The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-09
UNCLE SANS LATES 7
BATTLESHIP FLOATED
AT CRAMPS
Big FIGHTING MACHINE
DaugiterOf Governor of Ida
OSmaSheS the Bottle.
CBy Associated Pross0

Philadelphia, Pa, Dec o.--Greeted by
a chorus Of steam whistles and cheered
on by an enthusiastic assembage OF
thousands OF spectators. the 13,ooo-ton
battleship Idaho. twin sister Of the Mis-
sissippi. glided from her ways at the
Cramps shipyards today
As the vessel swept down TO meet
the waters Of the Delaware river The
cfteen-year- daughter Of Governor
Gooding Of Idaho broke the traditional
bottle Of champagne and formally named
The ship
shortly before the hour set for the
launching, while the wedges were being
driven in to lift the weight from the
ground TO the sliding ways. the naming
party led By Charles r. Taylor, secre-
tary Of tho Cramps campany. made its
way through the crowd and ascended
the christening stand. The sponsor re-
ceived an ovation. as did also Governor
Gooding and the representatives. OF the
navy department al Washington.
All being ready. the word was given
and as the great hull began to slide
down the ways. Miss Gooding dashed a
gayly beribboned bottle Of champagne
nesiinst IL. saying as she did so. Il
christea thee idaho.
Down in the crowd and upon the stand,
men, women and children waved hats,
] handkerchiefs and umbrellas. while
thousands Of throats Joined in the wild
huzzas which greeted the new addition
to Uncle SANS navy.
After tho launching there was a lunch
con attended by the Idaho party, the
GERS from the Philadelphia navy yard
and ndmoor Of other invited guests
The launching of the Idaho leaves
/, the New Hampshire the only battleshiI
now building for the United States nav,
that has not yet been launched. rh,
! date OF the act authorizing the construc
tion Of TIE Idaho was March g. 1903 ans
her contract was signed January 25
1904. Her keel was laid May -. 1904
Her contract calls for her completion
May %, 1907, and it is likely she viii
be commissioned before that date. a.
she is now more than half finished.
The Idaho is a ship Of 5000 tons, WIKI
water line Of 375 feet, u feet wide
has coal bunker capacity OF 1850 tons
and q speed Of II knots. When com
pleted she will have cost nearly $6,00p
600.
In drawing up the plans and specin
cations for this ship the navy depart
mont engineers took advantage Of IN
lessons Droffered by the Russo-Japanes
war The Idaho VIII have but one mast
which win have three lighting tops r
protect her from torpedo attacks he
water line win pc protected by a 81
inch bolt Of steel and watertight com
partmenta, which II is figured, wi
make the ship well-nigh unsinkable
The main battery Of her armament wi
consist OF four l2-inch breech loadin
r rifles. eight s-inch and eight 7-inc
: breach loading rifles In addition sh
viii be supplied with two 1S-inch sui
merged torpedo tubes. Her secondai
battery viii consist OF twelve 3-ine
:. l4-pounder rapid fire guns, six s-pound
e scmi-automatic guns. two i-pounder al
ID tomatic guns, two l-pounder rapid ii
C. guns, two 3-inch field pieces, two mi
St chine guns and six automatic suns
* 80 caliber each.
Of The ship win be elghtcd tnrousho
'd by electricity. provided via telephone
Re voice pipes. call bells. bu.ac'a, gong
IS, engine and steering telegaphs. .evoi
r. tion and rudder indicators, heeins inc
al Gators. automatic fire alataai Nauii
he Signals and alarm signals All these .
vices win be electrically opacafed.
TO make the life OF the engineers @
hremou more agreeable p.,r,icuiar
forts have been made 10 MAKE the ve
teaiion as near perfect as possih'e.
main compartments OF the ship bel
p" the gun deck. except the coal burke
. are to be provided with forced yenu
"' tion. there being not less than tTen
'll three blowers win combined cais
N fty OF not less than ii4as0 cgh.c 4
eo per minutes. frhe ventilation syst
we was designed to cut the ninlmnm ru
Der Of watertight bukheads. An bic
ers except forced draught blowers
s. 20 be electrically operated.
Tho Idaho w.I pc supplied with
aO-foot steam cutters, two S3-foot s.
Ne ing launches. four 3o-foot cutters, IA
AM SO-foot whale boats, one 3o-foot
~ whale boat. two 2s-foot cutters, two
~ foot dingies and -four life RATS. la
so dition provision viii be made for
,-a ! electrically operated cranes.
When IN commission the crew of
Idaho win consist ol 6Ss men, nine v
IT, rant officers nine Junior onicers, no.
wardroom officors ana the --mman'
ND officer.
There has been considerable critic
Of ,the Idaho and the Mississippi
Ito. cause OF their comparatively sH'ah
lave mage and low speed AT the same
ore, they are expected 70 prove formi'
aghtlng machines, as Their arn'amer
as heavy az that Of tie largest ba
hair ships OF our navy.
iiar