The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-09-25

MOlEeS.)
the river banks. Miss Elsie Macomber,
of Des Moines, with Gov. Cummins, of
Iowa, and Mayor Brenton, of Des
Moines, standing by her side, smashed
the traditional bottle Of champagne
against the steel PROV of the cruiser,
while Miss Clara n. Carleton, of Haver-
hill, Mass, cut the ropes which held
the last keel block and started the ship
down the ways.
massive bow of the ship. The Iowa
party included besides Miss Macomber
the following: Gov. Cummins and
Mrs. Cummins, State Treasurer Gill
bertson, State Secretary Martin, State
Auditor Merriam and Mrs. Merriam,
Brig. Gen. NJ. II. Byers, Col John r.
Prime, Col John G. Lopez, Col. c. 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 Cummins, Mr.. and
Mrs. George NJ. Curtis, Mr.. and Mrs.
S. X. Way, Maj James Brenton, B.
o. Hanger and P. Bruckett, of the
Des Moines city government, and 9th
ers.
Owing to the illness of Gov. Crane,
Massachusetts, was represented by
Lieut.. Gov. John L. Bates and several
members of the governors staff.
The plunge into the river was made
gracefully and was hailed by deafen-
ing roar of cheers from those in boats
and on the shore. A number of tugs
were ready to tow the vessel back to
the pier. At the conclusion of the
launching a lunch was served to the
invited guests.
Description of the ship.
The Des Moines represents what her
designer Admiral HIGH born, regarded
as the most useful medium-sized typs
of warsEip. 1t was never intended that
she should lee a racer. nor yet that she
should be battleship in resi- cling quail
tiles. but The Bes Moires WAS planned
to combine a fair rate of speed, mod.
crate but still formidable armament
good sea-gcing qualities and coal en-
durance rather above the average
All these qualities have been gotten
together in a vessel Of 5000 tons dis.
placement. 3OS feet, Q inches long, A
feet beam, and Is feet inches draft,
and a speed of 1917 knots.
The Des Moines has protective deck
two inches thick. and her sides are
lined with cellulose to exclude water
in case they are pierced by she'll. She
has no other armOr. She carries five 10
inch rapid fire guns, eight G-pounders,
two 1-pounders and four Colts auto
matte guns, The indicated horse
power will aggregate $500. the engines
being triple expansion. Six water tube
boilers will supply the necessary
steam. The coal supply, 700 tons, will
give this ship radius of action at 10
knots, Of 1000 knots without recoal-
ing; thus she could steam from San
Francisco to Manila without stopping
for coal. The Des MOines is designed
for hard service, without fancy quail
tiles. so that special consideration has
been given to her strength, and the
scantlings are unusually heavy. She
confined to the minimum, only the
main deck being planked. The ammu-
milton supply will be unusually large,
including $50 rounds for each of the
main 5-inch guns. and 500 rounds for
the G-pomders, all smOkeless powder.
Distilling plants and ice machines fit
the vessel for tropical service and she
has six electric ammunition hoists
and winches and blowers, and every
one of the latest devices that vessel
Of this size can carry. Four hundred
and fifty men can be accommodated on
the Des Moines. although her regular
crew is 263 men. so that she can be
used to advantage to carry relief
crews to foreign stations or for similar
service.