The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-03-24
CRUISER LAUNCHED

.WARSHIP WASHINGTON met The
WATER AT CAMDED, n. ].
IN the Presence Of several Thousand
Spectators and Amid Chorus Of
steam Whistles, the Warrior Was
+ chrstsIed BY Miss Wilson with Gus
tomary .Liquid-superior Ship. 4:
In the presence of several Thousand
and to 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 Shipbuilding Co.,
at 1900 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 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 ofiicials, 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. F%
With the first movement of the huge
hull 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: II christen thee Wash.
ington."
Pandemonium had broken loose in
the crowd below as well as upon the
stand. Staid matrons as well as giddy
maids terN mounting points Of want
age in eldef to see the new vessel
leap into the arms of her native ele.
ment. Greeted with welcoming blast
from the shrill threats of several
score of steam whistles, the cruiser
foated 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 fol
on February 8, 1904, and at the same
time the cramps were awarded the
contract for sister ship, the Ten
nessee. There has been quite ri
valry between the two shipbuildine
firms to see which should complete
its contract the quickest. The New
York Shipbuilding company is aheat
with the launching Of the Washington
This is partially due to the fact tina
the ways on which the cruiser wal
built. are covered by mammoth shet
of glass and steel. allowing for worl
in all kinds of weather.
The Washington, while not design
ed to be quite as fast as some o
the lighter armed cruisers, will hav'
greater battery and defensive power,
than any vessel classed as cruiser
In fact, she will be superior to man.
battleships of the earlier type. Thu
Washingtons' length on water line Il
502 feet: breadth at load water line
u feet; displacement on trial, Is feet
mean draught at maximum load, Q
feet. The steaming radius at 10 knot
will be $500 knots; steaming radius a
full speed. about 300 knots.
The armor plate protection range
from 8 inches for the turrets to
inches for the belt. The cruiser vii
have very heavy armament. Tn
main battery will consist Of four II
inch guns and is 6-inch guns. TIL
secondary battery will have % 3-inc
rapid-flre guns, IL 3-pounder semi-aut(
matte guns, two 1-pounder automati
and two 1-pounder rapid-fire guns, tw
. 3-inch field pieces and three small cal
bre rapid-fire machine guns.
The indicated horsepower Of tn
engines is $4,000. anu they are desigl
ed to drive the vessel at speed of 9
least 20 knots an hour.
Governor Sends Greeting.
The following is copy of tel,
gram sent by Governor Mead to tn
New York Shipbuilding company 6
Camden, N. j.:
accept my best wishes for the SUI
cessful launching of the cruiser Wasl
ington. May she reflect credit on he
builders and honor on the state who's
name she bears.
ALBERT e. MEAD, Governor"
Russian Officers Killed.
During the war the Russians hay
lost the following high officers: