The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-06
LAUNCHED AT BATH
JINGLE SANS TWO NEW GUNB0ATs,
VIOKsBURG AND NEWPORT.

from the yards of the Bath Iron works
this afternoon before an immense crowd.
The Vicksburg went into the water at
1885 o'clock and the Newport followed
twenty minutes later. The iaunchings
were successful in every respect.
At least 10000 persons witnessed the
launching, including representatives
from the cities of Newport and Vicks-
burg. AS the vicksburg began to slide
from the ways, Miss Addie Trowbridge,
daughter Of the mayor of Vicks5ilrg.
troke a bottle of American champagne
on the bow and christened the vessel A
great shout went up. Twenty minutes
later loud cheers again arose, denotinS
that the Newport had started. Miss
LaFarge, daughter of John LaFarge, of
Newport, and great-granddaughter Of
Commodore Perry, had the honor of
breaking the wine on the Viewpoints
bow.
The new vessels were gaily decorated
with flags and bunting.
After the launching a luncheon was
given in the moulding loft of the Bath
Iron works by General T. W. Hyde, in
honor Of the visitors from Newport and
Vicksburg. The boats were towed TO
enter the navy early next year.
The gunboats Vicksburg and Newport
are vessels OF entirely new type, so far
as our navy is concerned, in that they
are Of composite construction, all Of the
framing being OF steel. but planks OF
Georgia pine being worked on the franz
ing below the water line, secured by
composition bolts in such a manner as
TO prevent galvanic action and being
then covered with copper. This will
make the vessels largely independent of
docking facilities and economical in the
use Of fue!, as the exploitation of the cop
per causes the barnacles and sea grass
to fall off as soon as the ship moves,
thus keeping her bottom clean and in
surfing the maintenance Of full speed
with minimum coal consumption. An
other feature OF these vessels that dis
tinguishes them from other naval ships
is the use of full sail power in addition
to steam. They will be Hgged as bark
entines and will be able to sail twelve
knots an hour without using their en-
gines so that they will prove most
economical cruisers for foreign stations.
The Vicksburg and Newport are sister
ships, of 1000 tons displacement. draw
ing II feet of water, 16S feet beam. and
will cost 1929, 400 each.
NAVAL TRANSFERS.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Captain Charles
D. Evans has been relieved of the COM
mand of the battleship Indiana and or
dered to Washington as member of the
lighthouse board. Captain Fl. C. Tay-
lor has been detached from the war col
lege and ordered to command the In
tiana. Commander j. MCGOWAN has
been ordered to command the naval
training station at Newport, in place of
Commander F. w. Dickins, VINO is or
dered to Washington as assistant to the
chief Of the navigation bureau.
PRENTICE BOYS ESCAPE.
Newport. r. l., Dec. S.-One hundred
naval apprentice boys made a dash for
liberty this afternoon and twenty sue
oeeded in escaping from Coasters Har-
Dor Island. The Newport and Fall Riv-
er police have been asked to help the
United States officials in capturing the
boys. The trouble is said to be the out
growth of the denial of the boys re-
quest for furloughs for the Christmas
holidays.
The outbreak occurred in the absence
of Commander Dickens, who is in Wash
ington on official business. Trouble has
ibeen brewing several days among the
apprentices. 1t eliminated today when
full speed dashed aver the bridge which
connects the island with the mainland.
The solitary sentinel could do nothing to
stop them and more than a score escap-
ed. Aid was summoned at once and sew
eral boys were captured in the vicinity.
Others returned voluntarily, but twenty
are still unaccounted for.
GARRISON FOR ALASKA
Washington, Dec. 5.-The war depart
ment is considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of
establishing a garrison in Alaska. The
necessity for such a station has been in
creased year by year. and the residents
of that far-off possession of the United
States have repeatedly appealed to the
department to send a garrison there at
once. Years ago a small company Of
troops was stationed in that territory,
but was withdrawn during an Indian
outbreak.
JEFFERSON BARRACKS.
ST. Louis. Dec. 5.-The Pcst-Dispatch
this afternoon says: THE probability
that jefferson Barracks will be aban-
doned by the government as a military
post is not remote. This prediction IS
based on known facts, supplemented by
the official complaint as to the bad sani-
fary condition of the post. registered
during years past by the various COM
manding officers in charge. An order
has been received from General Wesley
Merritt. in command Of the department
of Missouri with headquarters at Chi
cago, directing a board of officers 10
meet at jefferson barracks December is
to inquire into the sanitary condition of
ths post and the advisability Of contin-
uing il as such"
ST Louis, Mo-. Dec. 5-St. Louis was
startled today upon learning that Jeffer-
son Barracks may DE abandoned by the
government as a military post. II is a
matter wholly unthought of before Bust
ness men everywhere discuss il and COM
ment on it vigorously. On all sides were
dissenting voices. The fact that a board
of investigation had ben appointed by
the war department 10 inquire into the
sanitary condition of the post, and the
arguments set forth by those in authori
ty against the value OF the reservation
as a military post occasioned general an
noyance The proximity OF Jefferson Bar
racks 70 So. Louis has given the city a
sense of security at ali times. The mer
chants exchange will probably take very
prompt measures 10 prevent the abando-
ment of the barracks. Influence from
every available source viii be brought
10 bear on the officials of the war de-
partment and nothing will be left undone
to avert the prospect of losing such
valuable adjunct 10 this city as Jefferson
Barracks.
Albany. N T.. Dec. 5.-The New York
and Brooklyn Railroad company has ap-
piled 10 the railroad commissioners for
permission 10 build a tunnel under the
East river. The commission has set Dec
Is as the date for a hearing on the ap-
plication.
NOT GOOD TO BE ALONE
raaper of Illinois to 6e
Married Thursday.
Springfield. Ill. Dec. s--The marriage