The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-10-11
Something about
the Oregon

A strange sea-monster is the battle
ship oregon when viewed from the
platform surrounding her ponderous
frame. about which circle svarms 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
ground, the Oregon looks like a mon
ster turtle lying upon it's back. There
are no graceful lines Or sweeping curves
to admire. Simply broad eXpanse of
rlveted iron plates greet the eye, inn
pressing the sight-seeker with the enor-
nous strength and solidity of the bat
tleship Viewed from a distance the
Oregon assumes most attractive ap-
rearance. Strength and speed are eX-
cmpllfed in every detail of her con-
struction.
The day OF the launching of the Ore
gon is drawing near. 1t has not been
definitely determined upon. but 1t is
rot very distant Two of the fairest
daughters of this state have been SC
lected to press the button that shall
send the big ship slipping down the
ways and to chrlsten her in the name
Of the people of the Pacific Coast.
Pretty Miss Eugenia Shelby, daugh-
ter of Eugene Shelby, assistant super
intendent of Wells Fargo & Co.'S eX-
press at Portland, will press the but
ton, and Miss Daisy Ainsworth, daugh-
ter of Captain Alnsworth, of the Aims
worth National Bank, of Portland, will
do the rest
AS lighting ship the Oregon will be
capable of defending herself in any
position. She can concentrate the fire
Of six heavy guns on any point of at
tuck, and her supplementary batteries
are sufficiently powerful, II focused up
on given point of attack, to crush
In flve-inch armor
Naval experts claim that the S-inch
and 6-inch rifles of the battle-ship will
do more execution in an attack on a
fort or earth-work than her 1S-inch
guns, The reason for this supposition
is that stone or metal cannot resist the
constant concentrated fire of an S-inch
or 6-inch gun, as no time is allowed the
defense to recover from the shock OF a
broadside from such battery before
another round is fired, The rapidity
with which battery of light rifle
guns can be handled offsets their lesser
penetrative power
The British gunboat Temeraire ST.
lenced the citidel at Alexandria by the
concentrated fire OF its and S inch
guns in a few hours bombardment.
This same stronghold has been shelled
for twenty-four hours by some OF the
heaviest guns in the British squadron
without any apparent effect,
The battleshlp Oregon is built to
make rapid-fre fight at close range,
and will be equipped to stand OF an
enemy at long range. The oregon's
lS-inch guns will be mounted in bar
bettes and all four of these can be
, sed either for n starboard or port
broadside, Secondary batteries of rapid
fire Hotchklss and Gattling guns are
mounted in the military top and in the
superstucture, About dozen Hotch-
kiss rapid-fire cannon can be brought
to bear simultaneously upon an ap-
proaching torpedo-boat or boarding
crew. A Hotchkiss rapid-hre gun
throwing or IA pound conical bullet
can In the hands of an experienced
gunner be made to shoot with the ac-
ouraoy OF an ordinary rifle in the hands
of a hunter, -Four men usually consti-
tute the crew of a rapid-fire gun, and
these can load, aim. and fire the piece
at the rate Of about thirty shote min
ute and do good execution.
At Taltal. Chile. during the recent
revolution, the l4-pound rapid-fire guns
OF the torpedo cruiser Almirante Lynch
silenced a land battery OF Krupp "a
and 50 Founders in fifteen minutes.
The Oregon can have every available
structure above her deck line and su-
perstruemre not including her bar
e,ttes shot away and be in as good
lighting trim as ever.
A special committee from the cham
bers OF commerce In this city and Port
land will be present at the launching.
The launching Of the first battle
ship ever constructed on the Pacific
cCast win be an event for special no.
tice said Mr.. Scott, Of the Union mon
Works. san Francisco "oreson people
J intend 10 lend hand to make It such"