The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-20
TWO new WAR SHIPS
LAUNCHING OF THE NASHVILLE
AND WILMINGTON AT NEW
PORT NEWS
ABSORPTION OF THE VESSELS

Either Case The Wtlm ngtOn's
Course Was the Longest Ever Taken
by Any R pat Laun ,hed on this COn-
tinent-A Magnificent Banquet.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Oct. 19 Fully
5000 people witnessed to day the launch
ing of the Nashville and Wilmington.
the new steel gunboats built by the. New
port News Ship Building and Dry Dock
Company, The Nashville slid from the
ways at exactly thirteen minutes to 10
O'Clock, Miss Emma Thompson, daughter
of Hon. Joseph H. Thompson, of Nash
vile, breaking the traditional champagne
bottle across her bows.
The Wilmington was launched at 11:0S
exactly, and was christened by Miss Anne
B. Gray, of Wilmington, daughter of
Senator Gray.
The Wilmington's course, 800 feet over
the ways, was the longest ever taken by
any boat launched on this continent.
Her speed when she struck the water was
II knots an hour. There was not sin
gle hitch in either case. The launching
was as near perfect success as possible
The banquet, which followed the
launching was one of the biggest affairs
of the kind ever known here. Following
is list of the toasts and the names of
the gentlemen who responded:
''The President" Rev. D. Mckay
Smith, of Washington
The Navy" Secretary Herbert.
''The Newport News Ship Building
and Dry Do1k Co }" @. B. Orcott, Pres
ident of the company.
Nashville, Hon. Joseph E. Wash
ington, member of Congress from Ten
nessee.
Wilmington, Hon. G. r. Jeffries,
Mayor of the city of Wilmington.
The speeches were made in very
happy vein and all of the speakers took
occasion TO say some very nice things
about the Newport News Ship Yard.
The presence of the North Atlantic
squadron in the river added great deal
to the impressiveness of the occasion.
TIE two gunboats launched to-day are
the frst CT 4ft designed entirely unfer
Secretary Herbert's administration.
Trey are especially intended TO meet the
need for small, easily handled and eco
nomical draft to do police duty in shall
low, trorical ports and up Asiatic rivers,
thus relieving the large cruisers Of work
for which they are ill-fitted. Chief Con-
structor HchDorn planned to make them
composite, copper sheathed vessels so
that they would not be obliged to resort
frequently to remote dry docks, but,
owing 10 the limitations of the Law, this
could not be done, and both the Will
mington aud the Nashville are allsteel
boats.
The Nashville is a schooner rigged
boat, and is interesting because OF her
peculiar machinery arrangements. She
has twin screws aud two sets OF quadru-
pie expansion engines. The cylinders
of these are arranged in fore and aft
lines, with the low pressures towards the
bow The purpose is to disconnect these
big cylinders by shaft coupling when
the vessel is on ordinary cruises, making
the engines triple expansion, and as thus
arranged, they can be worked with small
consumption of coal, at about eight
knots speed. By coupling the low press
ura cylinders with the others, the speed
may be run up to fourteen knots, though
at the expense of much more,
a 1proximate to that of careful merchant
steamers, is expected. A further economy
and simplicity is effected by driving the
main air pump directly from the main
engines, keeping IN reserve small III
dependent pump for use with high
speeds A curious arrangement Of boil
eTs has been ado ted to meet the needs
of the alternative quadruple or triple
expansion system. There are four tnbu-
lous and two cylindrical boilers. With
full power and speed all of the boilers
will be used, the tubuions supplying
steam at 260 pounds to the high pres
sure cylinders and the she'll boilers sup
plying steam at 100 pounds to the first
intermediate cylinders 70 meet it AT
cruising speeds either set of boilers may
be used alone. The maximum horse
power will be /, ,750. Aside from these
novel machinery arrangements, the fea
lures of the Nashville are as follows:
Length, 220 feet; breadth, % feet, 3
inches; displacement, ,371 tons; com
p'ement, $50 men; battery, four rapid
FIRE inch rifles on the main deck, four
Of the same in armored sponsors on the
gun deck, four FOUNDER Hotchkiss
guns and number Of 1pounder and
Calling guns.
The Wilmiogton's peculiarities are in
the hull She is only 81 tons longer than
the Nashville but she is full thirty feet
longer and nearly two feet broader, be-
ing $50 feet, 0 inches long by 20 feet,
inch broad This is accounted for by
the fact that she draws only nina feet Of
water, being specially designed for SER
vice in the shallow Asiatic rivers She
has no sail power, but has one big mill
tary mast in the shape of a conical
steel tower, containing special staircase
and carrying two Gatling and two l.
FOUNDER Hotchkiss guns. The vessel
has twin screws and double rudders, en-
suring quick turning in narrow channels,
aud to protect them against fouling and
damage from the banks or drift, the hull
is shaped astern into two long tun els