The state herald., 1893-11-03
LAUNCH OF THE OREGON
The First Battle ship Built on the Pa.
clio Coast.

The First Battle Ship Built on the Pa
clio Coast.
Shortly before noon Thursday the battle
ship Oregon, the first vessel Of her GLASS con-
structed on the Pacific coast, was launched
from tho ways At the Union Iron Works, San
Francisco, In the presence Of ono Of tho great
est crowds Of people that ever assembled there
TO witness similar event Representatives
Of the army and navy, city officials, the gen
cral government and others Of the stats Of
California, and large number Of invited
guests were present in tho ehipyards, while
on every stand, on tho hillside, and the house
top from which view Of the works could DO
obtained, thousands Of enthusiastic spectators
were gathered. That part Of the bay directly
In front Of tho Union Iron Works was en-
tirely occupied by a great feet Of steamboats,,
tugs and craft Of ever description, all decor
atcd with bunting and loaded down with hum
drcds OF people eager to witness the core
monics.
A number Of small government vessels
were among the throng lying in the bay and
at the moment the last shores were knocked
away and the several thousand tons Of steel
commenced to glide down tho ways hun.
drcd salutes wcrc fred, bands of music played
national airs, Thousands Of spectators gave
cheer after cheer, and every steam whistle
within a radius Of milo Of the works Joined
In the chorus. The launch was entirely sue
eessiul and the new battlcship now lies in =
little lagoon In front of tho Union Iron
Works, awaiting her completion, which will be
pushed as rapidly as possible.
The Oregon Is what 10 Technically known
as sea-goIng coast-llno battle-ship, and Il
the most powerful ship In the Unitod Suites
navy. Her dimensions are: Length over all
all 348 feet; on the load water limo, $40 feet;
breadth, 10 feet 8 inches; draught, "a feet;
displacement, l0,29s tons; maximum horse
power, 5000. She will havo q maximum
speed Of 10 2-l0 knots, and will carry crew
OF 400 mon. Her cost exclusive Of armament,
is a, 100000. The armament 10 four 13-inch,
eight S-inch md four 8-inch brcech- loading
rliles, also secondary battery, two 6-poundcr
aud six l-pounder rapid firing guns; two Cat
lings and also six torpedo tubcs. Tho 10
inch and S-inch guns arc mounted In turrets.
The oregon's armor Is very heavy. There
Is belt Of steel from three feet above the
load water line to AZ feet below, extending
l9G feet amidships, protecting the engines
and boilers. Above this belt Is another five
inches thick extending to the main deck.
From the ends Of the ls-inch belt 10 tho cx-
trcmltics Of tho ship is protective deck .
inches thick, and another armored deck 2Sl
inches thick. The turrets Of the 13-inch
guns are in two parts under q redoubt II
inches thick, and above this Is inclined armor
OF the fame thickness. Tho S-inch turrcts
are similarly built with inclined nrmor, vary
ing from 81 to inches in thickness. There
Is also complete system Of coal protection,
cellular subdivision, and gun shields. Under
the engines and boilers are four bottoms and
double bottom elsewhere. Tho coal capacity
Of the designed draught IL 400 tons, but the
bunker capacity Is 500 tons