The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-13
BATTLESHIP LAUNCHED.
THH MINNEAPOLIS rs THE LATEST
ADDITION 10 THE NAVF.
Vice e-President Stevenson and Secretary
Herbert witness the Interesting Scene
In the Crsmp shlp-Yard.

PHILADELPHIA. August i2.--Wtth
ceremonies that were practically a repe-
tition OF the observances at the launching
OF the commerce destroyer Columbia one
year ago. the Minneapolis. a sister ship.
was successfully sent from the ways at
the William Cramp & Sons Compsnys
ship-yard here shortly after 2.S0 o'clock
this afternoon. on the former occasion
Vice-Presldent OF the United States was
in attendance in the person OF Levi Z.
Morton. and to-day Vice President Steven
son occupied a conspicuous place on the
launching stand"
The christening was done BY Miss Lizzie
NJ. Washburn. daughter OF the Mime
apolls Senator. with the customary bot
q tie of champagne.
Large crowds are the rule az the launch
ing OF every Government vessel az the
Cramps. but the one to-day, which num-
bered fully 20,00O exceeded al previous
gatherings. This was due TO the fact that
Il was a half holiday and 20 the bright
weather. Every point OF vantage In the
ship-yard and on adjoining property was
occupied. to say nothing Of the masses
who. from all kinds OF craft. saw the
vessel take her initial plunge.
The invited guests numbered several
hundred. the majority OF whom came ON
a special train from Washington, which
the Cramps placed az the disposal OF the
Secretary of the Navy. Prominent among
the attendants. besides the Vice-Pressdont.
and who were stationed on the stand at
the bow OF the ship, were Secretary OF the
Navy Herbert and daughter Leila, the
latter having recently christened the bat
tle-ship Massachusetts; Senator and Mrs.
Washburn, OF Minnesota; Senator and
Mrs. Stockbrdge Senator and Mrs. Man
derson. Senator and Mrs. Cockrell Con-
gresham McAleer, of Pennsylvania.
Chief Naval Constructor Philip Hlchborn.
Congressmen Breckinridge OF Kentucky.
CogsweH Of Massachusetts. Livingston u
Georgia. Meyer Of Louisiana. Cummings
of New York. BOutelle Of Maine, the
members of the Senate and House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs. and others. in
Guiding a distinguished party from Mime
sofa who were invited 10y Senator WASH
burn.
After the launch the guests were BAN
quoted I'm the Cramps oiiice, ana later
the return trip TO the national capital was
made.
The Minneapolis IL the two hundred
and seyenty-third ship that the Cramps
have launched. and ~ the eleventh war
ship of the new navy. beginning with the
double-turreted monitor Terror, which
was launched I'm 1881. 10 have been
launched by this hrfn. The Minneapolis
weighed 1897 tons when she LEFT the
ways, she differing slightly from the
Columbia in this respect. She Will nave
10 per cent. more boiler capacity than
the Columbia, her hawse .ipcs will open
from the upper deck instead OF from the
fgl nd H4
viii have two smokcstacks. whereas her
sister ship has four. In every other
particular the construction of the vessels
will bo Identical Tho contract price Of
the Minneapolis was S2.S9o9oH. against
s., 7O5 900 for the Columbia. Like the
Columbia, she will be propelled by triple
screws both vessels being designed to
outspeed anything afloat.
When the hatte-ship Iowa and the
cruiser Brooklyn shall have been com
ploted. both ships now being on the ways.
the Cramps shipyard VIII be clear OF
government vessels.
The Minneapolis is n sister ship of tho
commerce destroyer Columbia, and was
authorized by act OF Congress Of March
.. 1891.
The principal dimensions are:
Length on load llne...............fl2 feet
Beam, moulded. ed........................5s feet
Draught, mean, normal. dispiacc-
ment ....................22 rect % incnes
Displacement .....,.............,..f,31 800 tons
Speed estimated. In knots per
hour OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. KNOBS
Indicated horse power......,.21,VD hofses
The huh Is Of steel. the vitals Of ths
ship and its stability being well pro-
tocted. and the gun stations shielded
.Ilta tFHau fFa =
double bottom. T. e.. an inner ana outer
skin. between which there SIS considerable
space. This space is divided into NUM-
her ~ Watcr-tight compartments. 80 mat
injury 10 the outer skin may not neces-
sariy affect the safety Of the ship. The
craft Is further divided into water-tiSht
compartments. each independent Of the
other. aud under the control OF system
OF punpagc The vessel will he lighted
artlhclally by electric light, and yentila-
ton will be insured by the use OF powerful
fans that viii force the bad air and gases
out. al the same time forcing fresh air
I'm.
The arrangement Of the motive power
will be similar 10 that OF the Columbia.
the power being transmitted through thres
screws, the after screw being placed as
I'm ordinary sngle-screw ships. the others
being placed farther forward. one on each
side. as in the case Of twin-screw ves-
sells. By this arrangement II Is thought
that greatest speed with safety aud econ
Omy may be combined.
There will be n protective deck. inches
thick on the slopes and 2 IL inches else
where; and throughout tie region OF the
water line FOR the space occupied by the
vitals there will be a wall Of patent fhsi
feet thick 20 add additional protection
op4fuaf r-aenfue gun fire.
Each shaft will be actuated by sep
arate triple expansion engine. each La
lts own Water-tight compartment,
The battery (main) consists OF one s.
inch breechi0ading rife. two C-Inch rapid
FIRE breechloading rifles and eight finch
rapid fire broechoa0ing rifles. The So
condary battery will consist Of twelve g.
FOUNDER rapid fire guns, four f-pounder
rapid fire guns and four Gatllngs. There
are five torpedo-iaunching tubes.
The contract for this vessel was award
ed 20 william Cramp a Sons. August 81.
ls9i, at the contract price ~ s., go 90. and
should be finished within two years from
that time.
Will Probably be Convicted.
tKTNcTnN Aur.sat n