Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-01-03
On Febru-

whole country was
plunged into deep grief by
oil the blowing mp and sinking
United States battleship Maine.
Aarbor of Havana and the loss OF
pbers OF her crew. Monday.
ave years after that calamity.
leaned down the Delaware river.
from the hands oi her buffers.
= new battleship Maine. the flower
OF the Navy. which is destined TO COM
ncmoratc the name and fame OF her
Inflated predecessor.
The old Maine was the finest OF her
type when she lett the ways And the
new Maine is the latest production OF
the brains and skill of naval construc-
ton. and she takes her place i'll the
Fsrst rank OF battleships i'll the navies
OF the powers. She is power i'll both
speed and armament. and she out
classes the old vessel whose twisted
hull lies rusting at the bottom OF Ha-
vana harbor. as EricsSons first mont
tor eclipsed in fighting force the fri-
gates OF the rebellion.
The hammers OF hundred men rang
sharply in the hold OF the Maine up to
the moment the signal was given 10 make
ready for her departure from the yards
of the William Cramp Sons Ship and
Engine Building Company. her builders.
Capt. Ransford d. Buchanan. Cramps
fleet captain. was on the bridge. When
a short blast OF the sirens caused the
hawsers to be cast off there arose the
hurrahs OF the thousands of yard en-
ployes which were drowned moment
later by the footing of scores OF whistles
about the plant. Ii was joyful god
speed. As the huge white ship swung
slowly from her dock and started down
stream she was greeted by a salute from
every passing craft. and the trip down
the river was il the nature OF an ova-
ton.
Off League Island the big port anchor
was let go anc fathom after fathom of
cable was paid out with a roar. After
the Maine had swung around with the
tide Capt Eugene H. c. Leutze and his
officers. together with the bluejackets
and marines who were assigned to man
her. were set aboard The ceremony OF
placing the ship in commission was the
unostentatious service prescribed by the
naval regulations. The crew was as
sembled aft. and Captain Leutze 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 main
mast head and the bluejackets saluted.
That very minute began the routine
work aboard ship.
The keel OF the new Maine was laid
February IS, 1900 the day preceding the
anniversary OF the destruction OF the
former magnificent vessel. While she
was still on the ways there arose a
controversy over the quc;ion OF armor-
plate. which delayed her construction.
On July p. 1901. she was sent to her
native element. Miss Mary Prcble An
derson. OF Portland Me. descendant;
OF Commodore Preblc. being the fair
sponsor. The vessel was authorized
by an act OF Congress on May 4. 1893.
Under the contract she was TO have
been completed by June l OF the pres
II year. It the armor plate Squabble
Sible
Maine is that oil a
Il the same style
larger and more
eater area OF ar
The principal di-
w battleship are ::
,erpendicularS. .SSS
al. 1913 feet 10 I-2
eadth. ~ feet: mean
inches: displacement
hit. 49, roo tons: eSti-
ent al full load draught.