The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-10-24
LAUNCHED.
The 0unboats Nashville and WI.
mington on the Deep.

These vessels Are Peculiarly Adapted 70
Service on the Inland Watsrs Of the
United States and Other Ceuhtriss-
Doscrlptioa Of tho 0uu6oate.
NEwPoRr News Va, Oct 81. -
The launch Of the gunboats Nashville
and Wilmington Saturday was made
the occasion of an unusual naval DEM
onstratiou. Adm. Bunce assembling
the north Atlantic squadron in Hamp-
ton Roads opposite the shipyards and
Secretary Herbert, with distinguished
party, coming from Washington by
special steamer to participate. Ashore
and afloat a profusion of flags and
large crowds of people made brilliant
spectacle.
The event was remarkable az the
first instance on record of two war
ships being launched on the same day
from single set Of ways. The vessels
had been constructed one ahead Of the
other tandem" fashion upon contin-
uous incline, the Nashville nearer the
water with her bow few feet from
the Wilmington, both vessels taking
water stern foremost.
At 9:4S the Nashville started majest-
ically while Miss Emma Thompson. of
Tennessee's capital christened her
with champagne. Seventeen seconds
later, amid the din of steamer whistles
and shouts of the crowd, drowning the
national airs, played by the artillery
band from Fortress Monroe, the ship
floated in deep water.
Finally at 11:1O Miss Annie Gray,
Senator Gray's daughter, was given
the signal that the ship was ginning
to move almost unperceptibly and she
swung the champagne bottle christen-
ing the Wilmington. With rapidly in
creasing velocity the ship moved sea-
ward with salutes like those which had
greeted the Nashville and in 4s Sec
onds complet ed her journey. The two
new additions to the navy were then
towed past Adm. Bunce's feet and
moored at the docks, where their ma
chinery will be installed.
The gunboats Nashville and Will
mington, though differing in many de-
tails, are practically the first vessels
of the new navy, which, while per.
fectly seaworthy for round the world
cruisers with their remarkably large
radius of action, are peculiarly adapt
able for service on the inland waters
of the United States and other
countries, and by reason of
their comparatively moderate draft
may be expected to visit local.
tiles whe re warships are virtually un-
known. On the stocks beside them
the Helena, a sister ship in every par.
ticular, is ready to be launched next
week, and these vessels, drawing only
nine feet of water, are apt to prove the
most useful steamers owned by the
United States. They are designed for
river seryice, more for utility in pro.
tecting American property and citi-
zens up the Yangtse Kiang above the
points now reached by armed vessels
than for possible auxiliaries to land
forces in times of riot on the Mississip.
pi and its tributaries, but for the
latter purpose they could always be
available.
Congress having stipulated through
an advertence that they should be
''steel gunboats," which led to an
opinion from the attorney general at
the time that they must be constructed
wholly of steel. The keels were laid
the latter part of last year by the
Newport News Shipbuilding Co., under
the contract to complete the vessels by
January 26 next year, at cost of $780,
900 each. The Nashville must attain
IA knots per hour, with a premium or
penalty of SEQ, 600 knot above or be-
low that figure. If below 13 knots
the ship will be rejected. The
other two vessels are to have
maximum speed of 13 knots The
hull and general arrangements of the
Nashville were designed by Chief Ma.
val Constructor Philip Hichborn, who
has designed all the recent American
warships that have become famous
throughout the world on account OF
their speed and other superior quail.
ties. A double bottom is so arranged
in subdivisions that at least two of the
vessels skins must be pierced to admit
water to the fire rooms, besides which
there is water tight deck near the
water line, which, with the coal bunk.
ers, protect all the ships vitals
Her complement will consist of II
officers, l29 sailors and 10 marines. The
vessels batteries will comprise four
4-inch guns, mounted in the open on
the main deck, two being placed for.
ward and two aft in pairs on opposite
sides OF the ship; four 4-inch guns in
armored sponsons on the gun deck,
two on each broadside amidships; four
6-pounder Hotchkiss guns, two forward
and two aft, in 1-inch armored spon-
sons on the gun deck. Two 1-pounder
Hotchkiss and two gatling guns will
be carried on the main deck.
The Queens Murderers Denounced.
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