Evening journal., 1895-10-19

AOA Was AuouOlcu III bun NlNel. ~ oom
prissd the New York, Columbia, Mime
apolis, Texas, Raleigh, Montgomery
Councils delegation and party arrived
via "Alsmba" at Old Point at 30, Came
here over the @ & o.
Secretary of Navy and party came
by steamer Newport News" The
shipyard gates we're opened at 8 10
and crowds began TO gather. By o'clock
fully 8 600 we're present. At promptly
the wedging up of Nashville began. and
the Artillery School Band, OF Fortress
Monroe. and the United States Marine
Band played Columbia, the Gem OF the
Ocean"
The day was perfect one and long
before the hour set for the launch the
yards and every point OF vantage was
crowded with eager spectators anxlously
waiting the event Many OF the
WilmlnRtonians those who had come by
the N. Y. p. & N. route, bad spent the
night at O.d Point Comfort aud at that
place they we're joined by the mayor, City
Council and others who had come by the
B. & o and Bay Line steamers
The new gunboats were bnilt under
sm act Of Congress approved March 3
1898, aud ara three 10 number, two Of
them. Wilmington ard Nashville,
launched to-day and Helena, which will
bs ready about the middle OF November
They cost about $3.50. 600 each A brief
description Of the Wilmington, In which
the people OF this city 6rs most inter
ested, may not be out Of place
Her dimensions are as follows:
length on load water line. normal
displacement, $50 feet, inches
maximum brefdth. moulded, 40 feet 6
inches; breadth at normal water line,
80 feet s inches; mean draught At normal
displacement feet 10 inches; free board,
at bow. l9 feet Q inches; freeboard, at
stern, IL feet 2 iuches normal displace-
ment I, 3i3 tons coal carried at normal
displacement. 100 tons; total coal
capacity, 275 tons; speed, contract, 10
knots Her complement will consist Of
II officers, 100 sailors aud 10 marines.
She has a steel hull With water-tight
deck over the machinery, magazines, etc. i,
sloping towards the sides below the
water line double bottom, OF
cellular construction Is under tais
section. She has twin screws and the
hull is.holloUed into two tunnels, att, to
admit Of the eaey entrance OF water to
the screws. She also has twin rudders
strongly protected.
As the Wilmington will depend
entirely on steam for propelling power.
she will have no sails. She will how
ever have what is known as a military
mast, with two tops, in the upper Of
which will be located two gatling guns
nnd IN the lower two six pounder
Hotchkiss guus. A coming tower locsi ed
Just below the lower top is resched By a
spiral stairway, inside the mast The
ammunition hoist Is alio within the
mast.
Being designed for service IN rivers snd
IN harbor5 likely 90 be crowded With other
craft, every precaution has been taken 20
provide against fouling, and but few
distractions appear on her sides. The
sponsors are SO arranged that the guns
are entirely within the side line Of tue
ship, while their train is Ia no manner
limited on that account. The same kind
OF coal protection Is provided for the
wster line region Rs that which prevails
10 the Nashville, the bunkers being
placed upon the slopes OF the water tight
deck.
In addition 70 the customary exhaust
system OF ventilation. fresh air will be
supplied by electric fans placed Ia
numerous vontilator5 reaching from the
main deck, and this will also ba supple
mented by number Of portable electric
fans
The battery will consist OF four four
inch guns mounted IN pairs, two forward
aud two aft, thoss aft being placed on
the main deck and those forward ON the
forecEstle deck, without other protection
than the usual gun shields; four four
inch guns mount ID In armored sponsors
on the gun deck, two on esch side
am'dships two six Founders mounted In
armored Sponsors on the gun deck two
six Founders mounted on the lower top,
two six Founders on the bridge, and two
Gatlings ia the upper top OF tue military
mast AL the guns viii be OF the rapid
fire type, and provision has been made
for carrying a large supply OF am
munition for each The vessel will have
no torpedo outfit.
rhe propelling machinery will consist
Of two engines OF the vertical inverted,
direct acting, triple expansion type. The
diameter OF the cylinders will be IA
inches. % inches and 33 rs inches, 70
spectively. with an IS inch stroke
designed for go horse power, with q
piston spsed Of $50 feet a minute, aud q
boiler pressure OF lSO pounds There
will bs six horizontal return tubular
boilers in two water tight compartment
20 maintain a working pressure Of 1SC
pounds. The boilers " 81 be 8 fee
inches long by feet 8 inches il
diameter. They will have nearly 12l
square feet OF CRATE surface and 07l
feet Of heating surface Provision has
been made for forced draught on th'
closed FIRE room system. This machinery
weighs about zoe tons
The Wilmington will BE- lighted with
electricity aud will have rsfrigeratins
plants aud other accessories which
contribute to health, comfort and
efficiency.
TIE COUECILKANIC PARTY'S TRIP