The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-30
A DOUBLE LAUNCHING
Newport News to Put on Gala Attire
Again This Morning.
TWO VESSELS TO SLIDE OFF THE WAYS
A Government Steamer and n Plant
Line vessel to BE Put Overbonrd-
n Description of the Vessels
Prominent OMicinIs TO he Present
Notes OF the Launch.


At Newport News to-day two vessels
yards OF the Newport News Shipbuild-
ing and Dry Dock Company-one for the
Plant Line and one for the United States
| Government. The name of the Plant
steamer has not yet been made public,
and will not be until the vessel IL about
to slide OFF the ways this morning, when
| Il board, bearing the name. will be hung
over her bow. She will be the first to
| leave the ways this morning, and the
hour set for the great event is 9 O. clock.
| for at that time the water will have
reached its highest point.
The Helena, which Is for Uncle San,
| is q. sister ship OF the Wilmington,
launched some time ago from the same
yards. and In general design is like the
Nashville although the latter is larger
and has additional means for providing
against accidents in the narrow waters
of Chinese rivers, where all three YES
sells will be assigned to duty.
The three vessels are peculiar in tyne
and differ from any Of their class nfloat
They are especially designed for hous-
ing missionaries. and large numbers OF
persons who may require protection in
event of instruction In uncivilized
countries. Each vessel. when CONFLICT
ed, will cost about 100000. exclusive OF
armament and they are expected to be
useful ships for duty In South Ameri-
can and Chinese ports. Their long
smokestacks give them an ungainly np-
peafnce. ana their lack of sail power
does not add to their attractiyeness to
the eye. With the six gunboats now un-
der construction, II IS believed thot
these ships will give the navy sufficient
cruising ships of their type and size
To answer all demands that may be made
t1,.. 500.
larger vessels cannot enter rivers and
shallow bays to afford protection to
American interests. With several YES
sells of their draught on the Aslntic
station during tho late Chinese war II
would have been possible to ascend the
long rivers far up Into the interior,
wherc missionaries could have been
warned Of threatened uprisings. and. If
necessary. taken on board For years
Inc navy has been i'm need Of lust such
vessels, and when they are Completed
ana ready for commission several of tho
mrnef shipS can be withdrawn from
CHINA and their places more ADVANTAGE
ously taken by crafts of lesser draueht
and more suitable for river work. All
three vessels were built under nm nm
preparation of Congress made two Yea rs
hEo. ana oy the contract they should
De ready for service before the spring
The Helena's length is $50 feet with
q maximum breadth of 40 feet, and n
mean drauGht at normal displacement
oi feet, which will enable her to enter
the shallowest waters on the Asiatic
station that are usually visited by the
United states war vessels. There will
he n difference Of two feet i'm the free
board forward and aft In favor of the
former, which Will admit of free play
for the guns. and besides afford ample
accommodations on deck In warm
wca 'h"r fort he crew. While the nor
NAL displacement or the vessel Is only
1850 tons. she will have n coal-carrying |
capacity of 200 tons and speed of four
teen knots on four hours trial. Elev-
cn officers. 100 sailors and ten marines J
will compose her crew.
The batteries OF the Helena and Will
mington will be comparatively light, |
nut the guns make UP In number what
they lack in calibre. On the forward
part of the Helena there will be four
four-i!Hch rifles, mounted in pairs. and
aft the same numli"r without any
protection other than that afforded by
gun shields. Amidships there will be
four four-inch guns. mounted In ar
mored sponsors on the gun deck, two
on each side: two six FOUNDERS, mount
ed forward on the forecastle. and four
Cnc-pounderS on the bridge and two
on the lower top. besides two Cuttings.
There will be no torpedo tubes, and
each gun is to he supplied with an un-
II.
The propelling power of the ship will
! consist OF iva triplc-cXpansiOn engines.
| one on each shaft, designed to generate
1900 horse power with piston speed
| of $50 feet n minute. and boiler pres
| sure OF $50 pounds. The weight of the
| machinery. including auxilia ries will be
| 200 tons, which seems heavy for n yes
sci IF hc, size. Common to all naval
| vessels of the United States this shin
| will be lighted by electricity and pro-
vidcd with refrigeratinG plants.
The steamer from Washington will
| this mornig bring down number of
Government officials to witness the
] launch and Will leave the wharf in this
| city with her distinguished party on
board ut Z o'clock. Secretary Herbert
viii not be in the party, but he will be
represented by Assistant Secretary Me
| Adco. The Helena will be christened
| by n young lady from Montana. who
has been Invited by the Mayor OF Hele-
| ma.
| Many ways are afforded of witnessing
| the launch. The steamers of the Old
Dominion line, the Chesapeake and
! Ohio railway. and Virginia Steamboat
| Company will leave in ample time ia
| reach Newport News.
A Compliment to Capt. McCnrrick.