The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-30
ChriStened By Miss Mary Campbell, Who Strikes the Bottle Twice to
 Splash the Wine
ALIVE WITH COLORS BOAT
 GLIOES INTO FORE RIVER
Greeted With Steam Whistles and the Cheering of Thousands-Naval offi- cers of Three Continents Present.
 Weatherly and Babb Speak.

 cruiser Birmingham was successfully launched today at 11:57 in the presence of distinguished citizens of Birmingham, naval officers of three countries and thou sans of citizens of Quincy and surround ing places. After a week of wet weather the launching day broke clear and bright, and continued so during the day. The big ship was alive with colors, carrying the naval jack, the national flag, the state flag of Alabama and the flags of the in- ternational signal code.
 A special train brought the launching party from Boston, and was run direct to the ship yards. The cruiser was christened by Miss Mary Campbell. daughter of Mir. and Mrs. E. K Campbelnl of Blrmlng- ham.
 Miss Campbell was dressed in white with a white hat and carried American beauty roses, which were presented her by Admiral Bowes of the Fore River Shipbuildng company. When 1t came time to give the vessel its name Miss Campbell had to strike the bottle twice, as the first blow did not break the glass. The ship was backing when the second blow caught the steel prow. and the wine splashed in good shape, wetting both the ship and the workmen below.
 "Chrlsten Thee Birmingham"
 As the bottle broke Miss Campbell cried. T christen thee Birmingham" and in a few minutes the cruiser was afioat on the Fore river. She was greeted with cheer ing and steam whistles, while the naval men congratulated the sponsor on her quick wit that saved the Birmingham from dry christening.
 With Miss Campbell on the launching platform as maids of honor were Misses Grace Hardie, Mary Cameron, Mary Fitz- patrick, Elizabeth pearhorq, 1sathleen sNSn. Esarjofy w aerlys' Elien Lian Motion, Martha pantls @nd Mary Geore Cruikshank of Birmingham, and Rose An derson of Louisville, Ky.
 Others on the platform from Birming- ham were MT. and Mrs. E. K. Campbell, James Weatherly, MT. and Mrs. w. Fl. Woodward, Mrs. T. H. Motion and Mir. and Mrs. E. M Tutwiler, Wilson Brown, Leon Steiner, John London J. B. Babb, John L. Parker, MT. and Mrs. A. R. Dear born and Mrs. Margaret Douthitt
 
 by Admiral Cowles, brother-in-law to President Roosevelt; Admiral Capps, chief constructor; Lieutenant Commander Althause, Capt. H. c. Colby, Com. J. l.. Cow, Naval Constructor G. s. Radford, Lieut.. R. R. Pollock and Ensign c. A. Darlington.
 The Japanese navy was represented by Lieutenant Kamimura, Lieutenant Kada, Lieutenant Yoshida and Lieutenant Ya- magata, and the Danish navy by Captain Hovgaard.
 Luncheon After Launching.
 After the launching luncheon was served. The Birmingham people were for mally welcomed by Admiral Bowles, who complimented the public spirit which prompted so many people coming a thou sand miles from home to be present at the launching. James Weatherly spoke for Birmingham, and said it gave him pleas ure to be able to come to Massachusetts and say that the people of the south in common with the people of the north feel the heartthrob of Americans. He hoped the ship would never strike her flag in dis honor as long a piece was left to- gether. and he hoped the city would keep step with the best civic life of the coun- try.
 oast 10 MISS Campbell.
 Congressman O'Connell of Massachu- setts stood shoulder to shoulder with the southern states, and would protect them and the national honor by the warships built by Massachusetts workmen. He spoke for a big merchant marine, as well as fleets of war; and hoped Birmingham would give a President to the Union as Quincy has given two.
 J. B. Babb eulogized the city of Br- IL that Admiral Bowles called for cheers for him, as well as Miss Campbell. All of the Birmingham party were in good health and fine spirits.
 The cruiser Birmingham is destined to be a 24-knot boat which will make her the fastest ship in the United States navy. She is one of three scout cruisers au- thorized by an act of Congress April F, 1904. and Is of type entirely new to the United States navy. Her two sister ships are the Salem, named for Salem, Mass, and the Chester named Chester, Pa. Of these the Salem is building at the Fore River yards and in slip almost next to the one which the Birmingham left today, while the Chester is being constructed at the Bath Iron works in Bath, Me. These boats will be an up-to-date exem- plification of the old adage: He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day"
 The speed which the Birmingham will make Is exceeded only by boats of the torpedo and destroyer craft and, in fact, the Birmingham will be torpedo boat destroyer on mammoth scale. While the speed of the Birmingham will be slightly less than the estimated speed of some of the scout ships now building for the British navy, the difference in speed is more than compensated for by the ability to maintain the high speed in all condi- tions Of weather. The Birmingham will have more than twice the coal capacity of the British ships and, consequently a greater increased radius of action.
 Her dimensions are as follows: Length between perpendiculars. 42O feet; length over all, 423 feet inches: breadth, mould ed, 46 feet inches; draft, fully loaded, ed 4s feet inches; depth amidships, mounlded, 36 feet 5 1-16 inches; displace- ment fully loaded, 4s40 tons; displacement on '-ial, 3750 tons; draft on trial Is feet 9Iz inches; total coal capacity 1250 tons i; coal on trial, 475 tons; feed water, total, 100 tons; feed water. on trial trip. 50 tons; maximum speed. average of four hours run. "A knots; steaming radius at -~~~~~~~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
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