Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1905-03-25
THE LAUNCHING OF
BATTEsHiP WASHINGTON

Camden. y. J March is--in the pres
rucr OF several thousand spectators ana
10 chorus of steam whistles and clong-
lug bells. the United states Rrmorcd
cruiser Washington, the most powerful
of ta class yet built. gracefully glidcd
from the ways az the yard OF the Sew
York shipbuiidng company today A.
the new war ship swept down the ways
toward the ripping waters OF the Della
ware the assembled multitude wildly
chocrcd the now champion. owing TO
tho distance OF the state OF Washington
from this city there was not q large at-
tendance OF citizens OF the common
wealth honorcd by the navy department
when the Washington was named There
WAS an influential delegation on hand,
however, composed 81 state omcials
members of the legislature ana the wash
iuEton representation IN congress. The
ship was chriatoncd By Miss Helen Stew
ARE Wilson. daughter of former United
states senator Wilson, of Washington.
with the nrst movement OF the huge
uull Miss Wilson lightly poised the Euyly
beribhon,d bottle % champagne, and as
the vessel swept down 10 meet the tide
she dashed the glass receptacle against
the unyielding wall OF steel. and as the
wine flowed down the ways Ia foamiuE
riyulcts the fair sponsor said: II christcn
thee Washington"
Pandcmonium had broken loose In the
crowd below as well aa upon the stand
staId matrona ns well az giddy maids We're
mounting points OF vantage IN order 60
see the new vessel leap into the arms 81
her native element. Greeted with a well
coming blast from the shrill threats Of
several score OF steam whistles, the
cruiser noatcd maleAtlCaily out upon the
bosom OF the Delaware. where she soon
was captured by tux ana towod 20 one OF
the shipyard piers, where she viii b7 COM
"A. a
stage ~ construction than any vessel
ever before launched Tor the united
states navy.
the Washington was contracted Tor on
February 3, 1874. and ut the same time
the Cramps were awarded the contract
TOR "A sister ship, the Tonneaaee. There
has been quite a rivalry between the two
ahiphuiiding firms tn see which should
complete its contract the quickest. The
Now York shipbuilding company IL ahead
with the launching OF She Washington.
This IL partially due 90 the fact that the
ways ON which the cruiser was built are
covered by "A mammoth shed OF glass ana
steel allowing for work IN all kinda OF
weather.
Tho Washington. while not designed 20
De quite as fast as some OF the lighter
armored cruisers, viii have greater bait
terry ana defensive powers than any yes
sci Classed Az cruiser. In fact. she
win be- superior 90 many pattleships Of
the earlier type The Washington q
length on water lire ~ 5e feet; breadth
az load water ilbc, q feet; displacement
on trial, - feet; mean draught at maxi
mum load "a feet. The steaminR radius
80 10 knots will be $500 knots steamlnR
radius at fun speed, about S,lUQ knots.
The arnOr plate protection ranges from
o inches FOR the turrcts 10 inches for the
belt. The cruiser viii have a very heavy
armament The main battery viii con-
aist OF four iG-inch gums, and sixteen g.
inch guns. The secondary battery viii
have twenty-thrce 8-inch Fapid-nre guns,
twelve 8-pounder Eefni-automatic guns,
two i-ponuder automatic ana two J.
FOUNDER rapid nre guns. two ainch field
pieces and three small Cniibre rapd-hre
machine guns