The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-10

New York, March I'm the presence
of 5000 spectators, including officials of
the state of Tennessee, the city of Chat
tanooga, the city Of New York and
many naval officers, the United States
cruiser Chattanooga was launched to-
day at the ship yards Of the United
States Shipbuilding Company at Eliza
bethport, n. j. With flying colors, the
warship slid gracefully down the ways
and took the water amid tumult
of cheers and deafening whistle blasts
from yachts and other vessels crowded
with spectators.
The Chattanooga was christened by
the young daughter of the mayor Of
Chattanooga, Lillian Chambliss, who
broke bottle of champagne against
the prov with the words, II christen
thee, good ship, in honor of Chatta-
nOoga." The maids of honor were Miss
Frances Bond and Miss Rieta Faxon.
President Lewis Nixon of the United
States Shlpbuilding Company and Mrs.
Nixon acted as the hosts of the day.
Several hundred guests including the
city officials and the many Tennessee
ans living in this city, were taken
in special steamer and after the
launching were entertained at luncheon
at the ship yard offices.
The navy was represented among the
guests by group of officers and heads
Of departments from the Brooklyn
navy yard. During the return trip on
the special steamer speeches We're
made in the saloon by Governor Frazer
of Tennessee, Mayor Chambliss of
Chattanooga, Senators Bate and Car
mack of Tennessee, Lewis Nixon and
Lyman J. Gage, former secretary of
the treasury.
Governor Frazer eXtolled the city Of
Chattanooga and the state of Tenn
essee and reviewed the history of both,
including the memorable events of war
in which Tennesseeans had taken part.
Brave Tennesseeans, he said led by
John Sewer, won a great battle of the
revolution, fought the best soldiers of
Europe with Jackson, behind cotton
bales at New Orleans and planted the
flag victorious upon the heights of
Chapultapec in the Mexican war In
the civil war the state had furnished
$4,000 Confederate and thirty thousand
union soldiers. The north sent Dewey
to Manila, he said, ''and the south sent
Schley to Santiago. When you saw
Teddy Roosevelt climbing San Juan
Hill, General Joe Wheeler was there
up tree reconnoitering. Great ap-
plause greeted the governors declara-
tion that the United States should have
the greatest navy in the world. Mayor
Chambliss said he was proud of his
city when he saw the great ship on the
ways.
Ex-Secretary Gage complimented the
south for its eloquence, craftsmanship
and military skill. Both the north and
the south, he said must be one in the
ambition to uphold the flag on land and
sea.
Senator Carmack made brief remarks
predicting that the new cruiser would
add to. the fame of the city of Chatta
nooga, carrying her name into all parts
of the world.
Senator Bate was introduced by Mr..
Nixon as a statesman who had fought
on the floor of the senate for a greater
navy.
The Chattanooga is a sheathed cruis-
er. The sheathing is of Georgia pine
Her length over all is 3OS feet, six inches
and 292 on load water. The extreme
breath is "A feet, drought Is feet nine
inches and displacement $500 tons.
There are four steel decks and a deep
cofferdam is built completely around
the ship in the region of the water line.
The armament of the Chattanooga
consists of ten five inch quick firing
guns in the main battery, one each be-
ing located at the ends of the vessel on
the main deck and four on each broad
side of the gun deck. The secondary
battery consists of eight six FOUNDER
rapid fire guns. two one Founders, with
four machine guns and one field gun for
landing purposes. There are two power :
full search lights on the flying bridge
and the vessel is to have a wireless tele-
graphy equipment.