The record-union., 1893-10-27
sneeial to the REcoRD-UN1oS.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26.-The battle
ship Oregon, constructed by the Union
Iron Works, was successfully launched
to-day. Hours before the event occurred
the hills in the vicinity of the works were
covered with a dense mass of people
The arrangements for launching the yes
sci were complete in every detail, and
there was less confusion than was ex-
pected.
Representatives of the army and navy,
civil officials, officials of the General
Government and of the States of Califor-
mia and Oregon and large number Of
invited guests were in the shipyard, while
on every street and on every hillside and
housetop, from which view of the works
could be obtained, thousands of enthusi-
astic spectators were gathered. That part
of the bay directly in front of the Union
Iron Works was entirely occupied by a
great fleet of amboats, tugs and craft
of every description. all decorated with
bunting and loaded down with hundreds
ofpeople eager to witness the ceremonies.
A number of small Government vessels
were among those lying in the bay, and
at the moment the last timbers were
knocked away, and the several thousand
tons of steel commenced to slide down
the ways, hundred salutes were fired,
bands OF music played national airs, and
thousands Of spectators gave cheer after
cheer, and every steam whistle within the
radius of mile of the works joined in
the chorus. The launch was entirely
successful, and the new battle-ship now
lies IN the little lagoon in front of the
Union Iron Works awaiting her compile
ton, which will be pushed as rapidly as
possible.
The time set for the launch was I1:46
A. NJ, and it was not long after the ap-
pointed hour that the big battleship was
started on her way to her future resting
place.
Before the launch patriotic airs were
played by the band from the receiving
ship Independence. Prayer was offered
by Rev. DR.. Brown of the First Congre-
gational Church, and poem, by Samuel
l.. Simpson of Astoria, Or, was read by
Mrs. Narcissa w. Kinney OF that city, at
the request of the Astoria Chamber of
Commerce.
The battleship was gayly decorated and
looked splendid. Shortly before the last
blow was given the fleet of vessels in the
bay were warned to keep at respectful
distance, else the plunge OF the vessel
into the water might prove disastrOuSly.
The warning was needed and the Oregon
had a clear field. The most enthusiastic
persons to be found were the representa-
tives from Oregon, who regarded the sue
cessful launch of the vessel as a good
omen for the State after which she was
named.
Miss Daisy Ainsworth, formerly of
Oregon and a native of that State, but
now resident OF Oakland, representing
the State of Oregon, christened the ves-
sci. Miss Ruth Dolph, daughter of Sem
ator DOlph of Oregon, was to have as
sisted in the christening ceremonies,
representing the United States navy, but
the young lady could not attend. She
was detained at Washington by reason OF
sickness.
Miss Eugenia Shelby of Oregon, repre-
senting the city of Portland, pressed the
electric button which started the big bat
tle-ship on the way to her future home.
The Oregon is the largest war vessel
ever built or launched on this coast. On
June 30 1880, the Act authorizing the con-
strucion of three coast-line battle-ships
was passed.
William Cramp & Sons Of Philadelphia
secured the contract for building two and
the Union Iron Works secured the third.
The type OF the battle-ships is recorded
as a steel-belted cruiser. The dimensions
dt6 dS 1OlAOWS' 1ASLRGu, Oto I0GG, DT6diIU,
G3.3; mean draught, q; displacement,
10,200 tons; maximum indicated horse
power, 5000.
Type of engine-Twin screw, vertical,
triple expansion, speed fifteen knots per
hour. The contract price for the cost OF
hull and machinery was S., $4,000
The armament of the vessel is as fol-
lows: Four l3-inch breech-loaders, two
each in turret at either end of the super
structure. Their mounting is similar to
that OF Big Betsy and Alice on the Mon
terey, but they are larger in caliber by an
inch, weigh several tons more and will
shoot just how much further nobody
knows, because they have not been fin
ished and tried. Seventeen inches is the
thickness of the armor that composes
their tlat-topped turrets, and the barbette
mounting will probably be in place on
the trial trip.
Next in point of power are eight S-inch
breech-loaders that are to be ensconced
in four turrets. These turrets are of s.
inch armor, and the guns are as power
full as the full battery of any of the cruis-
ers that have been on duty here. Re-
turning to the main deck, there are four
6-inch breech-loaders, two on each side.
located in sponsors instead of turrets.
Coming to the secondary battery, the
Oregon fairly bristles with guns. There
are sixteen rapid-tiring 6-pOunders, four
rapid-firing l-pounders, four Hotchkiss
revolving cannon, and then low down at
either side and at bow and stern are dis
tributed six torpedo tubes. Exclusive of
the tubes, there are forty eight muzzles to
pour shot and shell from. Two of the
machine guns are located in the two tops,
which have not been seen on any other
fighting mast exhibited there.
AS a protection against return fire of
similar ierocity the Oregon's sides, to the
extent OF her midship section, are to be
covered with 1S-inch armor. This belt
enters the hull at either extreme of the
two turrets for the l3-inch rifles, and
crosses the ship, making a bulkhead and
offering resistance 10 shot aimed at her
vitals from any direction. The bow and
stern do not amount 10 much in the opiu-
ion of the designers, for they are left un-
protected, with only the ordinary five
eighths of an inch plates to keep the
water out. From the redoubt, both for
ward and aft, the protection deck is OF B.
inch steel.