The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1901-05-24

single beam, set like a trigger an
ready 10 fall aside at blow. held he
in place. Miss Barber and the pres
dent stood before the electric appl
ance which controlled the gnillotin
that was TO sever the rope whic
would loose the weight that was :
knock out this last beam. Miss Ba,
Der. with her finger on the button
was looking inteutly at the indicator
At 1922 IL. two and half minute
before the tide was at its highest, tn
time set for the launching. there sud
denly shot into the face Of the ind
Gator the word Ready" Miss Barbe
pressed the button. The last blocl
fell away. Al the same time Mis-
Deshler. young lady OF IL. in ligh
gown. with her dark hair braide'
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 /
crashed against the side she utteres
the words: Il christen thee Ohio.
Released from it's bonds. the heav,
hull OF 1900 tons OF steel wen
ploughing through the thick grease o
its cradle. Slowly AT first. then taste
and faster, she slid down the ways
taking the food majestically and Pill
ing up the water in great waves be
fore her. The band crashed. whistle
blew and the multitude shouted. NJ
ship ever given to the American nav,
has taken her initial plunge into tn
sea under more favorable auspices o
ia the presence OF a more distinguish
ed company.
The trip back to the city was almos
. repetition OF the journey to the yard
D~s~riPttoa of Ohio.
The Ohio is q sister ship OF tn,
Maine. now building at the works o
the William Cramp & Sons Ship ant
Engine Building company. and OF Tn,
Missouri. building at the yards OF tn.
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
dock company.
The hull. which lis divided like those
OF the most recent battleships. is bull
OF steel and is unsheathed. II is 3Ss
feet long on the load water line. z:
feet IL inches extreme breadth and
at a mean draft Of % feet inches dis
places 1920 tons.
The hull is protected abreast OF the
boilers and engines by a side armo1
belt extending three feet six inches
above the load water line and -four
feet below II. having thickness OF II
inches for a depth OF four feet six
inches, tapering to seven and one half
inches at the bottom OF the belt. and
by the easement armor OF six 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.
The main battery OF the ship con-
sists OF four 10 incl, breech loading
rides. placed In two balanced turrets.
and Is six inch rapid firing guns. The
turrets are turned by electricity. The
armor OF both turrets and barbettes
is IL inches thick.
The secondary battery consists of
siN us Y" ihNh fdifo HflHk EuifS. tlEDl
six FOUNDER rapid firing guns. six one
FOUNDER rapid fire guns. two Colts and
-wo three inch rapid firing field guns.
The Ohio carries IA boats. OF which
me is 40 foot steam cutter and an
,ther ss foot steam cutter OF the
usual navy type. Over each end OF
he boat deck two small upper bridges
ire located. on which is placed por-
ion of the secondary battery. The
'oats are handled by four cranes. all
'perated by steam. the engines for
his purpose being located on the
platforms of the cranes.
each crane. can lift the heaviest boat
hat IT has to handle at the rate of
0 feet per minute, and can also be
evolved by its hosting engine at the
ate of revolution In one minute.
Hydraulic gear Is used in steering
he vessel. and can nut the rudder