Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-06-24
NEW CRUISER LAUNCHED.
Great Enthusiasm in Philadelphia
When the Denver Slides
Into the Water.
MANY Ao1ABLEs ATTEND THE AFFAIR.
Miss Roberta M, Wright, Daughter
Of the Mayor of Denver, Christens
the Neutrality-suspicious. of the Boat
lis In the Unarmored Class-Ship-
yard Was Gaily Decorated.

Philadelphia, June gs.-1n the pres
ence of distinguished company of
naval officers, many leading citizens
from Colorado and a large number of
persons from New York and other
nearby cities, the unarmored cruiser
Denver was successfully launched Sat-
urday afternoon at the Neafe G. Levy
shipyard.
Miss Roberta M. Wright, daughter
Of Mayor Wright, Of Denver, chris
tened the vessel.
Elaborate preparations had been
made for the launching Of the Denver
and the shipyard was gayly decorated
with flags and bunting for the occa-
sion, but the heavy rain spoiled the
decorations.
At one o'clock the delegation were
driven to the big shipyard, where they
were received by President seddinger.
Because of the heavy rainstorm the
launching was postponed until nearly
three o'clock. Miss Wright was es-
corted to the platform by President
Seddinger. When all was in readiness
and just as the last blow which was
to release the new cruiser was being
struck, Miss Wright stepped to the
edge of the stand and broke the ira
ditional bottle of champagne on the
bow of the new addition to the United
States navy. There was tremendous
footing of whistles from the vessels
lying at anchor close to the yard and
deafening cheers as the Denver slid
gracefully into the Delaware river.
The Cruiser Denver.
The Denver is one Of the six sheathed
and copper protected cruisers pro-
vided for in the naval appropriation act
Of 1900 Her keel was laid June %, 1900
She Is 2s2 feet in length by "A feet in ex-
treme width and has displacement Of
800 tons. The Denver and her class have
splendid batteries, consisting of ten five
inch rapid-iring guns In the main battery.
and eight six-pounder and two one-pounder
rapid-flrng guns. four Colt automatic guns,
and one three-inch field gun In the second
airy battery.
Her engines are Of the twin screw, vertical
triple-expansion type. with water tube
boilers, giving q combined horsepower Of
about $500. The engines are to be located
in separate water-tight compartments on
opposite sides Of a fore and aft. amidship
bulkhead.
The ten five-inch guns Of the main bat
terry Of the Denver are arranged one for
ward and one aft on the midship line of the
upper deck. and four on each side on the
deck below. The guns of the secondary bat
terry are distributed about the vessel so as
to give large arc Of fire.
The Denver is provided with a water
tight deck. extending from stem to stern,
the sides sloping and Joining the vessels
aide below the water line. The slopes of
this deck abreast the engine and boiler
spaces are protected by nickel-steel plates,
two inches thick by eight feet in width The
vessel has commodious quarters to give
comfort and. accomsnoda ton to her au-
thoriEed complement OF q officers and 26a
men.
She is rugged as two-masted schooner.
the masts fitted with gafrs and signal yards,
and fore and aft sails. Her coal bunkers
are we'll arranged. with ample facilities for
rapid coaling. and have a capacity of TOO
tons.
The vessels of the Denver class are re-
CURED BY their contracts to make speed OF
l6h knots an hour for four consecutive
hours before acceptance. To sum up IT NAV
be stated that the provision of the act of
congress for the Denver class to have the
highest speed compatible with good cruis-
Ing qualities. great radius of action and
to carry the most powerful ordnance suit
ed to vessels Of their class" has been fully
borne out In the case of the Denver. and
she will prove valuable addition to the
list OF our naval vessels.