The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-05
CRACKED A SMALL BOT
The Battleship Illinois Baptized
With Champagne.
IT WAS DONE IN STYLE
She Il the Largest. Most Powerful. and
Probably the Most Effective Battle
ship in the American Navy.
Her Equipment.

Newport News. Oct. 4.-Thirty thou
sand people were present to witness the
launching Of the battleship Illinois to-
day. Many prominent persons were
present from the national capitol. Boats
and trains began TO arrive before day.
break and by IL O'Clock. the hour for
launching. the yard of the Newport
News Shipbullding & Dry Dock compa-
ny was crowded. At 1880 Miss Nancy
Letter. sponsor for Illinois, accompanied
by a distinguished party from Chicago,
ascended the christening stand. When
the supreme moment arrived Miss Lei
ter. perched on the gaily decorated
stand with a bottle of champagne in
her hand. and cast IL against the re-
ceding bow. The great vessel moved
down the ways amid the enthusiastic
shouts of the multitude and a noisy well
come from the whistles of the craft in
the harbor.
Immediately after the launching. sew
eral hundred guests boarded the steam
er for Old Point. where they were the
guests of the builders of the Illinois at
the Chamberlain hotel Governors Tan
ner of Illinois and Tyler of Virginia
spoke. A launching hop was given at
the hotel this evening.
The Illinois will be the biggest, most
powerful and probably the most greatly
effective battleship in the navy. Larg-
er than the Iowa and heavier than the
Oregon, the Illinois is still designed
that she will be able to enter anv harbor
open to the smallest battleships. while
In the matter of speed she will rank
with any of them. The most striking
difference between the Illinois and the
battleships now i'm service is the high
free board OF the former. enabling her
to fight her guns from their great ele-
walton above the water in seas so heavy
that the guns OF the lower vessel would
be submerged and useless.
Splendid sea going powers are also ex-
pected to result from this increased
free board. by which is meant the
height of the hull above the water line.
rne dimensions of the Illinois are as
follows: Length on load water line. 36s
feet: beam, extreme. 72 feet 21z inches:
draft on normal displacement of 11.525
tons, % feet 6 inches; maximum dis
placement, all ammunition and stores
on board, 12,325 tons: maximum indi-
Gated horsepower testimated). 10000:
probable speed, 1914 knots: normal coal
supply, 500 tons: coal supply, loose stor-
age. 1,200 tons; full bunker capacity.
1,400 tons TO 1.500 tons; complement OF
officers. 40: seamen, marines, etc, i49.
The main battery will consist of four
13-inch breech-loadins rifles, Hichborn
balanced turrets, oval in shape and
placed i'm the center line OF the vessel,
and II 6-inch rapid fire guns.
The secondary battery will consist of
16-pounder rapid fire guns. four one
FOUNDER rapid fire guns. two Colt guns
and two field guns. She will carry four
torpedo tubes.
There will be two sets of triple ex-
pansion. twin-screw engines. each i'm its
own separate water-tight compartment.
the collective indicated horse power will
be about 10000 with 120 revolutions per
minute. stroke. four feet
The first keel plate Of this vessel was
laid February 10. 1897. not quite 20
months past, and percentage OF work
completed to this date. based on the ves-
sci fitted out and ready for sea. Is now
reported as between SO and "a per cent.
The contract price was s2,5s5,000 and the
date of completion is stated to be oct.
5, 1899.