The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-31
PLANTS NEW STEAMER.
La Grande Duchesse Launched at
NeNnort NcMs.


Newport News, Jan. S0.-An immense
freight and passenger steamship that win
be a credit to the American merchant
marine and another gunboat for Uncle
sam We're launched at the yard OF the
Newport News ShIpbuIlding and Dry
dock Company this morning. The first
was the Plant steamship La Grande
Duchesse." which glided gracefully down
the ways into the James river at 9:5s
o'clock. Miss Nellie S. Eldridge Of Bos-
ton was the godmother for this vessel.
As the steamer moved toward the river
she crashed n bottle OF champagne against
the bow and exclaimed IN a clear mu-
steal voice: Il christen thee La Grande
Duchesse." AS the ship struck the water
and rode the waves maiestically thou
sands of cheers rent the air, and every
whistle in the harbor sounded noisy
note.
The gunboat Helena was launched at
1881 O'Clock. Miss Agnes Belle Steele,
daughter of Mayor Steele, OF Helena,
Mont, was the fair sponsor for the ves-
sell She announced and christened her
city's namesake in the time-honored man
ner
The launching OF both vessels was sue
cessful in every respect. Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy McAdoo and a large
party OF ladies and gentlemen from WASH
ingtOn were present, together with we'll
known transportation men from all over
the country.
The gunboat Helena. added to the United
States force atiOat to-day, In the presence
of Admiral Bunce's mysterious squadron
of evolution, is an exact duplicate of the
Wilmington, launched with the cruiser
Nashville, from the adjoining ways Of
Dock Doc X Company, on Oct oct. 10 last, hat oc-
casion being made memorable by the pres
ence Of the Secretary of the Navy and a
distinguished official party to witness the
first tandem launch IN naval records. She
Is a l3-knOt vessel, OF about 400 tons dis
placement, $50 feet long, with the slight
draft of nine feet adapting her for service
in shallow rivers and when in commits
sion Will carry a complement of 40 officers
and men. The main battery of eight 4
inch, quick-fire rifles, eight small rapid
fire rifles and two Gatltng guns, IL de-
signed more for attacks against unforti-
fled positions than for combat against
other naval vessels for 1t Is intended that
vessels of this class shall be kept in Chi
nese waters and the harbors Of countries
near the tropics, for which purpose he has
been equipped with refrigerating appara-
tus and other appliances for the health
and comfort of the crew. This vessel, like
her sister ship, Is electrically lighted
throughout. The cost was S2S0,OO0
Her godmOther, who chrstened her to-
day, is Miss Agnes Belle Steele, daughter
of the mayor of Helena Mont, who was
in attendance to-day with an escort OF
fourteen ladies' and gentlemen having
come east solely for to-day's function. AS
sistant Secretary McAdoo, Rear Admiral
Jewett, Naval Constructor Taylor, AS.
SlStanL Judge Advocate General Laucn-
heimer, Lieuts. Niblack. Veeder and
Knapp. and several others represented
the navy department at the launch and
| were among the distinguished guests OF
| President G. B. Orcutt of the ship build
| ing company at a luncheon following tn,
ceremony.
| The big coastwise passenger vessel o
| the Plant line. which preceded the He
| lena into the water to-day, In some res
| poets Is also a valuable addition to thu
| American navy, as she is constructed II
| compliance with the government require
ments for auxiliary cruisers, and Is adapt
| ed for arming and commissioning when
| ever occasion arises. She is a steel yes
| sell, 404 feet long, with AZ feet beam, ant
/ besides a large freight carrying capacity
/ has accommodations for 800 first-class ant
/ 400 second-class passengers. One of hei
| novelties is the installation of water tubs
| boilers supplying steam to 1900 horse
| at the rate of 20 knots.
The Newport News dock yard, although
one of the youngest concerns in the coun
/ try has the most modern plant in thii
| country, and has been recently successful
| in securing contracts for the two battle
/ ships Kearsage and Kentucky. in competi
| ton with older American shipbuilders.
The submarine torpedo boat for the navl
! Is also being constructed here and keel
| will shortly be laid for two more light
/ draught gunboats. Following the doubl,
| launching to-day o. dinner was served, a
| which Assistant Secretary McAdoo ant
| other officials spoke.