Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-20
Guests Of Gov. Cummins.

The launching party and other guests
left Boston on q special train. Shortly
after noon the party mounted the launching
stage right under the massive bow OF the
ship The Iowa party included besides
Miss Macomber the following:
Governor Cummns and Mrs. Cummins.
State Treasurer Gilbertson, State SECRETARY
Martin, State Auditor Merriam and Mrs.
Merriam. Brig. Gen. M. II. Byers. Col.
John R. Prime, Col. John g. Lopez. Col. G.
S. Saunders, Col J. B. Santee, Col. Charles
E. Mitchell. Col. Walter NJ. Davis. Col:
Robert NJ Bigelow and Maj. Joe Besson OF
the governors staff; Governors Secretary
John Briar and Mrs. Briar, Miss Ann Cum
Minis, Mr. and Mrs. George M. Curtis. Mr..
and Mrs. S. X. Way. Maj. James Brenton.
B. O. Hanger and P. Bracket Of the Des
Moines city government and others.
Owing to the illness Of Gov Crane, Mas
sachusetts was represented by Lieut.. Gov
ernor L. Bates and several members Of
the governors staff.
For an hour or two before the party
reached the launching stage the workmen
of the yard were engaged in knocking away
many of the shores and braces, until at last
one single block alone held the great ship.
At a given signal Miss Carleton cut the
rope which held this piece OF timber with a
Ratchet made from the iron and mahogany
used in the construction of the ship.
Scarcely had the rope been cut, when Miss
Macomber dashed the bottle of champagne
christen thee Des Moines.'
The big vessel hesitated but few mo-
ments and then proudly started down the
ways. The plunge into the river was made
gracefully and was hailed by a deafenlng
roar of cheers from those in boats and on
the shore. A number Of tugs We're ready to
tow the vessel back to the pier. At the
conclusion of the launching lunch was
served to the invited guests
Description Of the Ship.
The Des Moines represents what her de-
sgner, Admiral Hichborn. regarded as the
most useful Of the medium sized type OF
warship 1t was never intended that she
should be a racer nor yet that she should
be battle ship in resisting qualities but
the Des Moines was planned to combine a
fair rate of speed, moderate put sum
formidabl armament, good seagoing quail
ties and a coal endurance rather above the
average All of these qualities have been
gotten together in a vessel of 800 tons dis
placement 308 feet inches long. A feet
beam and 10 feet 8 inches draft, and
speed of 1871 knots ,..
The Des Moines has protective deck two
inches thick, and her sides are lined with
celluose to exclude water in case they are
pierced by a shell. She has no other armor.
She carries five ten-inch rapid-fire guns.
eight six-pounders, two one-pounders and
four Colts automatic guns The Indicated
horsepower will aggregate 1890, the engines
ers will supply the necessary steam The
coal supply, 100 tons, will give this ship
radius of action at ten knots of 1859 knots
without coaing; thus she could steam from
San Francisco to Manila without stopping
for coal. The Des Moines is designed for
hard service, without fancy qualities. Some.
what special consideration has been given
to her strength and the scantlings are UNI
usually heavy.
She has no ram, and the use of wood is
confined to the minimum, only the main
deck being planked. The ammunition sup
ply will be unusually large. including $50
rounds for each Of the main five-inch guns,
and 800 rounds for the six-pounders, all
smokeless powder Distiliing plants and
machines fit the vessel for tropical
service, and she has six electric ammuni-
ton hoists and winches and blowers, and
every one of the latest devices that YES
sci Of this size can carry. Four hundred
and fifty men can be accommodated on the
Des Moines, although her regular crew Is
263. SO that she can be used to advan-
tage to carry relief crews to foreign sta
tions or for similar service.