The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-08-01
LAUNCHING DAY.
Important Moment in the Career
Of a Battleship.
A Slight Mistake Would Cost
Millions Of Dollars.

Albert Franklin Matthews tells an
interesting story of "The Evolution
OF Battleship," in the Century. This
1t history of the construction of the
Indiana, so far the only vessel of this
class we have in our navy. After de-
scribing the wonderful power of this
monster, the most formidable engine
of war in the world, and the manner
OF ITS construction, Mr.. Matthews
says:
SO the building goes on until the
launching day comes, and two broad
ways are built up against the bottom
of the vessel, and the keel-blocks on
which it has been resting are knocked
away. In the launch of the Indiana
Mr.. Nixon ran row of electric lights
beneath the bottom of the vessel, add
ing another innovation to the details
OF American ship-building. Each
launching way consists of upper and
lower planking, between which is
spread thousands of pounds of the
best tallow. At the bow of the boat
these upper and lower planks are
clnmpcd together, and when all is
ready they are sawed apart and the
vessel starts. The upper part of the
ways slides into tho water with the
vessel, and the lower part with the
smoking hot tallow remains stationary.
A launch in these days is so smooth
and 80 soon ended, rarely occupying
more than twelve seconds from start
to finish, that one scarcely realizes its
difficulties. Three thing are absolute
ly necessary; it must be on time, when
tho tidal water is highest; it must be
OF smart speed, so as not to stick on
its downward journey to the water ;
and it must be accomplished without
straining. SO complex thing is a
launch that the chief engineer-in-
charge is able to estimate the sti ain
on every part of the vessel for every
position it occupies, at intervals of
one foot, on its way down the in
cline.
There is one supreme moment. 1t
Is when the vessel is nearly two thirds
in the water. The buoyancy of the
water raises the vessel, and throws its
weight on its shoulders. Here is
where the greatest danger of straining
comes, and should the ways break
down the vessel would be ruined, n
matter of nearly $4,000, 900 in ship
like the Indiana when it was launched
The launch over, the machinery is
lifted in and fitted, and then come the
bolrd of government experts, who
look the vessel over inch by inch, the
fires are started, and the trial trip
follows. For four hours, amid sup
pressed excitement that answers ner-
vously to every quiver of the vessel,
the engines are run at full speed. A
premium or penalty Is Mt stake now.
The breakage of bolt or the disar-
rangement of valve may mean thous-
ands of dollars of loss to the contrac-
tors. Trained workmen are locked in
the fire-rooms, not to be released un-
til the test is over.
Cooled drinking water with oat-
meal sprinkled upon it is run down TO
them in a rubber tube from barrel
on the deck. A hose is played on the
costly machinery in places where there
is danger of overheating, as though it
were on fire. Almost every pound of
coal used on the trip is carefully
selected.
When the four hours are passed
aad the strain is over, sigh of relief
from every one on board, and oven
from the vessel herself, goes up, and
the ship passes from the contractor to
the government, and day after day
while she is in commission the flag
will be saluted, and the score or more
of other ceremonies and formalities
observed on man of-war will follow.
How He Proposed.