Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-31
VIEWED BY THOUSANDS Two Fine Steamships Success
 fully Launched. ONE OF THEM IS A CRUISER
The Other Is Passenger Steamer Belonging
 to the Plant Line.
SHE IS ALSO AN AUXILIARY CRUlSEF
Daughter of the Mayor of Helena, Mon.-The Plant Steamer Named
 the La Grande Duchesse.

mense freight and passenger steamship that will be credit to the American merchant marine and another gunboat for Uncle Sam were launched at the yard of the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock company this morning.
 The first was the Plant steamship La Grande Duchesse," which glided grace fully down the ways into the James river at 9:5S o'clock. Miss Nellie s. Eldridge of Boston was godmother for this vessel. As the steamer moved towards the river she crashed bottle of champagne against her bow and exclaimed in clear, musical voice, q christen thee LaGrande Duchesse" As the ship struck the water and rode the waves majestically thou sands of cheers rent the air and every whistle in the harbor sounded noisy salute.
 The gunboat Helena was launched at 12:37 o'clock Miss Agnes Belle St~ele, daughter of Mayor Steele of Helena, Mont, was the fair sponsor for the yes sel. She announced and christened her city's namesake in the time-honored manner.
 The launching of both vessels was suc- cessful in every respect. Assistant Sec- retary of the Navy McAdoo and a large party of ladies and gentlemen from Washington were present, together with well-known transportation men from all over the country.
 The new boat Helena added to the United States force afloat today is an ex- act duplicate of the Wilmington, launched with the cruiser Nashville from the adjoining ways of the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock company October 19 last. She is thirteen knot vessel of about 1400 tons displacement, 250 feet long, with the slight draft of g feet, adapting her for service in shallow ri nd uuh in m w r. ry a complement of 170 officers and men. The main battery of eight finch quick fire rifles, eight small rapid fire rifles and two Gatlings, is designed more for at tacks against unfortified positions than for combat against other naval vessels. It is intended that vessels of this class shall be kept in Chinese waters and the harbors of countries near the tropics, for which purpose she has been equipped with refrigerating apparatus and other appliances for the health and comfort of the crew. This vessel, like her sister ship, is electrically lighted throughout. The cost was $2S0,000. Her godmother, who christened her today, is Miss Agnes Belle Steele, daughter of the mayor of Helena, Mont, who was in attendance today with an escort of four ladies and gentlemen, having come east solely for today's christening. Assistant Secretary Me Adoo Rear Admiral Jewett, Naval Con- structor Taylor, Assistant Judge Advo- cate-General Lauchheimer, Lieutenants Niblack, Veeder and Knapp and several others represented the naval department at the launch and were among the distin- guished guests of President c. P. Orcutt of the Ship Building company at luncheon following the ceremony
 The big coastwise passenger vessel of the Plant line which preceded the Helena into the water today in some respects Is also a valuable addition to the American navy, as she was constructed in compli- ance with the government requirements for auxiliary cruisers, and is adapted for arming and commissioning whenever oc- casion arises. She Is a steel vessel 404 feet long, with 47 feet beam, and be- sides a large freight carrying capacity has accommodations for 300 first-class and 400 second-class passengers. One of her novelties is the installation of water tube boilers supplying steam to 1000 horse power engines, which should drive her at the rate of twenty knots.
 The Newport News Dock yard, al- though one of the youngest concerns in the country, has the most modern plant in this country and has been recently successful in securing contracts for the two battleships Kearsarge and Kentucky in competition with older American ship builders. The submarine torpedo boat for the navy is also being constructed here, and keels will shortly be laid for two more light draft gunboats. Follow ing the double launching today dinner was served, at which Assistant Secretary McAdoo and other officials spoke