Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-04-05

guns, Screec hing whistles and changing
bells, the big scooter batteship Nir-
ginia gracefully gided from the ways
at the yard of the Newport News Ship
building and Dry Dock company today.
The Interesting ceremony took place
shortly before 1 o'clock. and as the
new warship swept down the ways and
took her maiden dip in the ripping
waves of the historic James river the
assembled multitude wildly cheered the
new addition to Uncle Sans fleet.
Owing to the easy access to all resi-
dents of the state honored by the navy
named there was the largest attend
ance ever seen at a launching here. In
the forenoon there was a large parade
OF state militia. sailors and various
patriotic societies.
The ship was christened by Miss Ma
tilda Gay Montague. daughter of Gov
ernor Montague Of Virginia. Miss
Montague who is only twelve years
old, was accompanied from Richmond
by large and distinguished party. in
GLIDING state officials, the Governors
staff and numerous influential business
and professional men. Nearly all Of
the Virginia representatives in con-
gress were on hand and also large par
ties of citizens from Portsmouth, Nor
folk, Petersburg and other points.
With the first movement of the huge
hull Miss Montague lightly poised the
gayly beribboned champagne bottle in
her dainty hand. and as the vessel
swept down to meet the tide she
dashed the glass receptacle against the
unyielding wall OF steel, and as the
wine flowed down toward the ways in
foaming rivulets the fair sponsor said:
II christen thee Virginia.
. Pandamonium had broken loose in
the crowd below as well as upon the
christening stand. Greeted with a well
coming blast from the shrill threats
OF score or more Of steam whistles.
the battleship foated majestically out
upon the bosom Of the James, where
she was brought to In midstream. Oc-
cupying place OF honor upon the bow
stood w. r. Kline. the only survivor
of the five men who were aboard the
old Virginia (Merrimac) OF the Con-
federate4 navy. when launched at the
,, Norfolk Navy yard
After the launching the crowd dis
persed viewing with interest the
cruiser Charleston. launched some time
agus the Minnesota, whose keel was
laid two months ago. the West vir-
g1nia. which Is rapidly nearing compile
ton, and the Maryland, which is ex-
pected to be ready for the government
In another year. Another object of in
spection was the Louisiana, which was
regarded with special interest because
It Is known that there ia a race on be-
tween the local shipbuilding company
and the navy yard at New York.
The invited guests. including Gov
ernor Montague's party and the naval
officials from Washington. were driven
to the Hotel Warwick. where n delight
full collation. was served.
The battleship Virginia embodies the
highest ingenuity and mature expert
ence of American naval experts. The
general dimensions of the ship are:
Length on load waterlne. 435 feet;
breadth (extreme) at load waterline
Is feet ~ inches: trial displacement
about $4,000 tons; mean draught al
trial displacement. about % feet !
inches: greatest draught, full load, q
feet.
In the $1,000 or more tons represent.
ed in the Virginia. the many antagon
istic qualities essential to a perfec
fighting machine have been compro.
missed and Incorporated in the proper
ton which experience seems to have
pointed out as the most desirable and
efficient. To begin with. the ship will
have speed OF at least nineteen knots
which compares most favorably witt
any battleships under construction
abroad. as well as with any in the pro.
-Jected stage. Ills w.
The Virginia will be propelled at this
nigh speed by twin screws driven BY
two four-cylinder triple expansion en-
Eines. running. under conditions Of
maximum speed. at about l2o revolu.
vHsons q minute. t#f8a +
The battieship will carry four -.
mich guns, mounted by pairs in bal
1Hnced turrets. one turret being forward
OF the superstructure and the othe,
aft. OF the eight 8-inch guns, which
win be carried on the vessel four Will
be mounted by pairs in turrets super.
posed on the 12-inch turrets above
Muentiened. and four In two broa dsids
turrets slightly forward of amdships
In addition to these heava guns Their.
s$~nf Be broadside battery of twelve