The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-26
new CRUISER LAUNCHED
COLORADO PUT In THE WATER AT
THE CRAMP sHIPYARD.
Distinguished Spectators from Wash
Size Speed, ArmOr and Batteries.

PHILADELPHIA, April 25.-The armored
cruiser Colorado was launched to-day at
Cramps shipyard in the presence of a dis
tinguished gathering of officials from
Washington and the State of Colorado, in
Guiding the entire congressional delegation.
Miss Cora May Peabody, daughter of Gov.
Peabody, of Colorado, broke the bottle Of
wine on the PROV of the cruiser as she
glided down the ways at 1885 into the Della
ware river Miss Peabody was escorted to
the christening stand by Charles r. Cramp,
president Of the Cramp Shipbuilding Com
pany. and the fair sponsor was followed by
her father, Governor Peabody. Mrs. Pea
body, James c. and Miss Jessie Peabody.
The Washington party arrived over the
Pennsylvania at IL O'Clock and proceeded
at once to the shipyard. 1t included As
sistant Secretary Darling and Mrs. Darling,
Admiral and Mrs. Bowles, Admiral and
Mrs. Bradford, Admirals O'Neill Melville
and Endicott and Captain Cowles, Com
manders Sutherland and Schroeder. Chekib
Bey, the Turkish minister, and his two
sons; Senior Riano. OF the Spanish LEGATION;
and Commander Takashita, of the Jap
anese legation, and representatives Of the
press. Among the guests were several
After the launching the invited guests
were banqueted by the Cramp company.
Covers were laid for one thousand persons.
The Colorado is of a new class of vessels
added to the American navy. she Is an ar
mored cruiser of the first class, yet she
bears the name of a State, an honor former
ly accorded only to battleships. Coupled
with tremendous battery power, she has
the speed of an ocean liner.
The vessel is 502 feet long, So feet inches
beam, with a draught of "a feet inches.
Her speed requirement calls for twenty-five
knots an hour for four consecutive hours.
She is fitted with twin screws. twin triple
expansion engines, which must develop 3d.
coo indicated horsepower All of the armor
is of the most improved Kruppized type.
The water line is guarded by a seven-and-
a-half-foot belt reaching from bow to stern.
Amidships, for a distance of 244 feet,
abreast the engines, boilers and magazines,
the belt has a maximum thickness of six
inches Forward and aft this belt will have
a uniform thickness of three and one-half
inches Five-inch armor will surround the
six-inch guns at the four corners Of the
superstructure on the main deck. The four
eight-inch guns are mounted on two bal
anced turrets. with slanting faces, and
have armor six and six and one-half inches
thick belt of cellulose extending from
bow TO stern above the protective deck will
automatically plug all shot holes admitting
water.
tered principally in two batteries. She will
carry main battery or four up-to date
eight-inch and fourteen six-inch rapid-fire
rifles, secondary battery OF eighteen four
FOUNDERS and twelve three-pounders, and a
supplerrental force of eight e-pounders
two field pieces, two machine guns and six
automatic guns for service on the bridges
and in the tops. The eight-inch guns are
designed to fire once every fifty seconds and
the six-inch guns are expected TO fire three
times a minute. The contract price of the
Colorado was s37SO.Ooo