The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-11-28

torrnrvei ali the way from the Badger
stat L. witness the event was given the
place Of honor upon the platform. with
the representatives Of the state, the city
and the great iron works responsible for
the safe delivery Of the craft 10 the gov
eminent of the United States.
For an hour before the plunge a large
force Of workmen tore away chock after
chock which supported the vessel.
leaving only one chock T. restrain
the monster. and this was the support
that Miss Lucille Gage. daughter OF the
governor-elect Of the state. had been
assigned 10 remove by means Of a gull
lotln. and the inevitable electric button.
~ a given signal the little miss pressed
the button and the crash of breaking
tllnh-rs announced to the thousands Of
anxious Spectators that the vessel was
about to leave the ways. Slowly the
iron monster moved towards the bay.
and all eyes turned to watch Miss Eliza
beth Stephenson break the bottle Of
champaign" upon the bow Of the vessel.
The vessel gathered momentum a. She
proceeded 10 the water, and after leav-
Ing the ways. tioatei calmly along until
brought 10 a stop in the bay. where the
work Of the company building her will
70 u.
Description of the Vessel.
Tie hattle-hip Wisconsin. designed in
the bureau If construction and repair Of
the navy department. is a sister ship Of
the Alabama. building in the Cramps
yard at Philadelphia. and also the Hi
uois building AT Newport News.
The dimensions Of the Wisconsin are
a. follows:
Length. on load water line. 36s feet:
beam Extreme. - feet 90 inches: draft
~ normal displacement Of ll.525 tons,
% feet . inches: maximum displace-
men. ali ammunition and stores on
board. 12.325 tons: maximum indicated
horse power estimated 10000: probable
speed. 1912 knots: complement Of off
GERS. 40; sealnen. marines. etc, 40.
The main battery will consist Of 4 IS.
inch breech loading rifles in Hichborn
balanced turrets, oval in shape, and
placed in the center line Of the vessel,
and II 6-inch rapid fire guns. The sec
ondarv battery will consist Of IS g.
FOUNDER rapid fire guns, 4 ~1-poundel
rapid fire guns. 2 Colt guns and 9 field
guns. She will carry 4 torpedo tubes.
For Protection of the Boat.
The armor belt, which extends from
the stem to abaft the after turret, is tc
be 161a inches thick at the top, and 81
inches thick at the bottom, except at
the forward end where it will be tapered
to 4 inches at the stem.
She will be protected against the en-.
trance Of water in case of injury to the
side, at the water line, by cofferdams
extending for the length Of the vessel
on each side, and having a general width
Of 3 feet, with a total capacity Of about
IL, 500 cubic feet, for stowage of fire
PROCEED corn pith cellulose. ~Independ.
ent Of the numerous small water-tight
pockets or cells forming the entire
scheme of cofferdams, the inner bottom
and hold, the platforms, splinter and
berth decks, are divided into between
200 and 800 water-tight compartments.
The turrets will be operated by cleo.
trio power, also the ammunition hoists,
and the dynamo and auxiliary blowers
for ventilating purposes. There will be
some 80 odd auxiliary engines in tht
vessel, thus adding greatly to the eff.
cheney Of the ship in the celebrity and
certainty with which the work can be
done.