Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-09-01
M. V. D, DOUGHTY.

Among the vessels that have left the
ways under his direction were the
first-class battleships Kearsarge, Ken
lucky and Illinois. the gunboats Nash
Vile, Helena and Wilmington, the four
Morgan line steamers that were trans
formed into auxiliary cruisers during
the war with Spain. and the Plant line
steamer La Grande Duchesse. which
was used as transport. The Crom-
we'll liner Creole. now the hospital ship
Solace, also received her baptism under
his direction. In speaking of ship
at the present time, with such enor-
nous dimensions, is not only matter
of careful calculation, but one of great
skill and labor. Should anything hap
such as delays in clearing the ship OF
her shores and blocks, or by a passing
vessel, then comes a moment OF intense
anxiety to the man having the launch
ing in charge. He knows just how long
he can wait, and how long the limit OF
safety extends. Should the ship refuse
to slide from the ways, or stick, as it Is
termed, not only is the safety of the
vessel involved, but such catastrophe
means great pecuniary loss to the
builders. The cause for sticking" is
invariably blamed on the tallow with
which the ways are creased, and while
this may not always be responsible,
will not dispute its justice, for the
launching master has trouble enough
in other directions. He should have
something to relieve his mind, for
should the vessel stick" he is forced
to go all through the same process
again, and the conditions in the second
case are not always quite so favorable
as in the first. Consequently his doubt
and anxiety is doubled at the second
attempt. Even after the ship has
started down the ways to meet her
watery bed, there is severe mental
strain upon the man having charge Of
the launching, for while the ship is in
motion he is thinking about how she
will be received by the water; for
should he have been mistaken in his
calculations and the ship fall after her
stern had passed the outer end Of the
ground ways, instead of raising. as in
tended, the probability is that she
would dislodge the cradle at the for
ward end and fall between the ways.
Who could tell the amount OF damage
in such a case? On the other hand,
should the stern or after end of the
ship raise sooner than intended. thus
throwing too much weight on the for
ward end of the packing upon which
the ship is resting, the vessel would
be subjected to an extraordinary
strain, as she would then be borne for
ward by the timber as we'll as by the
water at her stern. The damage she
would sustain in this condition is also
difficult to imagine.
There are also other damages
caused by the ship lifting at the after
end too soon, thus throwing too great
a weight forward. Should the trap
ping, or lashings, which are placed to
keep the packing and bilge ways. or
slides, from spreading, break. the prob
ability is that the vessel would fall be-
tween the ways, or. on the other hand.
if the trapping should not part at the
proper moment the danger is that the
forward packing would be forced
through the bottom of the ship. caus-
ing her to fill and go down. The dan
ger of disaster in launching large ships
should cause the man having charge
OF the launching to carefully calculate
all conditions when he lays the keel for
the ship. This, together with the care
full laying of the lower ground ways,
upon which the ship is to slide down.
insures a successful launch"