The times., 1899-07-24
PRIESTS MAY BLESS her
Probable Ceremonies at The Launch
Ing of Russian Cruiser.
! Chanting Choir to Lend n Process
sion to the Launching oi the Cznr's
Big BnttIcship ynriaz. No.Y nenr-
ing Completion at the Cramps
ship Nard.

Philadelphia, Pa, July 23.-In the chris
toning ceremonies at the launch of the
Russian cruiser Varisz, now building at
Cramps shipyard, it is not improbable that
the blessing Of the ship by the priests
of the Greek Church, as is usual in the
land OF the Car, VIII take an important
part. The launching will take place late
in August or early in September. The GER
cmonies will be under the direction of the
Cramps. and, a representative of the firm
said today, will be in accordance with
the wishes of the Russian officers
Captain Vladimir Behr will command the
completed cruiser. lie is now here as one
of the board of inspection to pass upon
the ship before her acceptance. Speaking
of launching ceremonies as conducted in
Russia, he said, that there the ceremony
was religious in nature. 4 priest, attended
by acolytes burning incense, and with a
chanting cnoir. leads a procession inciud-
ing the Car and Czarina, or some member
of the imperial family. around and over the
ship. sprinkling holy water and pronounce
ing his blessing.
Following the blessing, The christening
party returns to the dock side, the name OF
is rased and with an imperial salute OF
thirty-one guns the vessel is sent into the
stream. There was a rumor ttat Mss
Cassini niece of Count Cassini, Russian
Ambassador at Washington would chris
ten the Variaz, but she is in Paris, and it
is uncertain that she will he here at the
launch. Captain Behr said he was greatly
pleased with the progress; in the con true
rion of the vessel and with the excellence
Of the workmanship. -"s
AT present the ships crew consists OF
twenty-nine fremen and stokers under
Nicholas KoloneitZef, torpedo officer, but
fifty more men are expected in September.
III December two hundred men will arrive
for the ship, and in February the. com
plenent Of. onlcers and men VIII be here,
including monk who will be part of the
ships company. There Will be twenty Of
fleers, fifteen petty officers and 5G5 men.
The Nariaz has been assigned to the China
station.
The yariaz is to be a twin screw pro-
tected cruiser. Her length perpendicular
is 100 feet; beam, 50 feet; draft, 10 feet s
inches; displacement, about $500 tons;
guaranteed speed. 23 knots. Her indi
Gated horse power viii be about 10000 She
is to be supplied with twin screws and wa
ter tube boilers of the Niclausse type. She
can carry provisions for sixty days and
water for ten days.
Her armament, being made in Russia.
viii be sent here to be placed in position.
1t viii comprise twelve 6-inch guns, twelve
75-millimetre guns, six 47-millimetre
guns two Baranoysky guns, and
two 37-millimetre Hotchkiss guns. She
will also carry four broadside torpedo
tubes and two at the bow and stern. four
teen Whitehead torpedoes. thirty-five float
ing mines, six small torpedoes for launches.
six searehlights, torpedo nets, two 40-foot
steam launches, two 12-oared cutters one
16-oared barge. one 14-oared working cut
ter two 6-oared whaleboats, and two
e-oared yawls.
She is to be the fastest boat of her type
ahoat. The fastest cruiser now is the
Buenos Ayres, of the Argentine Confedera-
tion, which made % 1-2 knots over meas
ured mile. The fastest cruiser in the
/ United States Navy is the Minneapolis.
which has a record of 23.07 knots for run
of four hours. The Cramps guarantee that
the Variaz will maintain speed Of 2S
knots for twelve consecutive hours, and it
is believed that she will exceed this