Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-01-01
new BATTLESHIP MAINE
Goes in Commission at the League
Island Navy Yard.
SHE WILL JOIN DEWEY'S FLEET.
One Of the Greatest Of All Modera 'Sea.isht
ers That Is to Take the Place Of the Battle
ship Whose Sinking Led to the Spanish
American Wharf.-The Formal Exercises Very
Simple.

Philadelphia Especially. On Febru'
ary I6, 1903, the whole country was
startled and plunged into deep griet by
The news OF the blowing up and sinking
OF The United States battleship Maine,
in the harbor oi Havana and the loss OF
eo6 members OF her crew. Monday
nearly five years alter that calamity,
there steamed down the Delaware river,
fresh from the hands OF her buffers,
the new battleship Maine. the flower
OF the Navy, which is destined to com,
mcr,oratc the name and mmc OF her
ill-ia,cd predecessor.
The old Maine was the finest OF her
type when she left the ways. And the
Ecw Maine is the latcs; production OF
the brains and skill OF naval construc-
.ior. and she takes her place i'll the
first rank OF battleships in the navics
Q. the powers. She is a power IN both
,rccd and armament. and she out.
classes the old vessel. whose twisted
hnl lies rusting at the bottom OF Ha-
yana harbor. as Ericsson's first mont
tor ecIipsed in fighting force the 'rl-
estes OF tho rebellion.
The hammers of hundred men rang
,harpiy in the hold of the Maine up to
the n1omcnt the signal was given to make
ready fcr her departure IRON the yard.
o' the William Cramp Sons Ship and
Engine Building Company. her builders:
Cart. Ran,ford d. Bucknan, Cramps
feet captain. was on the bridge. When
a short blast OF the sirens caused the
hawsers to he cast of there arose the
hurrahs OF the thousands of yard em-
pIoye,. which were drowned a moment
later bv the footing OF scores OF whistles
about the plant. 1t was a joyful god
speed As the huge white ship swung
slowly from her dock and started down
strean, she was greeted by salute from
every passing craft and the trip down
the river vas in the nature of all ova-
ton.
of League Island the big port anchor
was let 60 and fathom after tatllon ot
cable was paid OFT with roar. .Nttef
the Maine had swung around witt, the
tide Capt. Eugene II. {, I.eutzc ard h.
officers. together with the h'ueiacketS
and marines who were assigned to man
her were Sc. aboard. The ceremony OF
placing the ship in commission was the
unostentatous service prescribed by the
naval regulations. The crew was as
sembled aft, and Captain Leu,ze read the
orders placing the ship in commission
and naming him as her commander.
As he finished reading the orders Old
Glory was broken out from the na,n
mast head and the bluejackets Saluted
That very minute began the routine
work aboard ship.
The keel of the new Maine was lait
February IS. 1890, the day preceding the
anniversary oi the destruction OF the
former magnificent vessel. While she
was still on the ways there arose :
controversy over the quetion of armor
plate. which delayed her construction
On July a-, 1901. she was sent TO her
native element. Miss Mary Preble An
derSon, oi Portland, Nc, a descendant
OF Commodore Prel,lc. being the ia't
sponsor. Tic vessel was authorized
bv an act ut Congress on May 1. IS9S
Under the contract she was to have
been completed by June ! OF the pres
ent year. but the armor piac squabbe
made this impossible.
The type oi the Maine is that OF a
first class batteship OF the same style
as the Alabama, but larger and more
powerful carrying a greater area OF ar
NOR and more guns. The principal d,-
mcnsionS OF tho rev hattlcship are:
Length between rcrpcndcularS. ,'SS
feet; length over all, 3os feet 10 -
inches extreme breadth. u feet; mean
draught. q feet + inches; displacement
at normal draught. 1900 tons: est
mated displacement at tull load dra"ght'
L Z tAi