Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-04-20
NEW WAR
SHIP is
LAUNCHED

NEWPORT NEWS, Va, April 1s.-
II Is estimated that $4,000 people wit
messed the launching here today of the
armored cruiser West Virginia. 1t
was almost noon when the big ship
Slided from the ways to take its place
in the list of the American navy.
distinguished party attended the
event headed by Governor White of
West Virginia and his official stan,
and including the West Virginia sena-
tor and representatives and prominent
officers of the army and navy who
came from Washington. The christ
ening ceremony was performed by
Miss Katherine White, daughter of the
West Virginia governor, and who had
as her maids or honor, her sisters, the
Misses Grace and Ethel White and
Miss Ashton Wilson, daughter of ex-
Governor Wilson.
As the sound of the hammers under
the West Virginia's keel slowly died
away the waiting multitude was
breathless in anticipation of the rap
idly approaching moment when the
5000 tons of shapely constructed ar
NOR would leave the ways. Suddenly
from the depths below came the meas
ured sound of saw. AS though by
magic command every sound was
hushed and n stiffness fell over the
expectant mass of humanity, every
ear was strained to hear the sound OF
he mighty steel blade as 1t slowly cut
its way into the large oak plank which
alone separated the sliding and the
creased ways. AS the bottle of cham.
pagne was surrendered to Miss White
the silence that pervaded the yard was
oppressive. Suddenly there was a snap
the cracking of timber and for an In
stant the monster hull quivered on
its bed
Gathering strength and clutching
as the ship started down the creased
ways, Miss White, the proudest young
woman in America, quickly broke the
bottle against the receding bow. AS
the beautifully decorated bottle was
crushed into thousand fragments
against the impressionless steel PROV
the fair sponsor drew breath OF
qualification and from her parted lips
with womanly sweetness fell the
words: Il christen thee West Virgin
la"
The great cruiser, radiant in bunt-
| ing, red, white and blue, swept grace
fully TO meet the blue waters OF the
James. and in their embrace complete
the symbol OF the starry flag. Cheer
ing was incessant and the air was
laden with hats and caps as the en-
thusiastic multitude gave full vent to
their patriotic feelings. The big hull
I'd iheanwhiie .oit,r gracefully out
to midstream where she was brought
to and anchored. For quarter OF an
hour the tugs raG other small craft
| with which the river was filed kept
up an incessant footing Of their whis-
ties in honor of the latest addition to
Uncle Sans navy. When everyone
had finished cheering the christening
party, numbering some 500 persons,
| boarded the steamboat Newport News.
| which conducted them to Old Point
Comfort. Here they were the guests
| at an elaborate banquet furnished by
| Calvin b. Orcutt, president OF the
| Newport News Shripbulding and Dry
Dock company. the builders OF the
| West Virginia and a number OF other
crack cruisers and battle ships of the
United States navy.
| The cruiser launched today. when
completed. will be one or the fastest
| ships in the service. She will be 502
feet over all, nearly 10 beam. will
displace more than $1,000 tons, and
| draw "a feet OF water. Two sets OF
triple expansion engines VIII develop
$4,000 horse power which will drive
her at a speed of 22 knots. Her bun
ker capacity will be $50 tons. and she
will carry 40 officers and 1888 men.
An armor belt. six inches thick at
the maximum, will protect her. and
four eightinch guns in turrets will
constitute her main battery. Fourteen
6-inch rapid fire guns will make up
her broadsides. and she Will carry
secondary battery of Is 3-inch
guns, 12 3-poundcrs. four 1-pounder au-
, tomatoes. four 1-pounder rapid fire, six
Colt automatics. two machine guns
and two 3-inch field pieces.
The West Virginia is of the same
type as the Nebraska, California.
Maryland. Colorado and South Dakota.
all OF which when completed will be
superior In fighting abilities to any ar
mored cruiser now in service or pro-
iected.