The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-07

There is every reason for believing tha.
the United States torpedo boat Rowan viii
be launched tomorrow afternoon Every
detail has been completed and the vessel
could have gone into the water today had
il been necessary. The little steel craft
that is capable of doing so much destruc-
ton is so nearly completed that she could
be put into commission inside of week
and sent on her way 10 fight the Spanish.
She viii be given her trial trip in about
TWO weeks.
Invitations to the launching were sent out
yesterday by Moran Bros. Company 10 the
number of several hundred. The invita-
tons are very artistic affairs. Autographed
in several coiors. A steel plate drawing
of the Rowan in a wreath. backed up by
two American flags and shield in colors,
heads the invitation. which reads:
Yourself ard friends are invited 70 wit
ness the launch Of the first war vessel
built In the state OF Washington, the
United States torpedo boat Rowan. ON FRI
day. April s. lSS. at 5:s5 o'c.ock D. NJ.
Christening by Mrs. Edward MoaIe. Very
respectfully.
MORAN BROS. COMPANY"
No one will be admitted to the shipyard
without an invitation. which must be
SiIoNt al tEit entrance i0lS - TO prevent
oytrcrowding In the yard. which is rather
small. The general public Will not be de-
prived. however. of an opportunity 10 see
the Rowan slide into the water. The Kerry
mill yard Will be thrown open and will
present almost as good a vantage ground
as the shipyard To the south OF the slip
into which the Rowan viii be launched is
another long wharf which will be open TO
tho public. Thousands OF peop.e will I'm
Ia 10 h,,t
cutting of the rope and the christening,
which will take place at the bow of the
torpedo boat. Moran Bros. Company de-
sires TO warn the spectators outside the
yard 20 be very careful about getting up
on the roofs of the old sheds standing in
the yards. They are Liable to go down.
Yesterday the sliding ways, over which
the Rowan will travel TO the water. were
taken down for scrapIng. Today they viii.
be thoroughly creased with tailow. and on
Friday coat of oil will be poured on. The
platform on which Mrs. Moa.e will stand
when christening the steamer was put up
yesterday. and today the trigger that
starts the boat down the ways will be put
in place. The boat will be started by cut
ting slender cord. which will drop two
heavy weights on the trigger. The trigger
win be so placed that the weights drop
ping on it will release everything.
The reception committee is a big one
and includes prominent men of the state.
At its head is Gov. John r. Rogers. The
other members are Mayor T. j. Humes
State Land Commissioner Robert Bridges
+. r. Piper. y. II. Latimer, +. f. Jones
Clarence Hanford, Commandant j. c.
Green. L. S. N; Judge William Hickman
Moore. DIR. j. L. Crichton. Hon. e. O.
Graves. Maj. j. X. Hayden. C. ]. Smith
and Ferdinand Tok,as. The ravy depart
ment will be officially represented by AS
sistant Naval Constructor Lawrence
Spear. L. S. N, who has superintendent
the construction. and Past Assistant En-
gineer w w. Bush. L. s. N, who is here
TO inspect the machinery.
Until Friday the Rowan vii. be known
in official circles as torpedo boat No s.
Her dimensions are: Length 40 feet;
breadth, II feet: draft tnormaD feet 8
inches. She will be propelled by two en-
.gines. triple expansion. and twin screws
with a combined indicated horse power of
SEQ. Her contract speed is fwenty-six
knots per hour. bu. Il Is expected thas she
Will develop even greater speed.