Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-07-29
CRUISER "s0u1H DAk01A'
Launched at San Francisco and
Christened by Miss Grace
Mae Herreid.
Isan Francisco Chronicle.l

Smoothly. gracefully, without 9 hitcl
Of any kind. and sharp on time. tn
new armored crusier South Dakota, th'
latest addition to the United State
navy, was launched Thursdsy evening
July 81. from the ways at the Uniol
Iron Works. San Frsncisco, amid th'
din of steam whistles. tho blare 9
bands.and the cheers Of thousands o.
spectators. Christened by daughter
Of the State the name Of which th,
huge vessel hears. and In the presenc'
| Of that States Governor and delega
tion which accompanied him, th,
South. Dakota began her career aaoat
under 0right auspices.
After luncheon given at the st
Francis by Henry T. Scott. the chris
tening party boarded the transport tul
Slocum and went to the shipyard. ar
riving about 0 p. m. Long before thil
the preliminary tasks Of ''rammina
up, " starting the shores and splitting
the keel blocks had been begun, ex
actly 1O4 men being required to get the
huge red hull into the water. At 6:3s
precisely high water -the last keel
block was split and the ship settled
down into the cradle. resting wholly
on the launching ways. With barred
heads the christening party listened to
brief prayer for future success by
Bishop w. F. Nichols. and then at q
signal from Henry T. Scott, Miss Grace
Mae Herreid. the nineteen -year.old
daughter Of Governor Herreid Of
South Dakota. pressed . little button
at the end Of an electric wire.
That button set the complex launch.
ing machinery in motion. The electric
current permitted sharp guillotine-
like blade to drop on q cord. the sew.
ering Of which released pair of heavy
weights. These, rushing down an in
cline. struck two spars with heavy
blows knocking ont the "dog.shores"
which, held the vessel back, and the
ship, released from these. started down
the ways.
II christen thee South Dakotal" ex.
claimed Miss Herreid. cody and in .
clear, musical voice, ct the same time
casting the conventional bottle Of
champagne sgainst the now receding
hull. The bottle was smashed to
atoms. scattering the foaming liquid
all over the red plates Of the ram bow.
The big cruiser was baptized.
As the vessel started down the ways
the multitude chsered Justify. Not only
the shipyard, but al the surrounding
docks and seawalls, tha neighboring
hills in the Potero aud feet Of water
craft Of I'll descriptions were crowded
with spectators. A variety Of steam
whistles added their blasts to the din.
in which the strains of two brass bands
were we'll nigh drowned. E
Accompanying Governor Herreid and
the officials Of the Union Iron Works,
on the christening stand were: g. w.
Nash. Superintendent Of schools, and
Mrs. Nash; Miss Aids johnson. .
college mate Of Miss Herreid; Frank
Crane. Clerk Of the Supreme Court
and chairman Of the South Dakota
Republican State Central Committee.
and Mrs Crane; James Brown, . rail
road man, and Mrs. Brown. ell Of
South Dakota.
Like the California. which was
last April, the South Dakota
is one Of six identical armored cruis-
ers authorized by the acts Of Congress
Of March 8, 1899, and June Z. 1900.
The remaining four are the Colorado,
the Maryland. the Pennsylvania and
the West Virginia. The contract for
the construction of the South Dakota
was signed January 10. 1901. and her
keel was laid on September 80, 1902.
Her official speed trials will be held
some time next year. Her total cost
whom completed and ready for sea will
exceed %. 0O0. 900.
The South Dakota is built Of steel
throughout. will carry AZ officers and
1872 men, and is Of the following prin.
cipal dimensions: Length. 500 feet;
extreme breadth, SO feet 81 inches;
mean draft, "A feet l inch; dislace.
ment. fully equipped, ready for ses.
normal coal supply Of 800 tons. 1880
tons; displacement, full load capacity
and 1000 tons Of coal, IS, 1913 tons. She
[s TO maintain . SEQ speed OF twenty.
Two knots. 5.S
The armor protection Of tho South
Dakota consists Of . water.line belt to
5 inches thick, barbettes . inches thick,
turrets s to 81 inches thick, sprotective
deck II to 4 inches thick, and . water.
line Golfer dam filled with corn pith,
which after the entrance Of . shot will
close up and exclude the water.
The armament will comprise in the
main battery four eight.inch breech-
loading rifles and fourteen six.inch
rapid.fire guns; In the secondary bat
terry eighteen three.inch, twelve. three.
FOUNDER and eight one.pound rapid.
fire guns. two machine guns, six auto
matte guns and two three.inch field
pieces. There will also be four sub.
merged torpedo tubes.
Pierre Shouldn't Throw Stones.
Fsirview, July Is, 1904.
EDITOR LEADER:-I find the follow.