Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-12-01
LAUNCHINGBIG SHIPS
An Undertaking Calling for Careful
Calculation.
The slightest Hitch OF Mistake
Would Result In Untold Disaster
and Possible Loss Of
Human Life.

feelings of a man who is charged with
the responsibility Of the launching Of a
great ship are by no means pleasant
when the fateful moment arrives which
is to decide whether the vessel will
glide gracefully off the ways or stick.
Mr.. Doughty has had charge of the
arrangements of more launchings than
any other man in the United States,
and possibly in the world.
During his connection with the ship
building industry he has superintendent
II successful launchings. Among the
vessels that have left the ways under
his direction were the first-class battle
ships Kearsarge, Kentucky and Illinois,
the gunboats Nashville, Helena and
Wilmington, the four steamers which
were transformed into auxiliary cruis-
ers in the war with Spain and the
steamer La Grande Duchesse, which
was used as a transport. The Creole,
now tho hospital ship Solace, also re-
ceived her baptism under his direction.
In speaking of the anxiety felt by the
man who has charge of the launching,
Mr.. Doughty says: 1.-THE launching of
a modern ship, with such enormous
dimensions, is not only matter Of
careful calculation, but one of great
skill and labor. Should anything hap
pen, such as delays in clearing the ship
of her shores and blocks or caused by a
passing vessels, then comes a moment
of intense anxiety to the man having
the launching in charge.
HE knows just how long he can wait
and when the limit of safety is reached.
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 a catastrophe means great Pc
cuniary 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, l will not dispute it's jus.
tice.
"Should the vessel stick, he is forced
to 60 all through the same process
again, and the conditions in the second
case are not always so favorable al
in the first. Consequently his doub'
and anxiety are doubled at the SECOND
attempt.
even after the ship has started dowI
the ways to meet her watery bed there
is severe mental strain upon thu
man having charge of the launching
While the ship is in motion he is think
ing about how she will be received b,
the water.
SHOULD he have been mistaken in hi
calculations and the ship fall after he
stern had passed the outer end of tn
ground ways, instead of raising, as in
tended, the probability is that sh
would dislodge the cradle at the for
ward end and fall between the ways.
ION the other hand, should the sterr
or after end of the ship, raise soone
than intended, thus throwing too muc
weight on the forward end of the pacl
ing upon which the ship is resting, tn
vessel would be subjected to an eS
traordinary strain, as she would the
be borne forward by the timber as we
as by the water at her stern.
"There are also other dangers cause
by the ship lifting at the after end to
soon, thus throwing too great weigh
forward. Should there be a break
the thrapping, or lashings, which al
placed to keep the packing and bila
ways, or slides, from spreading. tt
probability is that the vessel would ia
between the ways; or, if the thrappin
should not part at the proper momen
the danger is that the forward packir
! would be forced through the botto
/, of the ship, causing her to fill and
down.
"The danger of disaster in launchir
| large ships should cause the man ha
ing charge of the launching to Gale
late carefully all conditions when
lays the keel of the ship. This, wi
the careful lying of the lower grour
ways, upon which the ship is to sill
down, insures a successful launch"