Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-01
SHE is AFL0AT NOW
Successful Launching Of the Bat
tleship indiana.
MISS MILLER CHRIsTENs HER
President Harrison. Several CAbines
onsoes~ and Many Distinguished
Tsrr~on. wcs~ Present.

ParrAprIrslA. Feb In the midst
% driving storm of rleef and rain and
with the applause n The president Il the
United States. three members n hir
cabinet and 10000 others following in
his wake. the bafsleship Indiana WAS
launched shortly after noon today from
the shipssrd II the Cramp ship Build
ing company. Miss Je-se Miller.
daughter ~ Attorney General Miller,
hapsisod the bow of the vessel in foam
ing champagne as the hatileship started
down the ways and ehristened IL the In
diana. The ship took the water like
duck and with her reddened hull show.
ing in marked contrast against the
muddy waters ~ the Delaware. she WAS
carried far out into the river by the
momentum acquired by her passage from
the stocks. As the vessel swung broad
side on toward the shore. the anchors
were let 90 and she rested upon the sur
face ~ the water as beautiful model ~
marine architecture as ever left builders
yards
With the coming 81 the morning every
preparation for the launch had been
completed and the batfleship stood
ready for her plunge into the waters that
are 10 hereafter bear her upon their
bosom. The dull brown iron hull Was
painted yirginal white 10 the water
line. below which vivid red coating ~
paint shope. A line of gay bunting ran
the vessels length along her deck. and
above the other flags the stars and
stripes tapped and sfiffened in tine
northeast wind. The ship stood upon
the stocks. where her great steel ram
pointed in toward the yard Around
the bow a platform was built. and di-
rectly beneath the keel small inciosed
space was rallied off for President Har-
rison and the christening party.
Speed and Armament.
BY o'clock the streets before the
gate had become heaying. tossing sea
of umbrellas. and when the doors were
finally opened the umbrellas and the
owners beneath them. swept like tor
rent into the yard. Many persons had
tickets for the launching stand and the
deck Of the sister ship 81 the Indiana.
the Massachusetts. which stood about
twenty feet away from the stocks. and
these were In measure protected from
the storm by awnings.
The Indiana N 33c feet long on the
water line and is 30 feet 3 inches beam.
Her displacement is 10.i00 tons. but
with full supply OF coal and stores on
board she will draw - feet and dispIace
il 600 tons Of water. She will be pro-
pelled by twin screws and her engines
will be three in number. having loopo
horse power. They will be Of the triple
expansion type and will be built abreast
in water tight compartments. and will
give speed ~ from 15ls 20 Is knots.
the guaranteed speed being - knots.
The armor will be as nearly impcryious
to shot as il can be made.
The armament Of the Indiana will be
as follows: Four l3-inch guns. forty
feet long. mounted in pairs in the two
main turrets; eight s-inch guns.
mounted in pairs in the four furrets at
the corners Of the casemate; four 6-ineh
guns. mounted in broasisides with
special inter bulkheads back II them;
twenty 6-pounders and rapid firing guns.
eight Founders and Gatling guns and
six torpedo tubes.