Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-03-25
CRUISER LAUNCHED
WARSHIP WASHINGTON met The
WATER AT CAMDED, N. ].
In the Presence of Several Thousand
Spectators and Amid a Chorus of
Steam Whistles, the Warrior Was
Christened by Miss Wilson with Gus
tomary Liquid-Superior Ship.


In the presence of several thousand
spectators and to a chorus to steam
whistles and changing bells, the United
States armored cruiser Washington,
the most powerful of its class yet built,
gracefully glided from the ways at the
yard of the New York Shipbulding Co,
at 1903 Saturday. AS the new war
| ship swept down the ways toward the
| ripping waters of the Delaware the
| assembled multitude wildly cheered
the new champion. Owing to the dis
lance of the state of Washington from
the city there was not a large at
tendance of citizens of the common
wealth honored by the navy depart
ment when the Washington was nam
ed. There was an influential delega-
ton on hand, however, composed of
state officials, members of the legisla-
ture and the Washington representa-
tives in congress. The ship was chris
tened by Miss Helen Stewart Wilson,
daughter of former United States Sen
ator Wilson of Washington.
With the first movement of the huge
null Miss Wilson lightly poised the
gayly beribboned bottle of champagne,
and as the vessel swept down to meet
the tide she dashed the glass recepta-
Gle against the unyielding wall of
steel, and as the wine flowed down
the ways in foaming rivulets the fair
sponsor said: Il christen thee Wash
ington."
Pandemonum had broken loose in
the crowd below as well as upon the
stand. Staid matrons as we'll as giddy
maids were mounting points of want
age in order to see the new vessel
leap into the arms of her native ele-
ment. Greeted with a welcoming blast
from the shrill threats of several
score of steam whistles, the cruiser
doated majestically out upon the bos-
ON of the Delaware, where she soon
was captured by tug and towed to
one of the shipyard piers, where she
will be completed. She is now in a
more advanced stage of construction
than any vessel ever before launched
for the United States navy.
The Washington was contracted for
on February 8, 1904 and at the same
time the cramps were. awarded the
contract for a sister ship, the Ten
nessee. There has been quite ri
valry between the two shipbuildng
firms to see which should complete
its contract the quickest. The New
York Shipbuilding company is ahead
with the launching of the Washington
This is partially due to the fact that
built are covered by a mammoth shed
of glass and steel, allowing for work
in all kinds of weather.
The Washington, while not design
ed to be quite as fast as some of
the lighter armed cruisers, will have
greater battery and defensive powers
than any vessel classed as a cruiser.
In fact, she will be superior to many
battleships of the earlier type. The
Washingtons' length on water line is
SOP feet; breadth at load water line,
Y feet; displacement on trial, 25 feet;
mean draught at maximum load, q
feet. The steaming radius at 10 knots
will be $500 knots; steaming radius at
full speed, about 300 knots.
The armor plate protection ranges
from 9 inches for the turrets to 5
inches for the belt. The cruiser will
have a very heavy armament. The
main battery will consist of four 10
inch guns and 16 6-inch guns. The
secondary battery will have % 3-inch
rapid-fire guns, II 3-pounder semi-auto
matte guns, two 1-pOunder automatic
and two 1-pounder rapid-fire guns, two
3-inch field pieces and three small cali
bre rapid-fre machine guns.
The indicated horsepower of the
engines is $4,000, ana they are design
ed to drive the vessel at a speed of at
| least % knots an hour.
Governor Sends Greeting.
The following is a copy of a tele-
gram sent by Governor Mead to the
New York Shipbuilding company at
Camden, N. j.:
Accept my best wishes for the sue
cessful launching of the cruiser Wash
ington. May she reflect credit on her
builders and honor on the state whose
name she bears.
ALBERT E. MEAD, Governor"