Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-22
THE GUNBDATs HELENA
A Hew War Vessel Reaches Washington
This Morning.
s.nea In onor of M.n.-.a CIT,
a,a Brsr<aagaere to Receive
a /siry% Service.

the 8uuOoat type, arrived III washington
today. and is lying at the lower end Of
the navy yard. The ship comes here to
be presented with q handsome silver serv-
ice donated by the citizens of Helena.
Mont. after which city the boat was
named.
The Helena went into commission in New
York July & She left there last Monday
Tor Washington at O'Clock In the after
noon. As that was her first trip In com
mission, the voyage from New York here
was made in slow time. She anchored last
night at Cedar Point, and came on TO
Washington this morning. Her captain IL
Commander William T. Swfnburne.
He stated to Star reporter who was
aboard the vessel today that he would con-
fer with Senator Carter Of Montana IN req
erence to the presentation OF the service
and fixing Of the time. The service was put
on board the vessel in New York ana u
still there, but has not yet been exam
fned.
The Helena Is one of the finest boats IN
the United States navy. and was paiit 60
il of 1892 tons burden. has 1000 horse
power triple expansion engines OF SIX ooll
ers. She carries 10 officers ana loo men.
has double rudders and screws and carries
three anchors two in the . DOW a. ana coa oe "
She is by far the handsomest ntteo-up
boat in the service. as ackno~iedgea w
all authorities who have oeen anoaau ~ -
her. Every room Is fitted WIN 81, he
lights and fans. There are shower oil.ls
for officers and men, and the "aru Loo,i
reminds one of an apartment N an eApee-
sive metropolitan hotel.
The officers cabins are umusualy iars~,
and. besides having every accommooalioi
DC ssible are even fitted with eA.eSi'e
cases. specially prepared for uniforms.
The armament Of the Helena Is as ioi.
lows: Eight four-inch latest type o, m1un'
She carries TN addition four one-pound
guns in the lower military top ana TWO au-
tomato Colt guns in the upper mlItary
top. It is so arranged that ammanition 4
can be carried from the magazine TN the
halls directly through the tube to the guns
on the tops without exposure.
The ship Is <. thoroughly ventiiated
throughout. and has its own Ice machine.
1t also has search lights OF strong power
and of the latest pattern. III TACT. every
thing of the latest type of a modern war
vessel is to be found on the Helena II is
considered great credit. for Its exceHsnee IN
every detail Is due to Constructor Wood-
ward o. S. N, who had charge or the YES
sci when 1t was building.
The list of officers is as follows: Captain.
Commander William T. Swtnburne: nrst
lieutenant, Charles e. Vreeiand: navigator.
Lieut.. Charles Laird: first watch officer. on
leave at present. Lieut.. Edward Moaie;
second watch officers, Ensign c. Davis.
Ensign H. G. Mcfarland; chief engineer,
F. n Eldredge: paypaster, J. H. Merriam;
pa ssed assistant, Surgeon J. F. Legs
The men are principally from the YER
mont. and, an unusual thing, most OF mem
are Americans l several OF them 0eihs 'f'''
The mascot of the ship Is little puppy.
black as smoke stack and as devflish as
OLD Nick himself. The puppy was taken
on board at New York. and Is Kept IN the
quarters Of the petty officers up forward
it Is q great Afavorfte with the men. ana
there has besn some talk of christening
it with the name Of the first syllable OF
that Of the ship. aAll the. servants are
The Helena was constructed at Newport
News, Va. by thet Newport News Ship
building Company, and cost only $23O,OO
which was deemsdt an unusually small
price for such q. handsomely fitted-up yes
sci Lieut.. Edward Moale. second watch
officer, Is al SON or Coz Edward Moale
so that he ia, especially proud OF, the YES
sci and takes, the greatest delight in show
ing visitors it's many beauties It Is not
known yet how long the Helena will lie
fere. fsi,n9 . -: ~
No Date Yet Fixed for Presentation.
No date has been set for the presenta-
ton. but 1t Will undoubtedly take place In
a day or two, as the Montana senator de-
sires to go home as soon as Congress adj
journs The ceremonies, while formal, will
be comparatively simple and brief. and
will consist only Of an address of presen-
tation by Senator Carter. and an address
by Commander Swinburne, commanding
the Helena, accepting the donation on be-
half of the officers and crew of the ship.