The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-09
LAUNCHING OF WYOMING.
Thousands Of People Witnessed the
Christening OF the New
Monitor.

SAN FRANCISCO. Sep. S.--The United
States monitor Wyoming was success
fully launched at high tide this morn
ing from the shipyard OF the Union
Iron Works.
Thousands OF people. lined along the
shore or crowded on excursion steam
ers and other craft. shouted themselves
hoarse as the low huh Of the new war
vessel plunged into the bay. The event
had been made a feature OF the semi
centennial celebration Of California's s
admission into the Union. and among
the multitude of spectators were hun
dreds Of the conspicuous badges Of the
native sons Of the golden west.
The launching was managed by Su-
perintendent Dickie Of the Union Iron
Works and everything worked with
out a hitch. Only persons with passes
were allowed TO enter the gates, but
every foot Of space around the huge
cradle in which the Wyoming rested
was occnpled. The monitors huh was
supported by shores over the sliding
ways
Early this morning workmen began
ramming in wedges so as to create an
incline OF one foot to sixteen feet.
Later on most Of the blocks sustaining
the ship were knocked away and by
l0:S0 o'clock everything was in read
mess for the launching About the
bows Of the vessel platform had been
built for the guests OF honor, !nclud-
ing Governor Richards OF Wyoming.
Acknowledgement Frank stizen. Colo
mel A. II. Hansen and wife. Major
Thomas Wilhelm. Captain P. Covert
and Captain Patrick Sullivan. consti-
tuting his stan. and Miss Hattie War
rem. To Miss Warren. who is the
daughter Of United States Senator War
ren, was assigned the duty OF chris
tening the latest addition Of the Amer
ican navy. This she did In regula-
ton style. breaking the usual bottle
Of wine and exclaiming: 81 name thee
Wyoming" as the last supporting props
were removed and the monitor started
from the ways and slid slowly into the
sea. When the vessels stern touched
the water the spectators sent up a
mighty cheer which. however. was soon
drowned in the din made by scores of
steam whistles.
The Wyoming is yet without her
heavy armor and in fact little more
than her hull is finished. The tur-
ret where the monitors big guns will
revoIve is at present nothing more than
a big hole near the center Of the deck.
Back of this is the bare-looking su-
perstructure of what viii be. when fin
ished, the quarters Of the officers and
crew. Work on the vessel is to be
pushed forward and she will be in
readiness for service at no very distant
date.
The coast defense monitor Wyoming
is one of four similar vessels designed
by Chief Constructor Hichborn. with
view of securing the greatest results
with the least expenditure Of money.
Her sister ships will be named the Ar
kansas, Connecticut and Florida. The
Wyoming was built by the Union Iron
Works. the contract price being 1914
900. Her dimensions are:
Length on load water line. 225 feet;
extreme breadth, so feet; mean draft
u feet. six inches; displacement, about
200 tons. The hull is of steel not
sheathed with double bottom and wa
ter-tight subdivisions. The huh is pro-
tected by side armor belt ranging
from eleven to five inches in thick
ness. The turret is of the balanced
type. It's armor being nine inches thick.
A coming tower with seven and a
half inches armor and a single military
mast win also appear above the deck.
The vessel Is to make twelve knots
an hour. Her main battery win con-
sist Of two 12-inch breech-loading r.
hes and four 4-inch rapid fire rifles.
In the secondary battery will be .hree
six-pounder. rapid-fire guns and four
one-pounder. automatic rifles