer and the reading of poem.
1t was within three minutes of II o'clock
before the last shore was knocked away
by the workmen. Miss Eugeuia Shelby,
representing the city of Portland. touched
the electric button which started the vessel
down the ways, and an instant later Miss
Daisy Ainsworth, native of the State of
Oregon, broke bottle of champagne over
the bow and christened the new battle ship.
Miss Ruth Dolph, daughter of Senator
Dolph of Oregon, was to have led in the
christening ceremonies, but she was de-
tanned in Washington by sickness. The ves-
sci created great wave as she glided into
the bay, and caused much commotion
among the craft which had crowded near
the point of launching but no accident oc-
as the vessel touched the water continued
long after she had fioated far out from the
shore.
The Oregon is what is technically known
as a sea-going coast line battle ship and is
the most powerful ship in the United States
navy. Her dimensions are: Length over
all, 34S feet; load water line, 800 feet;
breadth, SO feet inches; draught, "a feet;
displacement, 1029S tons; maximum horse
power, 5000 She will have a maximum
speed of sixteen and two-tenths knots, and
will carry q crew of 400 men. Her cost, ex-
elusive of armament, is &000,000. The
armament consists of four thirteen-inch,
eight eight-inch and four six-inch breech-
loading rifles, also a secondary battery OF
two six-pounder and six one-pounder rapid
fire guns, two Gatling and also six torpedo
tubes The thirteen-inch and eight-inch
guns are mounted in turrets. The Oregon's
armor is very heavy. There is q belt of
steel from three feet above the load water
line TO four and one-haf feet below it, ex-
tending 196 feet amidship, protecting the
engines and boilers. Above this belt is an
other five inches thick, extending to the
main deck. From the ends of the eighteen
inch belt to the extremities of the ship is
a protective deck three inches thick, and
another armored deck two and three-fourth
inches thick. The turrets for the thirteen
inch guns are in two parts, under redoubt
seventeen inches thick, and above this is
inclined armor of the same thickness. The
eight-inch turrets are similarly built with
inclined armor varying from eight and
one-half to six inches in thickness. There
Is also a complete system OF coal protection
cellular subdivision and gun shields. Under
the engines and boilers are four bottoms
and double bottoms elsewhere The coal
capacity at the designed draught is four
hundred tons, but the bunker capacity is
4