Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-31
Welded
TO THE
WATERS
Fete Day in Quincy Mass.
While Ba't'eship Takes
Bap'i.mal Dip.
Vermont chrlstened in Champagne BY
Miss Bell, Daughter OF Governor Of
Green Mountain State. Splendid
Grea: Fighting Machine Designed
for Flagship.

Quincy. Mass. Aug. 31.--The rapid.
ly increasing and powerful navy Of
the United States was increasing by
another great fighting machine today
when the splendid battleship Vermont
took her haptismal dip at the plant of
the Fore River Ship Building Works.
Miss Jennie Bell, daughter OF the gov
ernor Of the state, from which the
mammoth vessel takes its name, broke
bottle of champagne on the ships
bow and said:
81 christen thee Vermont"
II was fete day at Quincy, as all
such occasions are, and when the
gates Of the big yard were thrown
open to the public an immense crowd
surged in TO witness the baptism Of
the latest addition to the nations fleet.
Long before the time appointed for
the launching the visitors crowded the
yards. the adjoining housetops, and
the shore line. Even after the chris
tening had taken place they were 10th
20 depart. many remaining for hours
to watch the giant hull as it floated
at anchor in the placid waters.
Grouped along the waters edge and
dotting the river for mile around
were craft Of everv description. from
tinv naphtha launches to large steam
boats.
On the christening stand was dis
tinguished party, the CONSPICUOUS fig-
ure of which were Governor Bell of
Vermont and his staff. Governor Doug
las Of Massachusetts and eminent rep
resentatives from the Charlestown
navy yard and the navy de-
partment. .ak Washington. There
was large dslegation- from
Vernon Recognition Of the honor
accordedffheir state. The ship build
ing company and the municipal gov
ernment were represented by prom.
inent parties.
Promptly at the hour set the last
shores were knocked from the ways
and the colossal vessel began her
brief Journey. Swinging aloft the
wine bottle, which was wrapped in
the stars and stripes. Miss Bell
crashed it against the steel bow and
spoke the christening words In firm
tones that were heard by all about
her. Then. as the marine monster
rlided gracefully down the creased
cradle, the enthusiasm found vent.
The crowds in the yard roared and
screamed. the party on the :christen-
ing stand waved hats and 'chesred.
and ear-splitting whistles on shore and
water were let loose. \
Meanwhile the Vermont had taken
her maiden dip in the stream. where
her anchors were dropped. and she
came to halt. Another Of the mon
ster flag defenders had been success.
fully launched.
The Vermont Is regarded by naval
experts as marvel in the art Of
marine architecture. She Is sister
ship Of the Kansas. launched a few
weeks ago at Camden. Her general
dimensions are as follows:
Length on load water line 450 feet,
length over all 456 feet inches. ex-
treme beam to molding rs feet 1.2.
inches. to outside Of plating 76 feet s
inches. extreme beam to outside Of ar
NOR 76 feet 10 inches. Her trial dis.
placement viii be $4,000 tons, and
when she goes on her speed test she
will carry 900 tons of coal. although
her bunker capacity Is 1900 tons.
Sixty-six tons Of feed water will also
be carried on her trial trip. Her trial
draft to bottom of keel will be "a feet
inches.
Her contract calls for Q maintenance
of IS knots speed for four consecu-
tive hours. The hull is Of steel
throughout and Is fitted with bilge
end docking heels.
For her protection the Vermont will
hove comnlete main belt of armor,
nine feet three inches wide at the
water line, having uniform thickness
Of nine inches throughout the maya
zine and machinery sraces. tanorjng
TO four inches at the ends. Seven
inch casemate armor will protect her
between the main belt and the main
deck. This armor will extend 70 the
liynits of the magazine at both ends.
Her propelling power will consist
of engines of the twin screw. four
vertical cylinder. triple expansion type
Of combined indicated horsepower
Of 1880 The shin will be provided
with an ice plant with a cooling capac-
itv of three tons Of ice daily. an evan
Grating plant of 16.500 gallons capac-
ity. and distilling apparatus capable
of condensing 10000 gallons Of water
a day. She will be equipped with
powerful searchIigf's and Der masts
will be arranged for wireless tele-
graphv.
Designed for flagship accommoda-
tions will be provided for flag Off
Ger. a commanding officer and a com
plement Of some s25 officers and men,
including marines. ---A-----