The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-20
In "OCEAN'S ARMS
Cruiser Des Moines Slides Gracefully
Into the Water at Quincy
To-day.
The Crowd Cheers as Miss Macomber
Breaks the Wine on the New
Vessels Steel Bow.

Quincy, Mass, Sept. 2O-The cruiser
Des Moines was launched from the yards
of the Fore River Ship and Engine COM
pany shortly after noon to-day. hun
dreds Of people saw the ship plunge INTO
the water and for some time after theI
cheers echoed along the river panks
Miss Elsie Malcomber Of Des MONIES, WIN
Governor Cummins and Mayor Brenton OF
Des Moines standing at her side. smashed
the traditional bottle OF champagne
against the steel PROV of the CRUZ
ser, while Miss Clara Carleton or t1av-
erhill, Mass, cut the ropes which held the
last keel block and started the ship down
the ways.
Although the weather was cloudy and
at times threa tening, the day was prac-
ticaly, for Quincy, a holiday, while the
attendance of q large company OF dis
tinguished guests, including a delegation
from Iowa, made the occasion notable
one.
The launching party and other guests
left Boston on q special train. SHORTY
after noon the party mounted the launch
ing stage right under the massive DOW OF
the ship. The Iowa party Included, be-
sides Miss Macomber, the following.
Governor Cummins and Mrs. Cummins; State
Treasurer Gilbertson. State Secretary Martin
State Auditor Marian and Mrs. Marian, Brig
adler General NJ. H. Byers, Colonel John K
Prime, Colonel John G. Lohr, Colonel S. C. Saun-
ders, Colonel j.. B: santee, Colonel Charles Sc, E.
ert NJ. Bigelow and Major Joe Besson of the gov.
ernors staff, Governors Secretary John Briar
and Mrs. Briar, Miss Ann Cummns, Mr. and
Mrs George NJ. Curtis. Mr.. and Mrs. S. X.
Way, Major James Brenton, B. o. Hager and
?. Bracket of the Des Moines city government
and Others
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 given signal Miss Carle-
ton cut the rope which held this piece OF
timber, with Ratchet made from the
iron and mahogany used in the con-
struction Of the ship. Scarcely had the
rope been cut when Miss. Macomber
dashed the bottle of champagne against
the steel bow with the words: 1
christen thee Des Moines.' The big ves-
sci hesitated but few moments and then
proudly started down the ways. The
plunge into the river was made gracefully
and was hailed with a roar of cheers.
Description of the Des Moines.
The Des Moines represents what her de-
signer,' Admiral Hichborn, regarded as the
most useful Of the medium sized type OF
warship. 1t was never intended that she
should be & racer, nor yet that she should
be a battleship in resisting qualities, but
the Des Moines was planned to combine
a. fair rate Of speed, a moderate but still
aiTldlueuI, SOOu d-SOlllS
qualities and a coal endurance rather
above the average. All these qualltie:
have been gotten together in a vessel 81
5000 tons displa cement, 1903 feet inches
long, A feet beam and IS feet 9 inches
draft. and a speed of 1914 knots.
The Des MOines has a protective decl
two inches thick and her Sides are linet
with cellulOse to exclude water in case
they are pierced by shell. She has NJ
armor. She carries five ten-inch rapit
fire guns, eight six-pounders, two one
Founders and four Colts automatic guns
The indicated horse power will aggregat
$500, the engines being triple expansion
Six water tube boilers will supply tn
necessary steam. The coal supply, 70
tons, will give this ship radius Of actor
at ten knots, at 100 knots without coal
ing; thus She could steam from San Fran
cisco to Manila without stopping for coal
The Des Moines is designed for hard ser
vice, without fancy qualities, somewha
special consideration has been given t.
her strength, and the scantlngs are unu
sually heavy. She has no ram and the US
of wood Is confined to the minimum, on
the main deck being planked. The am
munition supply will be unusually large
including $50 rounds for each of the mai
five-inch guns, and 500 rounds for the six
FOUNDERS all smokeless powder. Dis
tllling plants and ice machines fit the yes
sci for tropical service and she has 81
electric ammunition HOSTS and winche
and blowers, and every one of the lates
devices that a vessel Of this size can carr,
-Four hundred and fifty men can be &C
commodated on the Des Moines althoug
her regular crew Is 263 men, SO that sh
can be used to ADVANTAGE to carry relic
crews to foreign stations or for simila
service.