The Portland daily press., 1896-12-07

beneath the vicksburg's hull, then the
shores and the blocks beneath the keel
were knocked away and for the first time
| the Vicksbulg rested entirely on her
owe keel The vessel was now held in
place only By a rope which prevented the
| cradle from sliding down the ways into
the water. John Stantial, the boss car
renter of the ship YARD, poised IN his
hand sharp axe and after blow or two
severed the rope which held the cradle in
pla ce. The Vicksburg, as If reluctant to
leave the spot where she had stood so
long, did not move at first. A hydraulic
JACK beneath the bow was put to work
and after a second of hesitation and q
tremor or two the vessel began slowly to
slide down the ways towards the river.
| Now was the time for the christening.
Miss Trowbridge held aloft the bottle of
champagne, enclosed in red, white and
blue ribbons. The southern girl tapped
the bottle against the retreating bows
gently and then. with a smash, broke it
into thousand pieces. AS the vine
|
said-foamed out over the vessels bows,
Miss TrowbridRe said, 81 name thee the
| Vicksburg," and the handsome ship, as
if it had been waiting for this alone.
glided away towards the water Cheer on
cheer arose from the assembled multitude
as the ship plugged into the Remedies.
The whistles of the tow boats III the
river and Of the city signified the joy at
tie birth of another noble ship for Uncle
Sam. One of the twins having
successfully commenced her career 1t Was
now the turn of the other. Miss Mar
gazette La Fargo the young lady selected
| by Mayor Boyle of Newport to christen
the vessel of that name, was singularly
we'll fitted by descent to act in that ca
pacity. She is q great granddaughter of
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the
hero of Lake Erie ana a member OF
that illustrous family which has given
to the United States navy SO many of
it's brave officers Miss La large ia also
q Hneal desce adant of Benjamin Frank
| lin and of the first congressman from
the state of Rhode Island. Although not
a resident of Newport at present, her
father being prominent New York ar
| fist, Miss La Farges family halls from
that city and hence her selection to chris
| ten the new boat
| At the proper signal from supsrintend-
emit Hascome the workmen set to work to
release the Newport and soon the vessel
was in readiness to join ner twin sister
Of the Kennebec. Miss La Fargo, who
| by the way, is very pretty brunette and
who would serve rs an excellent foil for
Miss Trowbriuge. was enthusiastically
cheered by the large Newport delegation
as by one determined stroke she broke
the bottle of ohampage on the vessels
bow and christened her the Newport -
It was about the most successful
launching Bath has ever witnessed and
auaers well for the future career of the
vessels.
The contract for the construction of the
Newport and Vicksburg was signed No
vemEsr /, 1895, each vessel to cost $685.,
600, although when ready to take on
board their armament they will proba-
bly, have cost fully $3.50, GOO. The keel
for the Vicksburg was laid March %,
1896, and of the Newport on March 25th.
Both of the vessels are of the same size.
The length of the load water line is Is
feet and the extreme breadth is SO feet.
The displacement normal draft about
900 tons.
The boats are of composite construction
with four inch planking Of yellow pine
extending two feet above the water line.
Ths frame consists of steel q bars
5xs1Sx21 inches. Above the planking the
vessel is plated with SO inch steel plates.
The boats are divided into numerous
water tight compartments
The armament consists of six inch
breech loading rifles. four 6 pound rapid
firing and two l pound rapid firing
guns.
Each craft will have nine officers, 10
marines and 1875 sailors.
The engines are triple expansion, the
cy clinaers being Is IA, % Ia. 30 inch and
80 inch stroke.
The vessels have two Scotch boilers 10
feet, 6 inches in diameter, by 10 feet. 8
1nCleS long, UQ6 SUoh III pf6SSui0 VI Wdloh
is IS pounds per square inch.
The engines are expected to develope
800 indicated horse power capable of
sending the boats through the water at
! the rate of 10 knots or better.
Under ordinary circumstances, however,
| the boats can cruise about without the
aid of steam, owing to their large dis
play of canvas in the shape of barksn-
| tine rig.
GEN. HYDE'S LUNCH.
Immediately following the launching
| Gen. Hyde rendered his guests to the
number of about $50, an elaborate lunch
| in the drauahtinR room OF the ship
dray. The tables were handsomely dec
orated with flowers and the walls OF the
room were decorated with bunting and
pictures Of other vessels of the navy.
General Hyde in welcoming his guests
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen 1T gives me