The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-10-13
BIGGEST IN THE NAVY
Batt1e-Ship Illinois Launched
at Newport News.
cHRIsTENED BY MISS LETTER
New Vessel VIII he the Most Powerful
Of Uncle Sans Warships-Pro-
gross on the Wisconsin.

Newport News. Va, Oct. 6.-Amid
the enthusiastic plaudits of nearly 49,
600 intently interested people, the
shrill salutation of steam whistles from
many boats and tugs, and the strains
Of 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" the
first-class battle-ship Illinois slid into
the water today. The launch was
brilliant success in every particular.
The sponsor of the vessel, Miss Nancy
Letter, of Chicago. was accompanied by
Governor Tanner, of Illinois, and his
staff, in full uniform, and crowd o..
prominent Chicagoans.
Notable among the vessels in the har-
Dor was the United States dispatch
boat Dolphin, having on board Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy Allen and a
party Of .Washingtonians.
The approach of the christening
party was greeted with tremendous
cheers, and as MISS Letter and her at
tendants assembled the gaily decked
platform, and while the workmen were
engaged in knocking away the last
keel blocks, all eyes were upon the
young lady of Chicago.
Suddenly the painted mass Of steel
quivered, then slowly began sliding
toward the water. Just as the motion
fairly began, Miss Letter, who had been
standing with the christening bottle
poised in the air, let it swing sharply
against the bow. simultaneously utter.
ing the words: ~ christen thee Illi-
nois,'' and then amid deafening ap-
plause, the waving of banners and the
din of steam whistles, the gaiiy deco
rated hull, with more than 100 persons
aboard, glided gracefully into the
James river and slowly foated out into
the stream.
Among the distinguished spectators
were: Governor John R. Tanner, of
Illinois; Governor Taylor, of Virginia;
Mayor Carter Harrison, of Chicago;
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Allen,
Mrs. John A. Logan, Naval Construc-
tor Hichboin. designer of the vessel;
Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn.
Captain Paget, British naval attache;
General Mestragd, Russian naval at
tache; Mr.. Kennedy, Italian naval at
tache, and Mr.. Bonfire, French naval
attache.
At 4 o'clock grand banquet was
spread to the distinguished guests.
Covers were laid for 600 persons.
The Illinois will be the biggest, most
powerful, and probably the most effec-
tive battle-ship in the navy.
Larger than the Iowa and heavier
than the Oregon, the Illinois is still SO
designed that she will be able to enter
any harbor open to the smallest battle
ship, while in the matter of speed she
will rank with any of them. The most
striking difference between the Illinois
and the battle-sbips now in service is
the high freeboard of the former, en-
ablinz her to fight her guns from their
great elevation above the water in seas
SO heavy that the guns of lower vessel
would be submerged and useless.
Splendid seagoing powers are also ex-
pected to result from this increased
freeboard, by which is meant the height
of the hull above the water line. The
dimensions Of the Illinois follows:
Length on load water line, 1858 feet;
beam, extreme, 70 feet ~ inches;
draught on normal displacement of H.
b25 tons, % feet inches; maximum
displacement, all ammunition and
stores On board, 1895 tons; probable
speed, 1917 knots; normal coal supply,
800 tons; coal supply, loose storage,
1900 tons; full bunker capacity, 1.4O0
tons to /. 500 tons; complement OF OFF,
GERS. 40; seamen, marines, etc.. 449.
The main battery will consist OF four
13-inch breech- loading rifles in Hich-
born balance turrets. oval In shape
and placed in the center line OF the
vessel, and IA 6-inch rapid-fire guns.
The secondary battery will consist of
16 6-pounder rapid-fre guns. six l.
FOUNDER rapid-fre guns, two Colt guns
and two signal guns She will carry
four torpedo tubes.
There are two sets of triple-expan-
sion, twin-screw engines. each in it's
own separate water tight compartments.
The collective indicated horsepower
will be about $1,000, with 100 revolu-
tions per minute; stroke, feet.
The first keel plate of the vessel was
laid February 10, 1897, not quite 30
months past, and the percentage Ut
work completed to this date, based on
the vessel fitted out and ready for sea.
is now reported between 6S and 81 per
cent. The contract price was 50. $685.
600, and the date Of completion is
stated to be October 5, 1899.
Launching OF tho Wisconsin.
San Francisco, Got. 6.-The battle
ship Wisconsin is to be launched from
the Union iron works on November rs,
and preparations for the event are al
ready under way. It will be made q
gala occasion. The governor, many
other public officials and delegation
from the state for which the vessel is
to be named will be present. The
young lady who is to christen the ship
has not yet been chosen.
Fire In . Smelter.
Butte. Mont, Oct. 6.-Flames start
ed in the ore bins Of the Montana Ore
4 L. $~><,