The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-01
A BATTLE SHIP.
One That Can Whip Anything
That Floats.
The Great Iddfana Launched From the
cramps Yard, Philadelphia



Miss Jessie Miller, IIoosler Belle,
freaks the Christening Bottle.
PHLAnEIPHIA, Pa, March The
great battleship Indiana was successful
" launched Tuesday at the ship yard
Of the William cramp 4 Sons company,
In the presence OF thousands o. people,
among them the president Of the
United States, the secretary of the
navy and other members Of the
cabinet and quite large delegation
Of congressman and others, who ar
rived from Washington Tuesday morn
ing on a special train. As II anxious
10 get into her native element the huge
coast defense ship slid down the we'll
CREASED ways with comparative rapid
ity and struck the smooth waters Of
the Delaware river with q force that
sent waves high into the air. Then she
was lowed back TO the wharyes and in
about year win be ready for service
and turned over to the government
The arrival Of the presidential party
was the signal for loud and continued
cheering. The party came from Wash
ington on special train over the Bal-
timore and Ohio road. Among the pas
sengers were Secretary Of the Navy
Tracy, Postmaster General Wanna
maker, Attorney General Miller and his
daughter, Miss Jessie, the fair christ
ener, Senators Voorhees, and Turpie,
Of Indiana Tin honor Of which state the
vessel is namedl and others The
president and the other gen
tlemen Of the party acknowi-
edged the complimentary cheering
BY smiling and raising their hats. The
guests were received Ia the offices Of
the company by Charles Cramp, presi-
dent; Henry w. Cramp, treasurer, and
other officials The line was then form
cd and the christening party proceeded
to where the battle ship lay and took
positions on q raised platform at the
bow. The noise Of 500 workmen maxi
ing the final preparations reverberated
between the Indiana's sister ship, Mas
sachusetts, on the south, cruiser No. 49,,
the Minneapolis, to the north, for q
quarter Of an hour. andthen order was
given to saw the ways
just as the 1900 tons Of steel started
down the incline Miss Miller, daughter
OF the attorney general, broke the cus-
tomary bottle Of champagne, 1t being
encased III beautifully hand-painted
and embroidered satin cover, across the
bow. and firmly said: Il christen thee
Indiana
Whistles shrielSed. bells rang and peo-
pie cheered and waved handkerchiefs
and flags. This demonstration contin-
ned until the ship reached midstream,
where anchors were dropped.
DESCRIPTION or THE VESSEL
The Indiana. the most formidable Of the yes-
sells built or building for the new American
navy, is war ship o. which any nation might
be proud and Is triumph for American ship
designers ship builders and II is hoped Of
American marine engine builders Of course,
SO far as her engines are concerned their power
and eficacy will not be asccr aimed for con-
| siderable time, but The contract calls for high
| power ard good speed The keel Of The Indiana
was laid on May Z, 1921, she being the hrst q
| the three vessels authorized by The act Of
! congress.
The principal Dimensions are: Length on
| load Tne 3IS feet; extreme beam, Oh feet 3
1 inches. draught on level keel. "a feet The yes
\ sells dispiaee ment will Ie 1o.2Ss tens. She II
/ built Of steel and has double bottom for dis
lance of 100 feet, covering the machinery and
ttOA17
are am Tly projected and every feature is pro
\ yced TO enable her 10 cope successfully vi n
1 vessels cf The heaviest arTnor and armament
The armament Of the Indiana Is four four
! Inch hreech loading rifles. eight eightineh
breech- loading rifles, nine ix-inch breech-load-
4 ing rifles twenty sfx-peunder rapid fire guns,
/ four one-pounder rapid-hre guns, four gatling
1 gums six torpedo tnbeK All the guns are PRO
/ tectea BY the latest inventions from the fire Of
/ an enemy. The rapid-nre guns are 80 arranged
\ thar a rapid fire Of shot may be thrown around
the vessel The four thirteen-inch and the eight
! cightinch guns are mounted IN pairs witnln SIX
4 turrets two Of which are erected on the main
deck and the remaining four upon the super
i structure the former containing the larger and
/ me latter the lesser guns The turrets are all
4 mounted IN redoubts. The armor Of the Indiana,
/ which was made at the works Of the Bethlehem
Iron Co.'s the heaviest that was ever placea on
an American warship
the following figures show sthe thickness OF
i The plating. Thickness OF the side belt, eigh-
/ teen inches Of end diagonal belt, fourteen
| inches: 81 thirieeninch breech-loading rife
4 rcdoubts seven teen inches, and Of eightinch
! rife redoubts, eight inches and ten inches IN
4 addition to the armor protection, the engines
Il vill be protected by the coal In the bunkers,
i measuring twelve feet on each side, back Of the
Il s1e nriif5r Each boiler and engine Is in sepa-
rate water-tight compartment, IN orsief to local.
4 lie any possible injury The engines are Of the
i VERTICAL tTlplG tApdnalVl lnNtftSsi
i cylinder TYPE diameter OF cylinders as follows.
High pressure. 3i5 inches; intermediate, a
A inches: low pressure, IS inches stroke, AZ
4 inches The nominal coal supply is 400 tons, but
4 roai bunker capacity Of 1880 tons is provided.
\ The vessel according to contract must develop
+ 4 speed OF sixteen knots an hour. and thus with
/ 1 fun ceaI supply she will be able 10 steam for
! ten days. giving her radius Of action Of about
4 1000 knots
The confinement Of the vessel onicers and
\ crew VIII be 400 persons Good quarters and
\ accofrmoaa tioas are provided for them, and ali
1 the latest sanitary improvements will be placed
/ on the battle ship The Indiana Is designed
4 especially as q vessel 10 fight, and not TO rur
away 1T all And II Is the opinion OF those
h acquain ed with marine affairs that she VIII
answer fully the purpose for which she was
\ built Her cost Is t3.020.0O1 The Indiana
4 cah lay alongside 81 any hostile vessel thai
/ could reach our shores and give and take fair
cattle in the style exhibited BY the American
navy OF The time Of Paul Jones and Decatur
il There are six powerful search lights arranged
4 along the sides 10 locate the enemy At night
and 10 guard against small boat attacks under
cover Of darkness
Il The complement OF twelve boats and one baisa
X are slowed well above the fash OF the guns, and
Enre liandled BY means 81 powerful cranes
The vessel Is also provided with complete
lncasencnt Of torpedo netting
Il
VIII Not attend the Inaugural
u .-A