The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-05

hearty welcome from the great crowd and the
whistles of the vessels In the stream, and as
she drifted out into the channel many tugs. all
gayly decorated. gathered around her. each
one anxious to have q share in towing her to
the pier. 1t was one OF the ~prettiest launch
ings ever witnessed here. The vessel moved
steadily and maiestically from the first.
On the stand with Miss Letter were Gov.
Tanner OF Illinois, Gov. Tyler Of Virginia.
Commodore Hichborn. the members OF Miss
Letters family. Mayor Carter Harrison Of
Chicago and Mrs. John A. Logan. There were
also present at the launching Assistant Secre-
tarv OF the Navy Allen. who arrived this morn
i Prss f5Sm the Se PSFtsPP2BS 6at 6 S9ES 3?r ds sn she
Secretary Of War Meiklejohn. Senator Mason
Of Illinois, Secretary Wilson Of the pepart-
Naval Attae6e q WashinGtop; Gen; Mert-
ago; R RSsmtoo Military Isnch and fa affIoh Atttache'
escorted about the yard. they were taken to
Old Point Comfort. where they were enter
by the builders OF the man-of-war, Speeches
were made By Coy: Tanner. Gov. Tyler Mayor
vile. Ill. Gov. Tanner presented to Miss
Letter a miniature OF the shin done in beaten
E { dan and do white 9, en n Rsdcs The Tb souvenir m y Is Is m fbTas
inches in length and carries all the guns and
lifeboats and, the flag Of the original reduced
OF Illinois. also OF beaten gold, On the back
Of the State Of Illinois"
The dimensions Of the Illinois are as fol-
lows: Length on load water line. 1853 feet:
beam: e5tTeRs: y feet p iFR PSI drSSgaghs o. 3
t tRShe and @ stores ON f board. 12.s955 s aa smm maRi-
mum indicated horse power IestiWatedl, 10;
supply p'3 s0o t9p sS?SG coal aps Supply T@Hys' LOOSE oSs1 Storage age,
1,200 tons: full bunker capacity. 1.4OO to loo
tons; Complemept of officers. 40; seamen.
The main battery will consist Of four 13-inch
breech-loadinS rifles in ,Hichborn balanced
line OF the vessel. and fourteen 6-inGh rapid
fire guns. The secondary battery will consist
9lp6 slTtsep rs SpRG9Ree Fun Pspt two Colt gun Guns i and
two field guns. She will carry four torpedo
tubes. The 13-inch guns have an arc Of fire OF
side. with the advantage Of those on the upper
injury to or near either OF these 6-inch guns
will be confined to its own compartment. as
1hjinch steel splinter bulkhead separates
The armor belt. which extends. from the
stem to, abaft the after tqrret. is to be l64
the bottom, except at the forward end. where
Il will be tapered 70 four INCHES at the stem.
This tSs n esls srP I0ad T fiae e q sH Fret trom .5 : feet lt be aGS
will maintain the full thickness amidships
between the turrets for, the distance occupied
and ,bSr6ettes, and e1teRdinss from ths, slopes
belt on each side: win give protection, from a
rakinG Are, ,Abaft the after turret. the pro
IsSsiSa Sildi deck Se fS 7 Inehss 6 og thu shhsG siePea. w III
deck forward It is 3 inches thick. and ~
gun turrets will be II inches on the front and
IS inches on the rear and sides, while on the
pa Raf shape. t fGT VIII {hie &c 1 y Ieebie SH oG t6 ssf ir SI1fS and
10 inches on the rear, and sides, The sides OF
The vessel above the belt aTmor n wake Of the
viii be armored with 81 inches Of steel. eS.
tending between the turrets with diagonal
Meeting with the barbettes. and worked above
the l2-i9Gh diagonal armor below
OF water. In case Of injury to the, side. at the
water line, by cofferdams, extending. for the
length OF he vessel on each side, and having a
Of about I2.500U cubic feet. Tor stSwaGe Of Are,
PROCEED cornpith cellulose. Ipdependent of
cells. forming the, entire scheme. of Golfer
dams. the. inner bottom and hold. the plat
into between 200 and 900 Water.tisht COM
partments. both for the accommodation Of the
motive power and the ,stowage OF coal, pro-
for the preservation OF the ship In the event of
rupture OF the outer skin. or Injury in battle;
with pipes connecting with powerful steam
pumps. for the purpose Of removing any water
tIlut may get IN tneH.
Arrangements are also made for flooding
all ammunition rooms in the event Of fire on
board the vessel. All these COMMITMENTS,
together with all living spaces. staterooms.
&c, occupied by the officers or crew, have spe-
cial pipes or duets arranged with a view Of
supplying fresh air to the occupants. and 10
make the temperature OF all storerooms, even
in the most remote parts OF the vessel, com-
Portable and healthful. These pipes all con-
meet with powerful blowers. which draw fresh
air by means Of ventilators extending from
ten TO twenty feet above the ships deck.
The forward coming tower Will. be oval In
shape, 7 by IL feet, with an armored tube seven
inches thick extending down to the protective
terror communication. so that the officer con.
the vessel In action can he In constant
and safe communication with all parts Of the
vessel, An after coming, or signal. tower IL
six feet and a thickness OF six inches. Their
nrmor will he 10 inches thick. The turrets
will be operated by electric power, as will the
ammunition hoists and tho blowers for ventil-
atlug PURPOSES.
There will be eighty odd auxiliary engines
in the vessel. thus adding greatly TO the eff
cheney Of the ship In the celebrity and certainty
with which the work can be done. The cranes
IN are the deck winches, pumps, windlass and
steering gear this latter IL located beneath the
protective deck and several feet below the
water llnel. The introduction Of these auIil-
variety and nature Of the work To be- done. and
the demand iur the latest and best In every
branch OF mechanics represented In q man-of-
war. Manual labor is, therefore. reduced 10 a
result IN II greater interest and development
of the crew In their special duties. a. now re-
quireq i4 a modern batlleship. where fighting
and oil that leads NJ TO thorough efficiency in
that line OF art Is not Handicapped by the con-
slant drudgery SO universal IN the old-time
vessels OF our navy,