Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-28
Launching the Indiana at the Cramps
Yard.
THE PRESIDENT GOES TO PHILADELPHIA
Miss Jessie Miller Gracefully
Chrstens the Vessel.
SCENES OF THE OCCASION.
LAUNCHING THE INDIANA.
The First OF the FIrst-Cia.. American Rattle
Ships.

The First OF the First-Cia.. American Ratio
ships.
FHLsprLrHIs. Pa. Feb. 2S-The great
battle ship Indiana was successfully launched st
the ship yard Of the William CrAmp A Sons
Company at l2s5 O'Clock this afternoon
IN the presence OF thousands Of people.
among them the President OF the United
States, the Secretary Of the NAVY and other
members Of the cabinet and quite large dele
cation OF Congressman and others who arrived
from Washington tins morning on Q special
train.
As IL anNious 10 get into her native element
the huge coast defense ship slid down the we'll
CREASED ways with comparative rapliity and
struck the smooth waters Of the Delaware
river with force that sent waves high into the
air.
Then she was towcd back 20 the wharves. and
IN about a year viii be resdy for service and
turned over 10 the government
From early morning crowds began 60 gather
around the works and the dav advanced the
multitude increased. The anxiety Of the gath
ering 20 catch glimpse OF the president and the
other distinguished members Of the visiting marty
from Washington much greater than
the desire 70 see the launch entrances TO
the main Offices Of the Cramps were
blocked FOR hours before the arrival Of
the honored guests. The non-issuAnoe OF
formal invitations. however. gave the thousands
OF slght-seers an opportunity TO he present at
the launch, and points Of vantage were numer-
oas. The river aboundod With crafts of
every description. and almost every boat foatad
the national colors. The interior of
the shipyard presented scene of activity
Flags we're hviug from dozen Of poles;
the cruiser New York ami cruiser No. 70 the
Columbia. which was launched last july aud
osher ships were gaiiy belecsed with flags aud
bunting. while hsgs innumcrable aad other
decorations were stretched from the stem 20
the stern OF the Indiana.
ARRIVAL OF TUE PRESIDENT.
The arrival OF the presidential party at pre-
cisely ~ o'clock was the signal for loud and
continued cheering. The party came from
Washington on a special train over the Bslti-
more and Ohio railroad. Among the visitors
were Secretary OF the NAVY Tracy Postmaster
General Wanamaker. Attorney General Miller
and his daughter Miss Jessie the talr christener;
Senators Voorhees, and Turpie of Indiana (in
honor of which state the vessel is nAmed) aud
others.
The President and the other gentlemen Of
the party acknowledged the COMPLIMENTARY
cheering by smiling and raising their hsis.
The guests were received in the offices Of the
company by Chas. H. Cramp. president; Henry
W. Cramp, treasurer. and other officials.
The line was then formed and the christening
party proceeded to where the battle ship Law
and took positions on raised platform at
the bow. The noise Of 500 workmen
making the final preparations reverberated
between the lndianas sister ship. Massachu-
setts. on the south. and cruiser No IS, the Min
neapolis. to the north. FOR quarter OF an hour.
and then the order Was given to saw the
ways"
THE CHRISTENING.
Just as the 400 tons Of steel started down
the incline Miss Miller broke the customary
bottle Of champagne. it being encssed in beau
ufully hand-paiuted and embroidered satin
cover, across the bow and firmly said: Il
christen thee Indiana
Whistles shrieked. bells rang and people
cEeered and waved handkerchiefs and fags
This demonstration continued until the ship
reached mid-stream, where anchors were
dropped. Later the anchors were raised aid
the vessel was towed to the ship yard.
The Indiana is the eighth warship that the
Cramps have launched and is the largest ever
sent from their ways. Up 10 this time the New
York, with tonnage of 5000, was the largest
pEsoRnrIoS OF THE INDIANA
The Indiana is the first of the frst-class
battle ships to be launched. and her sister ship.
the Massachusetts, which is from six weeks 90
two months behind the Indiana in constrlio-
ton, will be the next
The Indiana is 34s feet long on the water
line and is 50 fee. 3 inches beam. Her dis
placement is l0. 400 tons. but with a full sup
ply of coal and stores on board she will draw "a
feet and displace IL GOO tons Of water.
She will be propelled by twin screws and hor
engines will be three IN number. having 10 600
horse power. The engines will be Of the triple
expansion type. and will be built abreast in
water-tight compartments, and will give
speed OF from l5}z 20 l6 knots, the guaranteed
speed being 10 knots.
WILL THROW G. 400 POUNDS.
The armament has some strong points pos
sessed by none OF the battle ships or cruisers
now aloat. One is the height Of the guns from
the water line, which will enable them %
successfully attack the unarmored ends Of for
eign warships. The l3-inch guns are eighteen
feet above water line and the s-inch guns are
twenty-five feet above the water line.
Another feature is that the armament OF
either the Indiana or Massachusetts, will throws
greater weight of metal than any vessel ahoat
Either viii be able 20 throw &. 400 pounds at
one discharge OF her main battery alone, which
is l.000 pounds more than any other warship,
foreign or native. is capable Of discharging.
There will be a single military mast with two
fighting tops and lookout. and means Wlu be
provided for going up inside the mast.