El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-08-13

Handsome is rs handsome does. Who
would have thought, year ago, that
the bsttleship Texas would be one of
the two most popular ships of the
navy? She is as much admired now,
says the Buffalo Express, as she was
jeered at then, all because she has
proved herself so able in battle.
From the time she went into COM
mission in 1895, i'll luck seemed to pur-
sue the Texas. She had more acct
dents than any other ship in the navy.
Her troubles began at the very start.
Congress authorized her construction
in 1856, and her plans were bought
for els, 900 from British firm, after q
prize competition held by the navy de-
partment. A dispute over the ques-
ton, who was entitled to the money,
signer from the lucky firm. The ship
WAS built at the Norfolk
navy yard-the first vessel con-
structed there since the rebellion. Dis
cussions which arose as to her stability
and floating capacity delayed the lay
ing OF her keel until 1898. While she
was still on the ways certain officers
claimed that she would sink so far be-
low the estimated water-line as TO be
entirely useless. So the department
had her plans thoroughly gone over,
and decided that the calculations were
correct. She was launched in 1892.
Difficulty in getting armor then delay
ed her completion for three more years
But all these halts had one good result,
She is n better and more modern ship
than she would have been had she been
completed at once from the original
plans.
After going into commission she was
locked az New York. It was then dis
covered that her bottom plating was
not strong enough, and she went back
TO Norfolk, was put out OF commission
and locked and her plating was
strengthened. Soon after going into
commission once more, she ran
aground in July, 1896, in Newport
harbor. In November of that year
the Texas distinguished herself by
one Of the strangest accidents that
ever befell wsrship While slying
quietly ut The New York Yard, she
suddenly sank beside the dock. II
seemed that one OF her main injection
pipes was out for repair, and the cast
iron yoke holding the main valve sud
denly broke under the pressure, admit
ing stream OF foul hsrbor water the
size OF the pipe. At sea the pipe would
always be In place aad the valve open,
so such an accident could not occur;
yet the feat of sinking At dock won for
the Texas apparently immortal dis
grace. Last summer her steam launch
blew up, causing loss of life, adding to
her already bad fame. She also went
aground in Galveston harbor not ma
ny months ago. AT one time she had
a serious structural defect in tha. her
turret guns could be loaded in only two
positions, and one of these was held by
her officers to be impracticable iu
ses-way. So IL will be seen that the
Texas went into the present war with
"a very bad reputation to redeem.
That she has changed from an un-
lucky chip must be due to her officers
and crew, and, above all, - her cap
tain, John w. Philip. A good captain
will discover &C ID in the worst of ships,
while, on the contrary, with an ineffi-
Client commander, the best of vessels
will make but an Indifferent record
The good that is in the maligned Tex
as has been brought u view by her
gallant and capable handling.
1t is curious to remember now that.
not long ago, the Iowa was called 1.-THE
pride of the navy" and was considered
Uncle Sans best lighting ship. She
is truly good ship, and has a good
commander in Capt. Evans, yet the
war has not given her the opportunity
of proving all that she is capable of.
The present pride OF the navy" is I'M
doubtedly the swift, staunch Oregon,
and close behind her is the once
jeered Texas.
In speed the Texas Is the best of the
United States battleships, being cred
tied with seventeen knots. This was
equaled only by the Maine. and is half
a knot faster than the Iowa, aud a
quarter OF knot faster than the Ore
gon. The'Indiana has a speed of 15.5
knots, and the Massachusetts of 1872.
The Texas is 3OI feet long, 81 feet in
breadth and has mean draft of u!
feet and displacement of 6,3l5 tons.
her heaviest armor is foot thick.
She carries two twelve-inch and six
six-inch guns. The cost of hull and
machinery was limited by congress to
81, 800, 900.
There are captains-brave captains