Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-20
f WAS \ GRAND SUCCESS The Launching of the Two New
 War Vessels. NASHVILLE AND WILL MINGT0N Were the Names Given Them by Their Pretty
 Sponsors. THE SAME WAYS USED FOX BOTH Secretary Herbert. With Ills Special Party, Was Present, and They Had
 Jolly Good Time With the
 Naval Officers.
NASHVILLE AND WILL MlNGT0N
HE SAME WAYS USED FOX BOTH

Newport News, Va, Oct. 19-The launch of the gunboats Nashville and Wilmington today was the occasion of an unusual naval demonstration, Admir- al Bunce assembling the North Atlantic squadron in Hampton Roads, opposite the ship yards. and Secretary Herbert with the distinguished party coming from Washington by special steamer to participate. Ashore and afioat profusion of flags and large crowds of people made brilliant spectacle.
 The event was remarkable as the first instance on record of two warships being launched on the same day from single set of ways. The vessels had been con- structed one ahead of the other tandem" fashion upon a continuous incline, the Nashville nearer the water, with her bow few feet from the Wilmington, both vessels taking the water stern foremost
 "I christen thee Nashville" As these words were uttered in a clear, musical voice the gunboat named for the Tennes- see city started down her ways this morning at the yard of Newport News Shipbuilding and Docking company, where at $50 the last fiber of the beam which held the vessel in place was sev- cred by saw. Miss Emma Thompson daughter of Joseph H. Thompson of Nashville, gracefully cast at her bow beautifully decorated bottle of cham pagne. At the next instant the sparkling contents of the bottle were streaming down the side of the gunboat. In few seconds the stern of the vessel struck water and her entire bottom was m- mersed below the waves.
 As the Nashville plunged into the river the tumunuouS cheering of the vast fhronQ in the ShinVard drowned bV the screeching of steamboat whistles, which welcomed the vessel to her natural elemnt
 After floating out into the river short distance the Nashville was lowed to her pier by a tug, and preparations at once made for launching the Wilmington. Senator Grays daughter, Miss A. B. Gray, stood on the platform at the yes sePs bow ready to perform the pleasant duty of sponsor. When the exciting mo- ment came she broke bhe bottle of wine on the bow of the gunboat and murmured the christening name. The vessel sped down the greased ways as gracefully as a swan, reciving an ovation similar to that accorded the Nashville.
 The voyage of 300 feet was brief but it was the longest ever made in this country by vessel on her launching trip. She was going at the speed of eleven knots an hour. When she struck the water her stern settled and rose
  knowledgement to the spectators.
 The Nashville and Wilmington were constructed on the same building slip, one ahead of the other, and were launch ed from the same set Of ways on the same day It is the first instance of the kind in shipbuilding history of the United States
 At the banquet which followed the launch the Rev. Mckay Smith of Wash ington responded to the toast "The Pres tn hn tive as a model of patriotism, true hus- band and kind father and to Mrs. CleVe- land as the honored wife of an honored American, and a woman whom all Amer jeans adored.
 Secretary Herbert in responding to the toast 'The American Navy" reviewed the great achievements of it's more prom inent representatives, paid high tribute to the sailor boys. thanked he Newport News Ship Building company for the good work it has turned out toward the establishing of the new American navy and predicted for the plant 8 great and prosperous future.
 President Orcutt of the Newport News company thanked the secretary for his kind sentiment reviewed the history of the work and read a congratulatory tele- gram received today from MT c. P. Huntington, who is now in California, in which that gentleman wished the guests of the company to understand that the
 
 crnment, desired to make sure of turn ing out efficient work, even at the ex- pense of profits.
 Congressman Washington of Tennessee delivered an impromptu address and was enthusiastically received. Major Jeffries of Wilmington, Del. responded feelingly to the toast wilmington" Other brief addresses were made, occupying the time until D. m., when the guests from Nash vile Wilmington and Washington were
 A.. Ic If tha squadron. where they were royalty en- 4ertained by the respective officers, and several impromptu dances were given in the vessels decks. At o'clock the guests were carried to Fortress Monroe, where the early evening was spent in social in tercourse and dancing. At 10 D. m. the steamer Newport News, with the friends of Secretary Herbert on board, left there on their return trip to Washington.
 Secretary Herbert has ordered the White squadron to sea on Monday next for weeks target practice.
 The Nashville is a light draught twin screw gunboat designed for the usual du- ties of cruising naval vessels. In coast work the moderate draft of water will enable her to enter many ports that most men-of-war are excluded from on ac- count of their greater draught. She is 220 feet long on the water line. with 3S feet beam. At her normal draught of II feet her displacement is 1871 tons. She Is scnoOner-r1gSeu, WHn TWO smoke pipes, and her total coal bunker capacity is 300 tons.
 She Is provided with two types of boil ers-cylndrical and water tubular She will be able to cruise. without coaling for long periods at moderate speed using her cylindrical boilers only. being able to rapidly increase her speed to it's extreme limit by starting fires under her remain ing boilers.
 No attempt has been made to secure over fourteen or fifteen knots an hour that being sufficient for the duties re- uuired of such vessel. When running at full power the high pressure cylinders receive steam from the Yarrow boilers directly while the two cylindrical boil-