The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-06-02
UNCLE SANS GREAT
SEA FIGHTER

p46SoO ny none ana 6Qu6leQ only Dy
her own sister ship, which is not yet
completed, Americas latest and
greatest warship, the battleship Wy
oming, was launched today at the
yards of the Cramp Ship and Engine
Building company at Kensington.
There was no untoward incident to
mar the ceremonies, which were wit
messed by a distinguished gathering
of naval folks and official represen-
tatives of the State Of Wyoming, in
honor of which Commonwealth the
powerful sea fighter was named.
For the first time in the many
years that the Cramps have been
building the big fighting machines
for the United States navy the gen.
eral public was barred from attend
ing the launching. No one was per-
mitted to enter the yards without
card of admission. The enforcement
of the new rule was due. according
to the explanation of the company
officials, to extraordinary conditions
arising from the great size of the
Wyoming So huge is the mammoth
hulk that it completely filled the
great shed built over the cradle and
rendered it impossible to build the
customary stands about the PROV for
the accommodation of the spectators.
Provision was made only for the
christening party and few distin-
guished guests.
The christening party. headed by
Miss Dorothy Eunice Knight, daugh-
ter of a former chief justice of the
Wyoming supreme court and sponsor
for the big battleship, took up their
positions near the nose of the big
ship. A few minutes later there was
a rending sound and snap, the weak
ened under beams gave way and as
the Wyoming moved down the ways
Miss Knight hurled the bottle of
sparkling wine at the Prov and ex-
claimed in clear voice: II chris
ten thee Wyoming"
The gigantic battleship slid down
the tallow-greased ways with the
lightness of a frail lifeboat. AS she
righted herself far out in the stream
and was taken in charge by several
tugs the great crowd of spectators
gave vent to it's enthusiasm. To the
cheers Of the onlookers was added
the deafening noise of hundreds OF
whistles from the factories and
shops along shore and the many riv-
er crafts.
The battleship Wyoming is declar-
ed to have no equal as irst-class
fighting machine. She is of $4,000
tons displacement, or $3.50 tons
greater than the British battleshir
Conqueror launched a few weeks
ago
The displacement of the Wyoming
is 5000 tons greater than that OF
the Delaware, which has been N
commission less than year, anc
nearly $1,000 tons greater than thai
OF the Oregon, which scarcely more
than decade ago was known as
the Bulldog of the Navy
The armament of the WyemtnE
will consist of twelve 12-inch ant
twenty-five 5-inch guns and broad
sides of twelve 12-inch and eleven
5-ineh guns. The twelve 12-inet
guns will b. mountcj in q .'tle'
on the centre inc OF t3fe ss42, wv
forward, two ait and two nlidships
pa - It i sto be protected by ar
a4..t. twelve inches and eight inche
thick, and supplied with a'1mnnleiol
by electrical hoists fro'~ t m'lfsS
zines ard shellroor:s below. The en-
tire handling of the guns VIII d.
done by e ctric motors.
For defence against torpedo boa
attacks there will be provided bat