The record-union., 1898-01-23
The chit0se Slides From the Ways
at San Francisco.
Not a Hitch in the Proceedings Which Took
Place Yesterday,
The New Cruiser, Which May he
Destined to Soon Take an I'm
portant Part in Warfare,
is os American Construction
Throughout, and the First For
eign Warsilip Ever Launched
en- This Coast.

throughout, and the EirsS Or
eign Warship Ever Launched
en- This Coast.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 22.-The
Japanese Cruiser Chitose slid from the
ways ct 1927 O'Clock The launching
was ono of the most successful that
has evec taken place at the Union Iron
works. thousands Witnessed the
launching. Long before the tide had
reached the proper stage for the float
ing of the hull OF the new marine
fighter, the hills of the Potrero were
dotted with little groups OF spectators.
and the waters edge between the Arc
tic oil Works and the Scotts yard was
lined With men. women and children.
/ Tug boats arrived at the docks Of the
WORKS laden with gaily gowned women
and men resplendent in plug hats, and
yes, gold lace. The tinsel of rank was
/ blended with the colors of social form.
l'lending much life to what might have
proved = somewhat commonplace me-
chanical proceeding.
The Union Iron Works had their own
tug boat, the Rockaway. and that OF
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
the Nillen Griffith, at Mission dock at
an early hour The two boats left the
wharf for the ship yards at 9:15, and
were followed shortly By the State tug
Governor Markham with members of
Governor Budd's staff on board a
number of well-known citizens and q
large delegation Of ladies.
The Millen Griffith carried Miss May
Eudd of Stockton, 1iece of Governor
Budd, and Miss Gladys Sullivan. niece
of Hon. James d. Phelan. Mayor of
San Francisco. The former broke the
bottle of wine on the Chitoses bow, and
the latter touched the button which
released the tiny guillotine which cut
the rope attached TO the last block TO
be struck from under the cradle of the
warship.
Henry Scott accompanied his srsests
on the Griffith. He received Captain :.
SakuraI. naval instructor of the I'm
perial japanese navy, the gentleman's
staff ard tl.e officers OF the United
States army and navy and Califkpia
State militia, who We're invited TO be
on the platform when the ship slid off
the ways on the platform at the
works were many prominent people.
The big hull of the cruiser was gay
white and the stars and stripes of the
United States floated above the ways
and on every hand.
The Chitose's stem rested against the
patforIc of the mold loft, where the
specially honored guests of the occa-
sion We're assembled.
When the time arrived the thousands
of people who were gathered to see the
1ai i-7c Gil al
ious \ shout went up as the last coli
or-laden ropes were Ioosened. there was
crash of glass, splash of cham
pagne and the noble ship slid majes-
tically down the ways and well out
into the water.
The moment Of the christening was
the signal for freeing three white
doves. which had been captive, and the
birds, emblematic of messages Of peace,
flew up among the colors of the ship
as they were parted from the land.
The japanese colony Of San Fran
cisco provided very novel entertain
ment. A large barge was anchored
near the iron works, and a great guam
tity of Japanese hot-air balloons and
daylight fire works We're set off.
After the launching Irving NJ. and
Henry Scott entertained a large num-
Der of their distinguished guests at q
lunch in the mold loft.
The dimensions of the Chtose are:
Length over all, 405 feet > inches;
length. load water line 396 feet:
breadth, nodded. 10 feet; draught. nor
NAL, II feet ~ inches; displacement.
AGO tons: speed, 221a knots; indicated
horse power, 15,500 engines. two sets,
40-6066-66; revolutions, 100; nam
boilers, II.
The armament will consist of two
S-inch quick-fring guns, ten i7-inch
quick-firing guns. six 2la-pounder
quick-firing guns, and five 14-inch tor
pedo tubes.
The Chitose ranks as a second-class
unannored, protected cruiser. The
contract for her construction was sign
ed at Washington by Minister Toru
Hoshi on behalf Of his Government on
December 81. 1896. The keel was laid
on May 3, 1897, and the first rivet
driven on June 26. 1891
The Chitose is OF American construc-
ton throughout. The steel plates were
forged in this country. and both en-
gines and boilers were manufactured