The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-27
IN SAN FRANCISCO.
No Vessel in the World is Better Fit
ted for All Around Sevice.
WAS WITNESS BY THOUSANDS.
The state Officials OF Wisconsin and
the Christening Party. Including
the Sponsor, Miss Stevenson,
Came in Special Train from
Their Statc-INO Bottles
of Wine Used.

SAN FRANCISCO. NOV. e6-Thc Battle
Ship Wisconsin was successfully launch
td at e.22 this morning. When the big
vessel slid down the ways. the war ships
in the harbor fred saiutes and there was
4. terrible din from the steam whistles.
The controversy over the kind Of wine
to be usec IN the christening was se'ileu
his morning by the use OF TWO bottles
uf champagne. one of French make pro-
yided bv the Wisconsin Christening
committee. and another OF California
chan,pagne provided by the Union iron
Works.
For an hour before the plunge large
force of workmcn tore away chock aiter
chock. which supported the Nessol' anu
tnev finished their work almost 10 the
minute of the prescribed time for the
launching. leaving only one chock TO re-
tain tho monster. and this was the sup
mort that little Miss Lucille Gage, ddugh-
Ter of he Governor elect of the state,
had been assigned to remove by means
Of "A guiliOtinc and the inevitable cltc-
tric button AT ID given signal the little
miss pressed the button and the crash
OF breaking timbors announced TO the
thousands of anxious spectators that the
vessel was about 10 leave the wa
THE VESSEL CHRlSTENED.
Slowly the iron monster moved toward
the bay. ard all eyes watched Hiss
Elizabeth Stevenson break the bottle Of
champagne upon the bow Of the vessel.
Prior 10 the launching. gigantic flag
of the Union, measuring twenty-seven
feet long and four feet wide. was pre-
scntcd i'm honor of the Wisconsin. The
fag was the result Of the combined effort
of 800 children of the Irving NJ Scott pub
Die school Following thc presentation of
the nag a poem. "To the Wisconsin.
was read by Miss Clara liza Price, its
guthOr
The christening Of battleship has be-
roiue such "A frequent occurrence that
we are getting used 10 10. only recently
the besutiful Illinois went down as
sisted by Miss Letter and quarts of soft
soap
Eut the launching from the Mare Is
land navy yard makes this great event
Tor of late 30 has happened that the great
ceremonies have am taken place from
the navy yards of the east
OUR NAVY YARDS.
The Mare Island navy yard or as IL
S. generally called. the san Francisco
navy yard. is one OF the eight navy yards
belonging 10 the United States. There is
the Brooklyn navy yard at Brooklyn. y.
y . the Charleston navy yard. dear 10 the
heart of every Roston bov. located near
Boston the Gospori navy yard near Nor
folk. or as it is generally called. the
Norfolk navy yard. and the League
Island navy yard. four miles from the
city Hau Philadelphia There is also
The IcnsicOia navy yard. situated at Pen
sacOIa Fl8. whore some very fine work
has been done. and the Washington navy
yard. at Washington. ID. q.
The Mare Island navy yard is the only
one ou the western coast of national im-
por'ancc and consequently IL was yes
ferday the scene of "a very large gather
ing. AN The railroads and steamers have
been advertising special rates for this
event for over % month and when day
daWncd yesterday there was not an inch
of accommodation % bc found i'm the
city of san Francisco.
The immense official train arrived
ttiurug the State officials and the
party. This official train was
n week onroutc going from Wisconsin
TO Minnesota and stopping az the prin-
Cipal cities of the West including omaha.
Denver and other cities OF prominence
and beauiy. The chistening party made
"a gala affair of the trip. and from the
telegraph reports they had a very merry
lime indeed
QUEEN or CRUISERS.
She Wisconsin. now the queen OF steel
armorcd cruisers. Teplcte with every
thing that constitutes perfection I'm mod
ern cngineerlug and vessel construction.
moved with no more mishaps than might
have been expected from the ways,
down into the waters of the bay. She
acted Ike great baby taking its first
steps. But with "a short time I'm dry
dock an Mare Island and with a few hum
drcd tons of coal On her oapacious bunk
ers few blue Jackets and a mastering
capacity for her entire ships crew the
Wisconsin wil be ready ia 80 anywhere
on any mission.
No vessel of her class in an the YES
sells Of the world is better fitted for dis
play peace or Tor service in war None
save. perhaps. one or Two in our own
navy that have been built with special !
regard for speed. can show cleaner pair |
of heels than the Wisconsins twin /
screws OF poke her nose further into |
trouble ahead than she can with her |
lean cut ram.
The Wisconsln's description has been |
,o often given I'm naval terms that YOU |
have an idea that she is of very aua type |
indeed Imagine a cruiser 3N feet iong. |
% feet longer than the Oregon and flr- |
cy one " feet in breadth. which Is also |
, leot bigger than the famous Orl gon. |
Her draught d. less than The Oregon. |
which ls considered a very good thing |
for cruiser THAI Will go into bays ana |
shallow spots Her type OF engine as /
known nauticaliy. is a twin-screw. were
tica triple expansion, or a. you "l see |
u in The naval books. + s Y. T. =. Tier |
normal coaling supply IS $50 tons. Al |
iirsi she was scheduled FOR a great deal
less. but the experience of the recent
war taught our naval constructors how !
important 10 was 20 have plenty Of coal |
aboard, and when IL was known ihat the |
Wisconsin. like the oregon. would sail /
foreign seas where coal stations are few |
nfty tons were added 10 her supply pos
sibiliiies Her bunker capacity Is lDo |
and her torpedo tubes are four.
HER ARMOR.
Her armer sides are coated nearly a
loot and a half thick. she has seventeen
srmored turrets. sixteen barbettes and
when she goes 20 sea she will carry
Of ffiy officers and 525 men.
rhis will make her "A very good ship
indeed. and perhaps the Wisconsin will
,c the pride Of our new navy.
The Mare Island navy ward AZ aurk n I