The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-10-19
THE GEORGIA LAUNCHED.
Monster and Magnificent BattIeship
GIIdes from Ways at Bath, Maine,
In Midst Of imposing Ceremony.

AT 1852 o'clock Tuesday afternoon,
at the Bath Iron Works, the largest
vessel ever built in the state of
Maine, the twin-screw firstclass bat.
tie ship Georgia was launched
The battle ship was gaily decorated
with flags and bunting, as were also
the offices ana yard buildings, in hon
or Of the occasion. Excursionists from
all sections of Maine were present to
witness the launching, and the party
entertained by the officials of the com
pany included Governor Joseph ~.
Terrell, of Georgia, and Mrs. Terrell
Judge and Mrs. Hamilton New ..ortcr,
Miss Camilla McWhorter, Congress.
man f. Carter Tate, Miss Stella Tate
and Congressman w. C. Adamson, all
Of Georgia
Miss Tate was escorted to the
launching platform by Vice President
John S. Hyde, and instructed in her
duties as sponsor. Mr.. Hyde had also
personal supervision of the launching
A method somewhat different from the
usual one of releasing the hull by sew.
ering a cord>was employed on this oc-
caBion, when sawyers standing be-
ieath the vessel sev ed the monstrous
the Y was started t% sard|-~@ a.
ter =
w tile ship began to move,
Miss Ne a bottle Of cham
pagnS the bow, naming the
craft nor of her own state. AS
the stern parted the surface of the
Kennebec river, the Georgia was sa-
luted by numerous craft and manufac-
turing plants along the shore, all of
which were acknowledged by her siren
and whistle, the battle ship being
launched with steam up. Both mill
tary masts were in position as well
as tD1 coming tower, and the three
smoke tunnels which gave the vessel
more the appearance of completed
battle ship than any previously
launched
Following the LAUNCH a luncheon
was served.
me Georgia is On( he three bat.
tie ships authorized er an act of
congress, approved March 3, 1899, ami
is also duplicate of the two author
lied and approved June 7, 1900. Bids
for these five battle ships were opened
at the navy department November Is
1900, and in February, 1901, the Batn
Iron Works was awarded the contract
for the building Of the Georgia, a sis
ter ship OF the Virginia, Rhode IslanA
New Jersey and Nebraska, at a con.
tract price Of $359O,0OO.
The Georgia belongs to the most
powerful type Of battle ship aloat, and
also to the largest class. She has a
trial displacement of $4,000 tons. and
is 435 feet long, &c feet and 10 inches
BEAM and under trial conditions will
dra" "a feet, while she has an ex.
treme draft OF &c feet when fully load
ed and equipped with stores, coal, am.
munition, etc.
The craft is fully protected by the
best OF armor, having combined
weight Of 800 gross tons. and which
includes main belt extending the en-
tire length of each side from eleven
TO four inches thick The 12-inch tur-
rets and barbetts are covered with q
lO-inch armor, the Sinch turrets and
barbetts with 6-inch armor. The con-
ming tower Is inches thick. the sig
nal tower inches THICK and 17ic gun
protection and splinter bulk heads are
, and 8 inch lick.
The battery Of me Georgia consists
of four 12-inch breech-loading rifles.
twelve G-inch braech-ioading rifles Of
rapid movement, twelve 3-inch breech.
loading rapid-fire rifles, twelve 8.
FOUNDER guns. four one FOUNDER auto.
matte guns two 3,inch field guns. two
machine guns and six automatic guns
There are also four submerged torpe.
do tubes