The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-09-20
BIGGEST CRUISER
IN THE NAVY
Steel Cruiser DeS MOineS
Is launched AT Quincy
Mass
~ AssocIated Press. !

Boston. Mass, Sept 20-There was
iaunched from the ways at the big
plant OF the Fore River Ship and En-
gine company at Quincy today the
largest war vessel built in Massachu-
setts since the early days Of the
American navy--the steel cruiser Des
Moines, a sister ship to the Denver.
The launching was ga many respects
the most notable that has ever taken
place in this vicinity; it was. more
over. one Of the most beautiful and
imposing. There was something cur
iously inspiring in the scene Of the
mass Of nodded metal rushing head
long aown the creased ways the
fiuttering of thousands OF handker-
chiefs and the cheers from thousands
of tbroats. the music, the ceremony.
The available space about the ways
was packed with enthusiastic human
ity Work was suspended in the yard,
and thousands of brawny worlSmen
mingled with the great crowd On the
oh istening stand was a distinguished
parry from Iowa including Governor
A. b. Cummins and his stan, other
state officials and representative cit
lzens OF Des Moines The national
capital was represented by high offlc-
rails Of the navy department
Il was shortly after twelve O'Clock
when Miss Clara n Carleton. on
Haverhfl severed the cord and the
big ship started on its journey down
the ways II was an instant after the
shin oeean 70 move that Miss Elsie
McComber az Des Nloines flung the
christening bottle against the vessel IS
shapely PROV In less time than IL
takes to tell Il the ship was riding
gracefully on the bosom OF the river.
As she was swung around and anchor
ed IN full view OF the assembled
crowds a mighty cheer went MP from
thousands Of tkroats an dsimutan-
eously there was deafening roar
rrom The whistles OF tugs and other
craft in the vicinity
The cruiser Das Moines is similar in
design 10 tho Cleveland. he Tacoma.
the chat anooea ana he Denver Her
total length on he wator line is 292
ieet longth over ALL sos feet 9 inches;
nodded beam, lS feet 3 inches ex-
IRENE breadth. "A feet free board for
ward. 20 feet, free board aft is feet,
g inches; mean draf 8 feet, inches;
displacement, fully equipped for sea.
an stores on board ald a normal sup
ply oi coal 5000 ions: fun load dis
placement. $500 tons
The Des Moines has triple expan-
SION engines which win furnish 400
horse power aud which will enable
her 10 show be.ter than the required
speed Of l6il knots per hour Her
coal capacity wiki the bunkers full is
TOO tons. which viii give a steaming
radius OF 10000 miles or allow her to
cross the Atlantic three times without
recoaling At fun speed her coaling
radius win be $500 miles
The main battery OF the Des Moines
win consist Of ten 1--WE inch fifty cal.
ibIe breech loading rapid fire guns
The secondary battery win comprise
eight six ponuder. rapid fire gums. two
one FOUNDER. rapid fire guns and four
automatic Colts machine guns. Corn
pith with an estimated capacity Of g..
720 cubic feet VIII be used as an OBJ
turauug material for the water line
protection $50 that if ihe huh should
be pierced by a sho the swelling of
ihe corn pith placed between the ont
er and inner plates will prevent tho
lngress of ths water
The building OF the Des Moines was
authorized by an act of congress
March 1889. ana on Angus. 2S
1900 the keel was laid in the Fore
River yard the newest ship yard On
fne country where also the largest
seven masted schooner IN the world
was recently launched According {,
contract De Dos Moines win be ready
Tor delivery 20 the government Jun,
"a, 1909 and win cost Sl065 600.