The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-09-25
DIES MONIES
Is LAUNCHED
EVENT WAS A NOTABLE ONE
IN MANY RESPECTS
CEREMONY WAS SIMPLE
The Cruiser Cost over a Miilion-,.-
Required Speed Is Ia
Knots.

Boston, Mass, Sept. 20.-There was
launched from the ways Of the big
plant of the Fore River Ship and
Engine Company at Quincy today the
largest vessel built in Massachusetts
since the early days Of the American
navy-the steel cruiser Des Moines,
a sister ship to the Denver. 4 The
launching was in 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 curi-
ously inspiring in the scene as the
mass Of nodded metal rushing head
long down the creased ways, the fut-
tering Of thousands Of handkerohiefs
and the cheers from thousands of
threats, the music, the ceremony.
The available space about the ways
was packed with enthusiastic humani-
ty. Work was suspended in the yard,
and thousands of brawny workmen
mingled with tie great crowd. On
the christening stand was distingu-
ished party from Iowa including Gov
ernor A. B. Cummins and his staff.
other state ffiicals and representative
citizens Of Des Moines. The national
capital was represented by high Off
Gals Of the navy department..
1t was shortly after 10 o clock when
Miss Clara N. Carelton of Haverhill
severed the cora and the big ship
started on it's journey down the ways.
1t was an instant after the ship be-
gan to move that Miss Elsie McCom :
Der Of Des Moines flung the christen.
ing bottle against the vessels shapely
Prov. In less time than it takes to
tell it the ship was riding gracefully
on the bosom of the river. AS she
was swung around and anchored in
full view Of the assembled crowds q
mighty cheer went up from thousands
of threats and simultaneously there
was deafening roar from the whistles
of tugs and other craft in the vicin-
ity.
The cruiser Des Moines is similar in
design to the Cleveland, the Tacoma,
the Chattanooga and the Denver.
Her total length on the water line
is 292 feet; length over all, S08 feet
inches; nodded beam. 43 feet 1-2
inches; extreme breadth, A feet; free
board forward, 30 feet; free board aft,
IS feet inches; mean draft Is feet 8
inches; displacement, fully equipped
for sea, all stores on board and nor
NAL supply of ooal-3, 200 tons; full
load displacement, 8, 500 tons.
The Des Moines has triple expansion
engines which will furnish 4, 700
horse power, and which will enable
her to show better than the required
speed Of Is 12 knots per hour. Her
coal capacity with the bunkers full
is 700 tons, which will give steam
ing radius OF 10, 600 miles or allow her
to cross the..Atlantio three times with
out recoaling. At full speed her coal
ing radius will be 1900 miles.
The main battery of the Des Moines
will consist OF ten fve-inch fifty cali.
bre breeoh leading, rapid-fre guns
The secondary battery will comprise
eight six.pounder, rapid.fre guns,
two one-pcunder rapid-6re guns, and
four automatic Colts machine guns.
Corn pith with an estimated capacity
of 6, 720 cubic feet will be used as an
obturating material for the water line
protection, SO that if the hull should
be pierced by q shot the swelling of
che corn pith placed between the out
or and inner plates will prevent the
ingress Of the water.
Tbs building of the Des Moines was
authorized by an act Congress March
3, 1899, and on August %, 1900, the
keel was laid In the. Fore River yard,
the newest ship yard in the country,
where also the largest se-en-masted
schooner in the world was recently
launched. According to contract, the
Des Moines will be ready for delivery
to the government June IA, 1901 and
will cost 81, 065, 600.
The Massacre of PaOIi.