Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-09-07
5ATTLEsHIP LAUNCHED.
Bears Name Of Vermont and Yer
monters Assisted in Christening.


The United States battleship Vermont
was launched at the yard OF the For,
River Shipbuiiding company at Quincy
Mass, Wednesday. Aug, 81. The great stee
snip was released from the stocks anC
slowly and smoothly glided down the
ways without mishap. Thousands
cheered and waved their hats as the hull
rushed into the water, among those who
witnessed the spectacle being many eiti-
zens OF Vermont.
Miss Jennie c. Bell, daughter OF Cover
nor Bell OF Vermont and sponsor OF the
vessel. prettily dressed in white, was the
central figure on the launching platform
Beside her were the maids Of honor, Misses
/ Mary l.. Morse OF Randolph, VT, and
Virginia +. Perry OF Mclndoes, VT, Miss
! Morse being a close friend and Miss Perry
a cousin OF Miss Bell. The three girls
were surrounded by a brilliant party, the
guests including Governor Bell and Mrs
| Bell, the governors staff and wives, Gov.
William L. Douglas and Mrs. Douglas and
many representative citizens OF Massa-
chusetts, Mayor Thompson OF Boston,
\ Assistant Secretary OF the Navy Charles
i III. Darling, Commander A. G.. Boutakoff.
\ Russian naval attache at Washington, and
several New England congressman.
In the Vermont party were Governor
| and Mrs. Bell, their two daughters, Misses
]
] Mrs. Stearns and their Young son, Adjt.-
/ Gen. and Mrs. William II. Gilmore, their
daughter, Mrs. Chamberlain, Judge Advo-
/ cate-General Nathan G.. Williams and
/ Miss Williams. Surgeon General and Mrs,
/ Warren +. Putnam, Col. and Mrs. Frank
I lin 5. Billings, Col. and Mrs. Merton ID.
\ Wells, Col. and Mrs. Nelson A. Dole, Col.
and Mrs. Merritt b. Roberts, Col.
/ Charles W. Scarf, Col. and Mrs. {. s.
/ Emery of Chelsea, Mason $ Stone, super
/ inteDdent OF education, and Mrs. Stone;
I Miss Mary Morse of Randolph and Miss
1 Virginia Perry OF MeIndoes Falls.
! Owing to the great demand for tickets,
the yard at the last moment was open to
I ali Nermonters and many who claimed
I Vermont as their native state were present
TO witness the launching. The Vermont
/ Veteran association OF Massachusetts,, $50
strong, together with the Vermont associ-
alton of Massachusetts, and Massachu-
sets Daughters of Vermont occupied a
( special reviewing stand near the bow Of
Z the battleship.
Two hundred and seventy-five men
armed with malets and sledges were sta
toned along the sides ready 10 strike at
the wedges when the word was given. At
five in the morning an army of workmen
began at the important task OF greasing
the ways so that the ship would slip easily
and not De injured by the friction. Tai
low was principally used, $500 pounds be-
ing the exact amount needed, also 1850
pounds Of lard oil and 200 pounds Of
launching grease.
Nearly three miles OF the best Manila
rope was used and destroyed in the
launching, 5000 feet being Of nine-inch
hawser rope. This enormous amount Of
cordage was stretched across the ways
like the strings OF harp, from the battle
ship to the water. II was divided into
3 - sat kara.l Ia
succession as the vessel moved down to
the sea, steadying her and preventing the
attainment OF too great headway.
When the new man of war was released,
Miss Bell drew back a bottle of American
wine, suspended from the platform by
ribbons, and as the huge craft dipped
stern foremost into the high tide she
swung the pendulum hard against the
armored bow. The bottle struck squarely
and broke upon the ship, as Miss Bell
exclaimed. ~ christen thee Vermont
Then came loud hurrahs. a bedlRm Of
salutes from the assembled steam craft
and music by the Marine band OF Charles
town navy yard, while the monstrous
hull, after the first plunge, gradually
came TO rest.
There was no speaking from the launch
ing platform, bat, after cheering and
music, the party adjourned to the mould
loft nearby and was entertained at lunch
con by the Fore River company. Here
some informal speeches we're made by
Gov. Douglas, Gov. Bell and Rear Admiral
Bowles.
Assistant Secretary Darling, on being
introduced, threw the assembly into the
most enthusiastic demonstration by pro-
posing a toast to President Roosevelt.
Everybody arose and cheered.
At the last session of the Vermont
Legislature the sum Of 5000 was appro-
priated for the purchase OF a silver service
which will be presented TO the new
battleship when she is ready Tor COM
mission.
The Vermont is 60 per cent finished,
much more than usual when battleship
is launched, and was the quickest ever
built in the United States.
The Vermont is one Of the largest and
most powerful ba eships yet laid down
for the navy. The general dimensions
are as Acknowledgement OF load waterline,
$50 feet breadth, extreme, at load water
line, rs 1912 feet; displacement, 10000
tons; mean draft to bottom Of keel, - l-2
feet; gross draft, full load, about 26 "a
fleets total bunker capacity, 1000 tons.
The requirements call for a trial speed
at the sea for four hours of Is knots.
The hull is OF steel throughout, fitted
with docking and bilge keels.
In the main batteries there will be four
Pinch breech-loading rifles, eight e-lnch
breech- loading rifles, twelve 1-inch
breech- loading rifles secondary battery,
twelve 3-inch 14-pounder rapid-tire guns,
twelve 3-pounder and semi-automatic
guns, six 1-pounder automatic guns, two
1-pounder emi-automatic guns, two g
inch field pieces, two machine guns, cali
Der 80, and six automatic guns, caliber
3d.
The vessel is designed as a flagship,
and the arrangement OF quarters VIII pro-
vide ample accommodations for flag
officer, chief Of staff, nineteen ward-room
officers, ten junior officers, ten warrant
officers, and not less than 16l men, in
Guiding sixty marines. The ship Will
cost completed s7,500,OOO.
Mother Grey's Appeal 70 Women.
Ifvou have pains in the back, Urinary, Bladder
or Kidney trouble and want certain pleasant
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