The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-10-07

pronounced a success Then every one
in the throng proceeded to enjoy the
day to the utmost in anticipation Of
the banquet In the afternoon and the
ball at Old Point Comfort in the even
ing.
From many points Of view the
launching Of the Illinois was the most
important Of the kind in the history
Of our country. The vessel is the larg-
est fighting ship ever foated under
the stars and stripes, it is the cOstliest
ever built BY the navy and experts be-
lieve viii be the most formidable war
ship ever put in commission by any
power.
Long before the hour of the launch
ing thrOngs began to gather about the
spot and by Il o'clock standing room
was worth its area in niclzels every
where within a block Of the Illinois.
Enthusiastic cheers greeted the arrival
Of the distinguished guests. In a short
time the work Of releasing the great
mass Of iron and steel was complete,
and as the first thrill of life was i'm
parted to the great ship Miss Mamie
Letter, the eldest daughter Of Mr. L
z Letter, the well-knOwn Chicago
capitalist, seized the gayIy decorated
bottle Of champagne which hung pend
ant from the deck above by a silken
cord and broke it over the side bow.
As the bright sparkling wine ran
down the vessels side, Miss Letter ex-
claimed: Il christen thee Illinois"
Few in the vast crowd could hear
the words spoken by Miss Letter, but
nearly all were able to see her, and
when she raised the bottle Of wine in
her hand and dashed 1t against the
steel Of the battleship the action was
a signal for their enthusiasm to break
forth with full force. There was a
grOaning from the timbers, the ground
trembled as the thousands Of tons Of
steel shot downward and the spray
that was sent alOft rose higher than
the platform on which stood the little
woman who had named the new craft
An interesting incident, not on the
Official programme, was the Presenta-
ton by one OF the wOrkmen employed
on the huge freighter Of a souvenir to
Miss Letter A small piece of steel
had been cut from one Of the plates by
the wOrkmen, one side of which had
been polished and looked like silver,
anu sAAG ONAEA sue J1aAALGlA AE-n INC
color Of the Illinois. A silver chain is
riveted to the souvenir, which is in
scribed as follows: This piece of plate
was cut from the hull Of the United
States battleship Illinois, and pre-
scented to Miss Letter, sponsor, by the
men employed in its construction
Newport News, Va, Oct 4. 1855"
The length Of the new vessel is 56s
feet; extreme width, - feet ~ iches;
mean draught with 500 tons of coal,
two-thirds stores and twO-thirds am
munition, % feet inches; displace-
ment 1i,255 tons; speed per hour,
g knots; indicated horse power, 10, 900.
In the character and arrangement Of
the battery decided changes have
been made from the designs Of former
ships Of this type. The s-inch bat
terry has been abandoned and the
main battery will consist of four IS
inch guns. Between the 1S-inch gun
emplacements and within armored
easements are eight 6-inch rapid fire
guns in brOadside- Four more S-inch
rapid fire guns are mounted on the
upper deck On the gun deck forward
is another pair Of 6-ineh guns The
auxiliary battery consists Of IS G.
Founders, four 1-pOund guns two
Colt guns and two field guns