St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-27
THE BATTLESHIp OREGON
SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED IN. THE
PRESENCE or AN ADMiRIHG CROWD.
THE PRIDE OF THE NAVY.
Most Powerful Ship in the United
States Navy, and Carries an
armament Second to No Ship
That Floats = Description of
Her Armament and Construc-
ton.

ton.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26.-Shortly be-
fore noon today the battleship Oregon,
the first vessel of her class constructed
on the Pacific coast, was launched from
the ways at the Union Iron works, in I
the presence of one of the greatest
crowds of people which ever assembled
here to witness similar event. The
representatives of the army and navy,
city officials, general government and of
the states of California and Oregon, and
large number of invited guests, were
present in the shipyard, while on every
hillside and housetop from which a
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 great
fleet of steamboats,, tugs and craft of
every description, all decorated with
bunting and loaded down with hum
dreds of people eager to witness the
ceremonies. A number of small gov
ernment vessels were among the throng
lying in the bay, and the moment the
shores were knocked away and several
thousand tons of steel commenced to
slide down the ways, hundred salutes
were fired, bands of music played ma
tional airs, and thousands of spectators
gave cheer after cheer, and every steam
whistle within radius of mile of the
works joined in the chorus. The launch
was entirely successful, and the new
NJ, in n Iifffn Inernnft VI
front of the Union Iron works awaiting
her comp letien, which will be pushed
as rapidly as possible. The Oregon is
what is technically known as a sea-
going coast lire battleship, 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.6 SO feet inches; draught,
"a feet; displacement. 10,29S tons; max
ium horse power. 5000. She will have
maximum speed of 1872 knots, and will
carry crew of 46o men. He cost, ex-
elusive of armament, is S4,000.0O0. The
armament consists of four l3-inch, eight
S-inch and four 6-inch breech-loading
rifles, also a secondary battery of two
6-pOunders and six 1-pounder rapid
fire guns, two Gatling guns and
also six torpedo tubes. The thirteen
inch and eight-inch guns are mounted
in turner's. The Oregon's armor is very
heavy. There is belt of steel from
three feet above the load-water line to
four and half feet below it, extending
1876 feet amidships, protecting the en-
gines and boilers. Above this belt,
another five inches thick extending to
the main deck. From the ends of the
eighteen-inch belt to the extremities of
the ship is protective deck three
quarter inches thick. The turrets of
the thirteen-inch guns are in two parts
under redoubt seventeen inches thick,
above this inclined armor of the same
thickness. The eight-inch turretS are
similarly built, with inclined armor
varying from eight and 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 400 tons, but the bunker cap
aclty is 1880 tons.
a temporary platform had been scon-
structed around the bow of the vessel,
and on this were the army and navy
officials, representatives. of Oregon and
California, and other guests especially
invited by the Union iron works. Pre-
viouS to the launch patriotic airs were
played by the band from Mare Island
navy yard, and some short ceremonies
held, including the delivery Of prayer
and the reading of poem. 1t was
within three minutes of II O'Clock be-
fore, the last shore was knocked away
by the workmen. Miss Eugenia Shelby,
representing the city of Portland,
touched the electric button which
started the vessel down the ways, and
all instant later Miss Daisy AinsWorth,
pative of the state of Oregon,
broke Il bottle of champagne over
the bow and christened the new
battleship. Miss Ruth Dolph, daughter
of Senator Dolph, of Oregon, was to
have assisted in the christening, but she
| was detained in Washington by sick
ness. The vessel created a great wave
as she glided into the bay, and caused
much commotiOn among the craft which
| had crowded near the point of launch
| ing, but no accident occurred. The en-
thusiasm which broke forth as the
vessel first touched the water continued
| long after she had 1oated far out from
! the shore.