The Portland daily press., 1899-05-30
DAHLGREN LAUNCHED.
Ceremonies at Christening Of
Torpedo Boat.
Mrs. John vinton Dahisren Performs
= the Ceremony.

hath, May 29.-The Dahlgren, int ended
put overheard at the Bath Iron works
here toby. The beat was christie ned by
Mrs. John Vinton Dahlgren, OF New
York, dauel ter Of Joaeph Drexel, Of Phil.
adelphia, ana wifo Of admiral Dial ilgren' Is
youngest son. Mr.. AID Mrs. Dahlgren
arrived on the l." j.. IN. train accom-
panied ty Chnrles =. Iallman, u. S. N.
(retired) ard Judge Charles Cowley,
Judge advocate with Admiral loalhgrsn
in the south Atlantic squadro n. They
were met at tho railroad station by the
Kennebec Naval veterans and escorted
to the Phneix hotel.
A glance ut the torpedo boat as she lay
ready for be launching showed the per-
feet outlines of boat that embodies
much that is new in naval construction.
She is of only mod crate size even for
torpedo boat--for her length of 147 and
her breadth of IS fest 4 1-2 inches give
her displacement tonnage of only 146
and a fraction. But ,,n this displacement
which is but four tons more than that of
the gallant little Win slow or the bloody
fight at Cardenas, the Dahlgren is bound
by rigid contract to de velop a horse power
of 1900, 200 units greater, and rate of
30 1-2 knots or six knots grea ter speed. 1t
is a tremendous scientific problem which
the Bath builders have been working
ut-and the result of the Dahlgren's
trial Will be watched with eagerness by
naval architects all over the world.
This new and lively boat is one of a
class of 10 torpedo boats authorized by
act of Congr ess of June 10, 1895, and the
first of the larger vessels Of this GLASS to
be launched. The contract for hor con.
struction was signed with the Bath Iron
Works on October 6, 1896. The contract
price for the hull and machinery. ex-
elusive of ordinance andsoutfit,i is 1874, 900.
The boat is LAT feet long, l6 feet leg
inches extreme b readth and has a mean
draft of feet I-2 inches, and a displace-
ment of l46. TONS She is of the "Nor
mand" type, and is similar in general
design to very successful GLASS of boats
now in service in the French. navy. She
has two Normand water-tube boilers and
twin screws, vertical, trlple-expansion
engines VI fSOu 90 poWoT, ouu iicr Cou-
FACTORS guarantees a mean speed on her
trial of 80 1-2 knots per hour. Her bunker
capacity is so tons of coal.
The Dahlgren is fitted with two deck
discharging tubes Tor 1s-inch Whitehead
automobile torpedoes, and carries bat
terry of four I-pounder rapid-fre guns.
Her extreme draft to the bottom of the
balanced rudder is feet 10 inches
She is fitted with two coming towers,
and just abaft the forward one on each
side 1-poundsr gun is mounted. the
other two being similarly mounted just
abaft the after tower. One of the torpedo
tubes is located on the port side amid |
ship, and the other is at the after end of |
the boat
The officers quarters are aft, and con- |
sist of staterooms for the commanding |
officer and engineer and ward room |
with berth ON each side. Abaft the |
staterooms ara quarters. with three
berths, for petty officers The crews
quarters are forward. The forward deck |
Is slightly raised to form urtlo-back,
and a breakwater is fitted across 1t. A |
small house on deck between the two |
smokestacks accommodates the galley.
The speed trials of tn, vessel will be |
made at an early date. after which she |
will be sent to the Kittery Navy Yard, to |
be placed in commission for service.