New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-03
THE BROOKLYN AFLOAT.
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE GIANT AR
MoRED CRUISER


REvs DAUGHTER-THE BIG WAR
SHIPS DIMENSIONS, MAcHIS-
cry AND ARMAMENT.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrBuNEl
Philadelphia. Oct THE armored cruiser
Brooklyn the latest addition to the United
States Navy, and destined to be perhaps the
fastest and most powerful vessel Of her class
afioat, was launched from Cramps shipyard at
1907 o'clock this afternoon Not a hitch OF any
kind married the success Of the launch, which
was viewed by several thousand people. who
added their cheers to the din Of whistles as the
giant cruiser went smoothly down the ways and
rode gracefully on the broad Delaware. The day
was perfect and the flotlla Of excursion vessels
and tugs on the river dressed in flags and fly
ing pennants Of white steam, made beautiful
picture.
The Brooklyn named by Miss Ida May
Schieren. the daughter OF Mayor Schieren, OF
Brooklyn, who broke the beribboned bottle or
champagne on the cruisers sharp prov as she
started to make her first dip in the water. The
launch was characterized by much less pomp
and ceremony than have attended other I'M
portant ones in recent years. Secretary Her
bert was not present and while the guests from
washington included several well-known per-
sons. their number was limited. The general
public was not SO numerously represented as
heretofore, but the spectacle OF the launch OF
huge war vessel was as striking as ever.
THE PARTY FROM BROOKLYN.
The special car in which the Brooklyn guests
arrived was drawn to the shipyard entrance by
a shifting engine just as the whistles blew Tor
noon and the yard was thrown open to the pub
lie The car contained Miss Ida May schieren.
CAhf MilQ
Ethel May Webster. Miss Louise Atwater. Miss
Henrietta Williams and Miss Edith Swan int-
mate friends Of Miss Schieren; Mr. and Mrs.
william Berri. Mr. and Mrs St Clair Nickel
way. Mr. and Mrs. William c. Wallace, Albert
G. Mcdonald. Miss Frances Mcdonald Mr. and
Mrs Charles A. Moore. Mrs. F. A. Burrell. II. w.
Maxwell Miss Louise Rogers Maxwell Miss
Emily Jones' Murat Halstead. DR.. Truman J.
Backus Alfred T White Charles A Schieren.
tr Arthur Scheren. II. c. Du Val George II.
Rowe F. NJ. Monroe. Wilbur NJ Palmer E. A.
Rockwell J. NJ. Black. Jacob Grammar. H. f.
McNichol w c. Darcy II. S. Atkins. r. F. NJ.
Andrews District-Attorneys James w Rdgway
and 4. o. Staples.
The Brooklyn guests were at once escorted
10 the launching platform under the bow OF
the ship, where they awaited the arrival OF the
party from Washington. which came on special
cars few minutes later. Secretary Herbert
was represented by his naval aid. Lieutenant
L. L. Reamey. who was accompanied by his
wife. The other members OF the Washington
party were the Postmaster General. Mrs and
Miss Wilson. Rear-Admiral Ramsey, chief or
the Ordnance Bureau. with his wife and daugh-
ter: Captain and Mrs. w. T. Sampson. Pay
master-General ard Mrs. Edwin T. Stewart
George w Melville, chief Of the Bureau OF
Steam Engineering Chief Constructor HIGH
born. with his wife and daughter; Commodore
F. V. McNar and his wife, Commodore j. A.
w Howell and his wife, Lieutenant F. Singer
Lieutenant J. j. Knapp and his wife, Lieuten
ant Charles Laird. Mr.. and Mrs BENJAMIN
Micou. H. c. Snyder Captain Robley d. Evans.
F. p. Rodgers Charles H. and Henry w
Cramp received the guests, Charles II. Cramp
leading the way to the platform with Miss
Wilson
THE PLUNGE INTO THE DELAWARE.
When the guests were comfortably seated
the workmen, under the ship, began to drive
up the wedges and knock away the shores.
Henry W. Cramp the platform carry
ing the bottle Of champagne to be used. 1t
was covered with a netting of gold cord. tied
with white and blue ribbons. Printed the
ribbons the date of the launch. the name
Of the ship and that Of Miss Schieren Mr..
Cramp presented 10 Miss Schieren a bouquet
Of red roses and escorted her 10 the small
naming platform. Miss Scheren wore cleo
trio blue brilliantine dress with plaid vest and
collar.
velvet, and she wore a bunch of pink carna-
tons at her belt AS the sole-piece
sawed asunder the Brooklyn started, Miss
Scheren broke the bottle against the steel
Prov and those nearest heard her excam: Il
christen thee Brooklyn" The vessel gathered
speed she went through the ways and
struck the water with a mighty splash. sending
A big ashore among the cheering crowds
the waters edge. While the whistles
were still shriekIng their welcome, two anchors
were dropped from .he Brooklyn's bow and
81 he
eral putting tugs towed the new vessel to one
Of the shpyard piers where she was made
fast.
After the launch the guests ate luncheon in
the shipyard mould-loft and then took trains
for home
4 party Of guests which attracted unusual
attention consisted Of Prince Kchyo. Of Japan.
a recent graduate of a German naval school,
who is making tour Of the United States;
Lieutenant kato, who is accompanying him;
Commander Myaok. naval attache Of the Jap
anese Legation in Washington. and Mr.. Tan
aka a citizen of Japan. They will visit the
League Island Navy Yard before leaving Phil
adelphia.
\ description OF the Brooklyn was published in
The Tribune Sunday. Thls class OF vessel Is
garded by naval experts as the best "all-round"
ship in the world. combining speed endurance and
lighting capacity. The Brooklyn was officially
known before she received her name. as Cruiser
No. g." and. although called sster-ship. is larger
and will have coal endurance Of 6OSS miles az a
speed Of ten knots. about Is per cent greater
than the New-York Her leading features are:
Length. 4O0i2 feet, beam. GAGS feet; normal
draught. "A feet displacement s27 tons; estimated
speed twenty knots. The Brooklyn Is fourteen feet
longer and Of 1000 tons greater displacement than
the New-YOrk Her construction authorized By
act Of Congress passed July 10. 1892. bids
Invited on september o. 1892; the contract price for
the ship. minus her armament. 81 $4,000 only
$1,000 more than for the New-York and her keel
was laid early In 1898. She has twin screws. each
driven by a pair OF vertical inverted triple expan-
sion engines, incosed in separate compartments,
and with shafts SO arranged that the :orward en-