Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-02-07
THE HELENA | AFL0AT
The Warship Slid Gracefully
Down the Mays.
A MONTANA GIRL NAMED IT
Intended to Protect American Intcrc SITS
at Places Where the Larger War
ships Cannot Steam.

Newport News. Va. Jan. 30.---The
third warship constructed by a private
southern shipyard since the war. and
also the largest merchant steamer
built in this country with the exception
of the two American transatlantic
liners built by the Cramps, were
launched successfully here by the New
port News Ship Building Company at
high tide this morning in the presence
of distinguished party from Wash
ington, members of the house naval
affairs committee. Admiral Brown, COM
manding the Norfolk navy yards, and
5000 people from adjacent towns. There
were also representatives of Admiral
Bunce's great fleet in Hampton Roads,
Senators Carter and Mantle of Mon
tana, Assistant Secretary McAdoo. who
represented the navy department in the
absence of Secretary Herbert
Adding to the spectacular effect pro-
duced by the steamers and sailing YES
sells gathered for the occasion was the
battleship Indiana, which came up
from Fort Monroe this morning to coal
pending departure for Port Royal Both
vessels are the finest type of their class
ever turned out by this yard, which
soon begins its construction of the
mammoth battleships Kentucky and
Kearsarge, authorized by the last con-
gress. In order to take advantage of
the flood tide the launch of the vessels
took place before IL o'clock, one follow
ing the other as fast as the workmen
could knock away the slaves
The first to take the water was the
merchant vessel, whose name had been
kept secret until she began to slide
down the ways, when Miss Nellie Sell
bridge of Boston broke the usual bottle
of wine and christened her Grand
Duchess" AS the stern If the great
hull caught the water the shrill whistles
of steamers gave greetings, while thou
sands of people showed their apprecia-
ton by prolonged cheers for the New
port News Ship Building Yards and c.
p. Huntington, as it's founder. What
route the new vessel Is intended for has
not yet been announced.
Thirty minutes after the Grand Ouch
ess had been towed out of the way the
warship Helena was ready to take her
natural element. With slight hesita-
ton, due to the lack of sufficient tallow
but with stately precision, she glided
into the James river as Miss Agnes Bell
Steele, daughter of Mayor Steele of Hell
ena, smashed the champagne bottle
and named her In honor of Montana s
capital city. Senators Garter and Man
tie, Mayor Steele and party of IS from
Montana, Captain Class of the Texas
and Admiral Brown were on the plat
form. The Indiana greeted the new ad-
dition to the service with deep blasts
from her steam whistle. The tugs and
other ships added to the din.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies
President Circuit entertained the visitors
at banquet. where the ships and COM
pany were toasted by senators. repre-
sentatiyes and others. The keels of the
new battleships will he laid near the
spot where the two ships were launched
today. This evening the Washington
visitors returned home.
The gunboat Helena is one of two
ships of a peculiar design built for the
navy by the Newport News company
her sister ship. the Wilmington having
been launched last October. The pur-
pose was to secure an efficient type OF
vessel for the navigation of shallow
and shifting rivers, such as are found
in China. which might still possess sea.
going qualities sufficient to ensure safe
passage from the United States to for
eign stations and also to enable them 10
be used in carrying the United States
flag into the many ports of South and
Central America which are now mac
cessible to our warships owing to shoa1
water.
so the Helena, when complete. with
ALL stores aboard, Will draw only nine
feet of water. and while not a battle
ship in the sense of not possessing ar
NOR and big guns, will carry eight four
inch rifies-guns quite large enough tc
meet anything short or armored craft
and heavy fortifications-and a number
of smaller machine guns, so mounted as
10 AFFORD an extremely destructive fire
upon mobs or troops on shore or a
boarding party.
fhe Helena Is ESQ feet inches long by
40 feet l inch beam, with a speed of IL
knots, and will carry ITO officers and
men.
Inc Grand Duchess Is merchant
ship built for the Plant line and des-
tined TO run between Tampa and the
bahamas