Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1901-05-23

after deck struck up The Star-Span-
gled banner The soldiers climbed the
rails and ratlines and almost drowned
the music with their shouts. They
swung their hats and acted like mad
men. Several of them got out their
regimental flags and waved them fran
tically to and fro from the bridge. The
ensign at the stern was dipped again
and again. The salute was answered
by the Slocum
The president was plainly moved by
the remarkable demonstration.
Near the transport the warships OF
the Pacific squadron were swinging al
anchor, and saluted the president a.
he passed
Upon arrival at the Union Iron works
the president and his party moved to
stand where the representative of the
4,500 employees of the Union Iron
works, in neat speech in which he
asLed heartfelt blessing upon the
head of the president and expressed
tender sympathy for his suffering wife,
presented the president, as token OF
esteem of the workmen, with a gold
plate engraved with suitable inscrip.
tion. The president then delivered his
address and thanked the workingmen,
after which the launching occurred.
Miss Barber and the president stood
before the electric appliance which
controlled the guillotne that was to
sever the rope which would loose the
weight that was to knock out the last
beam. Miss Barber with her finger on
the button, was looking intently at the
indication.
At 12:2215, two and half minutes
before the tide was a: it's highest, the
time set for the launching, there sud
denly shot into the face of the indi
Gator the word ready" Miss Barber
pressed the button, the last block
fell away. At the same time Miss
Deshler, young lady of II, in light
gown with her dark hair braided
down her back in schoolgirl fashion.
let go of the bottle of champagne sus.
pended at the side of the bow by red,
white and blue ribbon, and as il
crashed against the side, she uttered
the works: Il christen thee Ohio"
Released from its bonds, the heavy
hull of IA 900 tons OF steel went plough.
ing through the thick grease of iti
cradle. Slowly at first, then faster
and faster she slid down the ways, tax,
ng the food majestically and piling
up the water in great waves before her.
The band crashed, whistles blew and
the multitude shouted. No ship ever
given to the, American navy has taken
her initial plunge into the sea under
more favorable auspices or in the
presence of more distinguished COM
pany.
The Ohio is sister ship of the
Maine and the Missouri, the former
now building at the Cramps shipyard
and the latter by the Newport News
shipyards. The hull, which is divided
like those of the most recent battle
ships, is built of steel and is un-
sheathed. 1t is sS3 feet long on the
load waterline; ~ feet 2l5 inches ex-
treme breadth, and at a mean draft of
20 feet inches displaces 12,23o tons
The hull is protected abreast of the
boilers and engines by side armor
belt extending 8 feet inches above the
load water line and feet below it,
having a thickness of IL inches for a
depth of feet 6 inches, tapering to 71S
inches at the bottom of the belt; and
by the casemate armor inches thick,
which extends from the side belt to the
upper deck, and is worked from the
center of the forward to the center of
the after barbette. At the ends of this
casemate armor, diagonal armor 9
inches thick extends from the sides of
the vessel to the barbette armor.
In the casemate thus formed are
placed ten of the 6-inch guns. Above
this, on the upper deck, four of the g.
inch guns are placed, in the vicinity OF
which 6-inch armor is worked far
enough forward and aft to afford pro-
I lection to the crews of these guns.
Protection is afforded the vitals OF
the ship below the water line by a pro.
tective deck within the easement, and
with slopes forward and aft of it. The
deck is worked in two thicknesses oi
plating, total thickness on the fiat
being 2& inches, while that on the
slopes forward and aft is respectively
3 inches and inches.