The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-13
TOOK HER MAIDEN PLUNGE
Triple Screw Commerce Destroyer
Minneapolis Successfully Launched.
Second Of the Two Fastest Cruisers in the
World That Are Designed to Prey on
Fleet Ocean Merchantmen.

PHILADELPHIA. Aug. 12.-With ceremo-
MES that were practically q repetition of
the observances at the Launching of the
commerce destroyer Columbia, one year
ago, the Minneapolis, q sister ship, was
successfully sent from the ways at Cramu
X Sons yard here shortly after 2:30 O'clock
to-day.
On the former occasion q Vice President
of the United States was In attendance
IN the person of Levi p. Nor
ton. and to-day Vice President
Stevenson occupied q conspicuous place on
the Launching stand. The christening was
done by Miss Lizzie NJ. Washburn. q daugh.
ter of the Minnesota senator, with the GUS
tomary bottle of champagne. Large crowds
are the rule at the launching of q govern.
ment vessel at the Cramps. but the one to-
day numbered fully twenty thousand. ex-
ceedIng ell previous gatherings. This was
due to the fact that it was o half holiday.
and to the bright weather
The Minneapolis is q triple screw ship.
having three sets of triple expansion
engines. The vessels of this class are
not intended to cope with the war ships
of an enemy. but are specially designed to
catch and destroy the very fast ocean lin
ers. They will endeavor to keep out of the
way of battle ships and armored cruisers,
such as the United States steamer New
York or her Msjesty's steamer Blake.
The ship has q protective deck sloping
from the center line OF the ship down
on each side to four and one.half feet
below the water line. On top 1t is W and
one-hslf inches thick. but on the slope 1t is
our and One.hAlf inches thick. Besides
this projection, she will rave q cellular
structure five feet wide next TO the sides
the entire length. Amldships these COM
partnients will be filled with coal. and for
ward and aft with celluIose. q material
which. when perforated by shot. Will con-
tract and keep the water out.
The vessel will be steered by steam. the
anchors handled in the same way, while
steam and hydraulic power will obviste
acter OF tho batteries is essentially speedy.
The six-inch rApid-tire guns being loaded at
q single operation with liked ammunition"
Il. g., powder and shot combined In an i'm
high, By whlch the double operation of
loading with shot, and then the powder
charge, is obviated. With so powerful q
battery. this vessel would provo a danger
ous antagonist to many large ships more
accurately denominated strictly fighting
ships, while it's great sweep would allow it
to choose it's foe. Compared with those
transatlantic liners. there is but one. the
CampanIa, that might lead this vessel an
unfruitful chase, but the unwarlike look of
means by which she could creep upon so
feet . crsft as this liner. and then, once
within the ran &c of those guns. her superior
speed would Avail her but little. s6
The new trlple-screw cruiser Minneapolis
Is the second triple-screw warship built for
the new Davy of the United States. The
first was the Columbia. The Columbia is
still at the yards of her builders. the
-a- CA. I'LL v-@h.kI- ~ -.~I- So
her initial tests in Jour weeks. The Mime
spolis is y sister ship of the Columbia. The
two vessels have the same general dimen-
sions, differing only In minor details. If
sDythins, the Minneapolis will be
improvements, which were discov-
cred when work on the Columbia
was too far advanced TO admit of
making changes, have been introduoed-in to
inoh-in-diamater boilers of the Minneapo-
lis. for instance. are two feet longer than
those of she Colum bia. being twenty feet
long. The ffteen.fOot, MISUNDERSTANDING
eter boilers of the Columbia have been in
creased In myth IN the Minneapolis one
and three.fourth inches. The corrugated
urnaces in the bollers of the bia. of
fifteen feet. nine inches diameter. are in
creased to from three feet, three inches di-
ameter to three feet, four inches in the
Minneapolis. The principal dimensions of
the Minneapolis are: Length. 412 feet: side
beam, ~f1fty-elght feet, two inches; mean
load dranght, t~wenty-four feet; displace-
ment. 7.4.5 tons. .3.
The Minneapolis will carry a battery of
one eight-inch breech.lOading rife, with q
bow-cha ser; two six-inch breech-loadIng
rifles. twelve four-lnch rapid-tring guns,
twelve sIx-poundar and eight ~one-pOunder
Hotchkiss rapid-ire guns and four Cat
lings. In addition. there are five torpedo
discharge Tubes. The Minneapolis must
show on trial q maximum speed of twenty
two knots an hour. She must also demon
strate her ability to maintain O continuous
steaming speed of twenty-one knots an
hour.
The Minneapolis represents the most ad-
vnnoed type of the modern de-
stroyer. She will possess q speed power
but few exceptions. the fastest merchant
craft afioat. At the same time the new
ship will carry q battery sufficiently power
full to make her q dangerous adversary in
the event of being forced into action by
any of the unprotected cruisers of an enemy.
The contract for the construction of the
Minneapolis was wv arded to the Cramps
Aus. 81. 1891. The contract called for the
completion of the vessel in two years. The
Cramps will be over time in their contract.
since the fact of the vessel being ready for
her construction work Is com pleted. The
lowest bid on the Minneapolis was by
the Bath iron works. of Bath. Me. The
Navy Department declined to avs ard the
Minneapolis to the Bath firm on the ground
of it's inexperience. The cost of the Min
neapolIe, exclusive of arm ament, will be
81. 500. 900.
NELLIE A sARTORIs.