Evening journal., 1897-11-23

a wealth OF snowy canvas, and hum
dreds Of smaller boats. dancing on a
deep blue sea, beneath a still deeper
blue sky-it was beautiful.
At 1910 the last block was sawed and
Nashville glided gracefully into the
James river, the band playing
"Dixie."
At 1908 workmen began wedging up
Wilmington 1890, Miss Gray, dressed
in black creponette, with gray and
crimson silk and lace front, and carry
ing a bouquet of white roses tied with
cream ribbon and stamped with the
coat of arms of Delaware. came into
the stand accompanied by Secretary of
Navy Herbert, President Orcutt. Of
shipbuilding company; Admiral Bruce,
mayor. Council and city officials and
others of the Wilmington delegation.
She was assisted by Mrs. II. B.
Thompson, Miss Cooper, Miss Black,
Miss Draper, Miss Wilson, daughter Of
General James III. Wilson. Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Curtis, Andrew
G. Gray and a number of naval and
military officers.
The bottle, which hung from the
bows Of the boat, was enclosed in a web
of white silk and bore the national col
ors in silk ribbons on which were the
words Wilmington, Delaware" in
gold
At 1112 the boat started and as Miss
Gray shivered the bottle against her
sides she said: Il christen thee Will
mington'
She moved gracefully down the ways
and into the water, without a hitch.
amidst the cheers of people, blowing of
steam whistles from hundreds of boats
in the river IL took her about a min
ute TO make the long slide.
1t was eminently successful through
out. After the launch, invited guests
to the number of about 300 were enter
/ tanned at luncheon in the company s
office.
The Wilmington lay on the same
ways as the Nashville and prior to the
| launch there was some uneasiness
shown that she might meet with some
accident in her journey waterwards.
Her safe trip was a relief to these
doubtful ones, and especially to those
from the metropolis of the Diamond
State. A number of the delegates visit
ed Hampton and Norfolk.
The Board Of Trade party reached
Cape Charles at 6 o'clock. thirty-five
minutes late. Old Point Comfort at g.
one hour late. At Exmore Captain
Thomas johnson and son, Howard
Joined the party. The Hygeia was
1 filled with people from Nashville.
THE COUNCILMANIC PARTY.
The Councilmanic party was COM
posed of Mayor c. r. Jefferis, President
of Council Jesse X. Baylis, Clerk OF
| Council w. p. Morrison, Councilmen
George O'Neill, James B. Stevenson
Dennis ]. Leary, John B. Meaney
James w. Robertson, George NJ. Fisher
II. w. Zebley, Howard e. Stats, Calet
T. Watson, Francis J. McNulty, Henry
r. Smith, James b. Oberly, City Audi.
tor Isaac G. Pyle, Tax Collector Eugen,
M. Sayers. Edward II. Brennan, Over
]. Hession, Peter J. Ford, Street anC
Sewer Director Samuel Chambers, Viii
liam Simmons, William A. Pratt, Col
cnel Enoch Moore, ex-Mayor Il. G
Shortlidge, Samuel II. Baynard, j. Fl
Gooding. Lewis Sasse, David Connel
and Garrett ]. Smith, Walter H. Hayes
John c. Farra, Walter McEvilly, Dan
!, lei W. Lynch. John ]. Mealey, Michae
Newell, James keenan,, Charles Kee
nan, Mr.. and Mrs. II. c. Robinson, Johr
T. Dickey, Joseph K. Adams, Michae
Donahoe, DR.. J. w. Mullin, Mr.. anC
Mrs. A. S. Reed, Thomas Russell, Alex
ander Barney, J. M. Davidson, John F
Callahan, Lewis Miller, Harvey J
Wiley, Isaac B. Lenderman, Watson B
/, Lenderman, Robert G. Harman, ]. M
Mulrooney. Thomas Gormley.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUNBOAT.
The following description will affor,
the people Of Wilmington a good ide;
of the size and equipment of the gun
boat:
Length on load water line norma
p displacement, $50 feet inches; maxi
mum breadth, moulded, 40 feet inches
z breadth at normal water line, 80 feet
inches; mean draught at normal dis
placement, s feet 10 inches; freeboarl
at bow, 10 feet 9 inches; freeboard
! at stern, IL feet inches; normal uls
placement, 1913 tons; coal carried a
normal displacement, 100 tens; tota
coal capacity, 275 tons; speed contract
13 knots
She has a steel hull, water-tight dec
over the machinery, magazines, etc
slOping towards the sides below tn
water line. A double bottom, of cellu
lar construction, is under this section
She has twin screws, and the hull
followed into two tunnels. aft, to ad
NIT of the easy entrance of water t
the screws. She also has twin rudder
: strongly protected.
AS the Wilmington depends entirel
, on steam for propelling power. she ha
no sails. She, however, has what
5 known as a military mast, with tw
) tops. in the upper of which are locate
two Calling guns and in the lower tw
2 six-pounder Hotchkiss guns. A connin
tower located just below the lower to
is reached by a spiral stairway, insid
2 the mast. The ammunition hcist is ais
, within the mast.
= Being designed for service in river
and in harbors likely to be crowde
D with other craft, every precaution ha
5 been taken to provide against foulinl
t and but few distractions appear on he
S sides. The sponsors are so arrange
] that the guns are entirely within tn
e side line of the ship, while their trai
Q is in no manner limited on that aC
e count The same kind of coal protectio
/ is provided for the water line region a
e that which prevails in the Nashville
t the bunkers being placed upon th
q slopes Of the water-tight deck
e In addition to the customary exhau:
e system of ventilation. fresh air is sur