Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-23
MISS ELSIE MAcoMBER.
Qowa Girl Who Christcned Cruiser Des
Moines)

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 T.. Mitchell, Col. Walter M.
Davis, Col. Robert VI. Bigelow and Alaj
Joe Besson, of the governors staff;
Governors Secretary John Brian 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 Noines city government, and 9TH
ers.
Owing to the illness of Gov. Crane,
Massachusetts was represented by
Lieut.. Gov. John j.. Bates and several
members Of the governors staff.
The plunge into the river was made
gracefully and was hailed by q deafen-
ing roar of cheers from those in boats
and on the shore. number of tugs
were ready to tow the vessel back to
sbe pier At the conclusion of the
launching lunch was served TO the
invited guests.
Description of the Ship.
The Des Moines represents what her
designer, Admiral Hichborn, regarded
ms the most useful medium-sized type
of warship. 1t was never intended that
she should be a racer, nor yet that she
should be battleship in resisting quail
tiles, but the Des Moines was planned
to combine fair rate of speed, a mod
crate but still formidable armament,
good sea-going qualities and a coal en-
Surance rather above the average.
All these qualities have been gotten
together in vessel of 5000 tons dis
placement, 3Os feet, 0 inches long, A
feet beam, and Is feet inches draft,
and a speed of 16A knots.
The Des Moines has protective deck
two inches thick, and her sides are
lined with cellulose to exclude water
tn case they are pierced by a shell. She
has no other armor. She carries five 10
inch rapid fire guns, eight 6-pounders,
two 1-pounders and four Colts auto
matte guns. The indicated horse
power will aggregate 1900, 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 II
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
has no ram, and the use of wood j.
confined to the minimum, only the
main deck being plankcd. The ammu-
milton supply will be unusually large,
including $50 rounds for each of the
main 5-inch guns. and 800 rounds for
the 6-pounders, all smokcless powder
DistiIling plants and ice machines fit
the vessel for tropical service and She
has six electric ammunition hoists
and winchcs 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.
G.,vs f.4~