The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-11
BIG CRUISER LAUNCHED
THE M<sSACH UyETTS GIVEN TO THE
SEA AT PHILhDELPHIA.
Miss Herbert Gracefully Broke the Bottle
Christening the Vessel, and She
Dashed Into the Delaware.

battle-ship Massachusetts mas success
fully launched from the ship-yard OF
Cramps at 9:J9 this morning, in the pre-
sence OF Secretary Of the Navy Herbert
Attorney General Olney 0he latter rep
resenting the State Of Massachusetts,
a number of distinguished naval and
army officers, and a multitude Of 1900
Miss Leila Herbert, daughter of the head
OF the Naval Department, chrlstened the
vessel with the customary and prettily
decorated bottle OF champagne.
The Washington party came in on a
special train this morning. The weather
was pleasant. The sun was shining bright
and clear, but its warmth was tempered
with gentle, cool breezes. The big hull
had received the last touches OF a coat
of white paint above the water line, and
Of deep red below on Thursday, and tow
cred on the ways all ready 10 be sent
overheard as soon as the tide should be
at its flood. When this arrived, the sup
ports were cut away, and as the vessel
began TO move Miss Herbert gracefully
broke the bottle on the ships PROV and
christened her the Massachusetts" BY
iti OM4 TIE ldltSl
20 Uncle Sans navy slid gracefully down
the creased incline, and dashed into the
Delaware river. When she reached mid
stream, lines were thrown to tugs and
the huge craft was soon made fast to the
wharyes, where are also moored the
cruisers New York and Columbia, and
the ship of war Indiana.
The usual ovation TO a ship when she
leaves the ways was this morning fully
In keeping with previous demonstrations.
Thousands of spectators, both on shore
and afloat. Mayor Stuart and a party
Of municipal officers being among the
latter. cheered Justify. while above this
sounded the blowing of whistles, ringing
of bells and booming of cannon. The
noisy reception continued for some
minutes. A naval battalion, consisting
of 125 men and divided into two COM
panies, participated in the ceremonies.
One company acted as escort to the guests
and stood guard at the launching stand.
and when the launch was effected, cleared
the way TO the cruiser New York on
which the second company, with a band,
was stationed to salute the Massa-
chusetts as she took TO the water. When
the guests had boarded the cruiser the
entire battalion acted as the crew and
salute the Secretary OF the Navy's flag
as IL was raised. The dignitaries in
spected the New York, and after ban
quoting in the office Of the Cramps re-
turned to Washington on the special
train which had conveyed them hither.
The big warship left the ways a minute
or so before the expected time, but no
accident Of any kind occurred. The warm
weather had softened the tallow, and the
vessel slid into the river before the three
forward keel blocks on the sole pier had
been loosened. Miss Herbert. that fair
christener, was attired in black Brus-
sells net, and wore a small black hat,
trimmed with crushed roses She carried
bouquet of lilies of the valley and or
chids. The rarity, which arrived from
Washington on the special train. included
Secretary Herbert and his daughters.
Leila and Mrs. Micon; First Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy McAdoo and wife.
First Assistant Secretary OF State Quinby
and wife, Assistant Secretaries OF the
Treasury Hamlin and Curtis. Major
George II. French, chief of the naval d.
vision OF the Treasury department; A.
j. Whitaker, deputy auditor OF the Treas
ury; Captain Phillip, who Will command
the cruiser New York United States Sen
ator and Mrs. Dolph. Miss Stewart.
daughter OF the senator from Nevada
Miss Sitting, Miss Feguson, Miss Gray
daughter of the Delaware senator; Miss
Maury, Mrs. whitman, Miss David Gee.
Miss Cabel. Mrs. Sponord, MIS- SaiIord
and Mrs. Chadwick.
Description of the Vessel.
The hull of the Massachusetts, is of
steel the stem, sternpost, propeller struts
and rlIdder frame being heavy castings.
The transverse frames Uhe "ribs'O are
placed four feet apart In the double bot
tom and l-2 feet at the ends of the ship,
the double bottom not being continuous.
The Massachusetts is OF the following
principal dimensions: Length on load
water line. 34S feet; extreme breadth.
% feet inchesi mean normal draft. "a
feet (same forward and afD; displace-
ment. 1920 tons; tons to increase draft
inch, AZ.
The water line belt will be of Harvey
lied nickel steel-the finest armor in the
worlds inches thick, the redoubts rising
at each end of IT. being II inches thick.
These redoubts protect the bases of the
tuIrets. the revolving gear, the loading
apparatus and other vital machinery, be-
sides preventing a raking fire from for
ward and aft. 1t should be added that
the 1S-inch belt IS backed by six Inches
of wood. two 3-4-inch plates and l0-foot
belt OF coal In the bunkers referred 10
above.
Ihe powerlul armament or the Massa-
is her most conspicuous feature
IL consists of four l3-inch, eight s-inch |
and four 6-inch breechloading rifles. % |
6-pounder and four l-pounder rapid fire
guns. four gatling guns and six torpedo |
tubes.
The i3-inch guns are mounted i'm pairs |
sn two turrets one forward and one aft, |
the bases OF each being protected by the |
srmored redoubts. The walls of these |
turrets are II inches thick, and they are |
a. such a height that the guns are II |
feet inches above the load water line /
and feet above the deck over which
they fire.
The S-inch guns are mounted IN pairs |
In armored turrets s 1-2 inches thick.
one OF which Is located at each corner OF
the superstructure. They are "A feet 0
inches above the water and can fire over
the turrets on the deck below containing
the ls-inch guns. The S-inch guns. n IS
interesting 20 note can pierce or shatter
AZ distance OF two miles the armor Of
most or the modern foreign armored
cruisers. They can open IRE early In an |
engagement. on account Of their great