The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-14
THE NEW MAINE AFL0AT'
Ceremonies Accompanying the Launch
ing at Cramps Shipyard'
SENTIMENTAL INTEREST AROUSED

Tho Namesake OF the Battlcshlp De.
by Miss Anderson, Of Portland - Ths
Governor OF Maine and His stan
in observation-disclosures of the Boat
Philadelphia. - The new battleship
Maine, designed to be bigger, stronger
and faster than her namesake, whose
shapeless mass still lies in the harbor
Of Havana, was launched at the yards
Of tie William Cramps Sons Ship
and Engine Building Company. One
Of the largest crowds that has ever
seen warship leave the ways at
Cramps yard was on hand, and pa
triofism ran wild as the ship left her
cradle.
Launchings Of warships at the
Cramps yards have been so frequent
that In late years such events have
lost much Of their attractive power.
The presence Of the immense crowd
at this launching was largely due to
the fact that the new ship bears the
name Of the ill-fated Maine. Kensing-
ton, the great industrial section where
in the shipyard Is situated, took a hol-
iday and attended the launch.
Although the number of invited
guests was not as large as usual.
there was q good attendance of naval
and civilian officials. The State of
Maine was officially represented by
Governor Hill and members of his
staff. From Washington came Rear
Admirals Bradford, Melville and
Walker; Lieutenant Commander Bal
ley, Captain Leary, former Governor
of Guam, and a number Of bureau
chiefs Of the Navy Department.
President Mckinley, Secretary Long
Admiral Dewey, Captain Sigsbee and
other, naval dlgn1taries who received
invitations were unable to attend. It
was the intention to have some Of
the survivors of the Maine witness
the launch, but none was present.
The honor Of naming the ship was
given to Miss Mary Preble Anderson,
Of Portland, Me-. descendant Of the
Preble family that has added fame
to the naval honors Of the country.
At 1925 Miss Anderson stepped upon
the stand that had been erected at the
bow Of the hull She was escorted
by Henry s. Cramp, and was ac-
companied by Governor Hill, his staff.
her parents and several members Of
her family. Before she arrived the
knocking away Of the blocks from
under the great mass of steel had
begun, and all was ready when the
tide Stacked. Then the shoe piece,
the last timber that held the slip, was
sawed In twain, and the vessel began
to move. Before she had reached q
foot Miss Anderson, true to custom.
struck the bow Of the Maine blow
with the bottle Of champagne and
formally named her.
After the launch an informal
luncheon was served in the mould
loft Of the shlpyard.
The Maine is fifty-siI per cent. fin
ished. Her keel was laid in April,
1899, and the ship will be ready for
transfer to the Government In eighteen
months or two years time. This,
however, will depend upon the rapidity
with which armo.' plates will be de-
livered.
The Maine is q sister ship Of the
Ohio, recently launched at the Union
Iron Works. San Francisco, and Of
the Missouri, at the Newport News
shipyard. She Is 3SS feet long on the
load waterline, seventy-two feet two
and one-half inches extreme breadth,
and at mean draught Of twenty
three feet six inches displaces 1920
tons. The main battery of the ship
will consist Of four twelve-inch and
sixteen six-inch guns. Besides this,
she will carry eight contemporaries,
eight three FOUNDERS and eight one
Founders, and machine guns. She will
also be supplied with two submerged
torpedo tubes. The Maine will be re-
nuired to maintain a speed Of eighteen
knots an hour. The contract price Of
the hull and machinery alone Is
S2,S99,OO0 Her complement is thirty
five officers and 511 men.