Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-30
Cruiser Birming=
ham Launched.

Quincy, Mass, Mass, May 29.-Thc
scout cruiser birmingham, one Of the
latest types Of fast warships for the
United States navy was successfully
launched at noon today at the yard of
the Fore River Shipbuilding Co. Miss
Mary Campbell of Birmingham. Ala,
smashing the traditional bottle Of wine
on the steel rrow as the big vessel
started down the ways.
Miss Campbclrs first effort ut bottle
breaking WAS not 4 success ana the
birmingham was on tno move when
she learned forward OF the launching
stand with the bow three or four feet
away from her ana struck the cruiser
4 second time. Tho glass was shattCr-
ed in a hundred pieces and tho bub-
bling wine foamcd down the cutwater
as the birmingham slid gracefully in
to Fore river.
With Mis- Campbell On tho launch
ing stand stood several ladies and
gentlemen from the Southern state as
wen as tho company officials and naval
representatives..
Later in til" spacious drau%htinG
room Of the yard the usual cnngratu
latory exercises took place.
1t is expected that III" Birmingham
vii! he placed iii commission i'll a few
months.
Quincy. Mass, May eft WAS an in
tcrcSting party Of Southern mon and
women which Former Governor Joseph
f. johnson of Alabama and Miss Mary
Campbell Of birmingham led "a tho big
yard Of tie Fore River ShipbuiIGin- Cc
today for the launching of the scout
cruiser birmingham, the governor as
the states representative and the
Young woman as the sponsor for the
new addition to the American navy
Included in the christening party were
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. X. Campbell tho pa
rents of the young woman assigned to
the duty Of swinging the traditional
bottle OF wine on the ships nose, Major
James WcatEcrly. the representative
Of Mayor Ward Of birmingham, and
score oe other citizens of the famous
iron center of the South together with
4 bcvy Of pretty girl friends Of Miss
Campbell.
And grimly waiting on the ways was
the Srcat mass Of steel and iron which
had taken nearly three years to put to-
gcthcr and which needed only a few
strokes of the hammers to send flying
into the waters Of Massachusetts bay.
alabama, here we rest" exclaimed
Governor Johnson as he stepped from
the train and found the long journey
ended beneath the big black bow Of
what is expected to be one of the fast
est war vessels that has vet been built
The Birmingham is designed to make
a speed of "a knots an hour. The type
Of scout cruiser was authorized by the
government in 1904 and is n new depar-
turc i'll shirbuilding in the American
navy.
TLc estimated speed Of II knots.
whilc slightly less than that Of the
English scout cruiser now building. isl
moro than compensated for ~ thu ubil-
ity 10 maintain the high speed in all
conditions of weather. and in addition
the American type Of cruiser has moro
than twice tho coal capacity and there
fore Il far greater radius of action than
IL" english scouts.
The BirmnCham II 4a0 feet over al,
4G feet inches in breadth ana has a
drau;eht Of ~ fc"t. Her total coal ca
c"rity is $50 tons ANA her stcaming
radius at full speed is estimated at 1871
miles q. Go miles at 10 lirots an hour
It il estimated that Sh2 will Develop
5000 horsepower
Trc hull is built Of steel throughout.
with two longitudinal hull:hr1la and
;iV" decks. tie main ana berth decks
being continuous from stem 10 storm.
Her battery will consist Of two 5-:nch
ana xix i-inCh TpTid fire suns ana twnl
i inch submerged t"rr;"d" tubes. Ucri