The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-25
COLORADO LAUNCHED.
Miss Cora Peabody Christens the
New Cruiser.

Philadelphia. April 25.-The cruiser
Colorado was launched today at Cramps
ship yard in the presence of a distin :
guished gathering of officials from
Washington and the state of Colorado,
including the entire congressional dele
cation. Miss Cora May Peabody,
daughter of Governor Peabody of Coz
oradO, broke the bottle of wine on the
prov of the cruiser as she glided down
the ways at 1926 and into the Delaware
river. Miss Peabody was escorted to the
christening stand by Charles H. Cramps
president Of the CramD Ship Building
company and the fair sponsor was fol-
lowed by her father, Governor Peabody,
Mrs. Peabody, James c. and Miss Jes-
sic Peabody. The Washington party
arrived here over the Pennsylvania at
II o'clock and proceeded at once to the
ship yard. 1t included Assistant Secre-
tary Darling and Mrs. Darling Admiral
and Mrs Bowles. Admiral and Mrs.
Bradford, Admirals O'Neil. Melville and
Endicott and Mr.. CoWles Commanders
Sotherlan and Schroeder, Chekib Bey,
the Turkish minister and his two sons:
Senior Riano. OF the Spanish legation
Captain RoutekOf. of the Russian le-
cation, and Commander Takahira of
the japanese legation and Representa-
tive Minor of Wisconsin. Among the
guests from Colorado were:
Mrs Wright, wife of Mayor Wright
of Denver and her daughters, one of
whom, Roberta, recently christened the
cruiser Denver Mr.. and Mrs. J. c. Rob-
erts, Mr.. and Mrs. J. A. Sternmetz. Mr..
and Mrs. ]. B. Grant. Mr. Grant Judge
o z. Lefevere and Mrs. Lefevere. Mr.
and Mrs. A. L. Welch. Ex-Governor
Thomas and Mrs. Thomas.
The cruiser Colorado, which is to be
launched here today is of new class
of vessels, added to the American navy.
She is an armored cruiser of the first
class yet she bears the name of a state,
an honor formerly only accorded battle
ships. Coupled with tremendous bat
terry power she has the speed of an
ocean liner.
The vessel is 5O2 feet long, 50 feet s
inches wide. with a draught of "a feet
6 inches. Her speed requirement calls
for % knots an hour for four consecu-
tive hours. She is fitted with twin
screws, twin triple expansion engines.
which must develop $4,000 indicated
horse power.
All of the armor is of the most i'm
proved Krupp type. The water line re-
foot belt reaching from bow to stern.
Anidships for a distance of PA feet
abreast the engines, boilers and maya
zines, the belt has a maximum thick
ness of six inches. Forward and art
this belt win have uniform thickness
of 3iz inches. Five inch armor will sur
round the six inch guns at the four cor
ners OF the superstructure on the main
deck. The four S-inch guns are mount
ed on two balanced turrets, with slant
ing faces, having armor six and a half
inches thick. A belt of cellulose. extend
ing from bow to stern above the protec-
tive deck will automatically plug all
shot holes admitting the water. The
fighting force of the Colorado is cen
tered principally in two batteries. She
will carry a main battery of four up
to-date S-inch and IA 6-inch rapid fire
rifles, a secondary battery of IS 4
ponders and u 3-pounders and a sup
Elemental force of eight 1-pounders, two
field pieces, two machine guns and six
automatic guns for service on the
bridges and in the tops.
The S-inch guns are designed to fire
once every 90 seconds and the 6-inch
guns are expected to fire three times a
minute.
The contract price Of the Colorado
was 50, $50 900.