The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19


SLIDING
drcds of lives and several millions ~,
uo!lats' And that risk is always taken
Whcn ship of such proportions as TN,
IeNas is launched. For that reason inc
preparations for the launching had
occn most careful. and tho launching
cradle' upon which all the weight of
the ship had TO rest for few minutca
before she started to tho water onI
while she was making the tourney
down the ways, had been especially
reinforced and secured to stand half
again the weight to which 1t was sub
jcctcd.
But the care did not end with tho
construction of the launching cradle
III was necessary that tho hull be lit
cd the same on one side as the other.
ana therefore. tho task of wedginE the
sup up this morning was delicate
one Oh1cinls of the yarG kent "A close
watch over this work from the tim.
II hrst began until the hull was clear
OF the stocks
interested Spectators.
All the time that III. spopsor v.
being instructed in the art of christcn-
ihS the ship, the workmcn wcrc busv
under the bulging hull ramminr home
'he Wedges, and tho distinguIshcd
guests III the launching platform WEI.
Interested Spectators OF this work
ara officials were Kept busy explain
ms no" lhe work was done and WHY 1T
M's necessary 10 proceed with tho
greatest care and caution. Finally tho
h"ll had been lifted clear of the Stock 9
and the wodging ceased.
several hundred men then swarmcd
under the hull OF the ship ana disau.
reared inside the launching cradl. A
lew minutes and the "tinklc. tiukle" NJ
'hc "orKmen's hammers as thay knock
=" OUT the Keel blocks was heard hv
we crowd. The initiated knew then
,'ss ,he wait for the ship TO take the
'ue DOWN Tie ways would he hricr
nile the keel blocks wcrc hotrr
removed gangs OF workmcn with hu"n
AIMS knocked out tho shores from M
Ger the sides OF The ship This wn,l,
ana That Of removing tho keel blocks
"'rF completed at about the same
t''hc' There was a signal from Suno,.
,"'ehaeht OF HUI Construction ios.nh
" eaNcr aud danger whistle snundn,
instantly the workmcn scrambi.d 100,
safety PUNT Oh
Eaeerly the crowd waited FOR tb.
snip TO he sawed" down. bur there
WIS no saving for the Texas In rI,.e
ni IN" usual big oal; sole pIcrca va
."S' d the bow of the ship. ard hold.
c cradle TO the stocks. was :,
,nT S'c'I trigger located amidshins IN
no4d the vessel steady ON tba
This trigger was held in nIac M"HS
suppressed air pressure, and as M
.I'"i blocks We're knocked awa,, d
sn"FcS removed. the pressure an
''lSScr was Increased so ,z 80
Keep the ship from slipping.
New system Used.
'S system was the same as TIA,
&c" Leo IN launching tho ill-fatcd While
,l"F uher Titanic and Is considered
| 'ne safest that there is The tricrrr
Is located ainidships in tho lamnsb.
mE cradle. and thus onc-halr inc
! Hiooks ia given as a 'null' arairs,
INC weight Of tho ship until tho ,ri.
| Ecr Is released. whereas. with thn nid
piece system. only tho extreme
'"'Ward ond OF tho stocks ruils
"N"'hS' IN" snip. and the danger Of
inc stocks pulling out or eivin. i.
greatly increased
nch IN" last block and shore had
fallen and the workmcn had reached
" pace 81 safety. the pressure against
| no bl@ trigger was released. and Inc
'''g ger huge stool piston. foil back
wards undrr tho ship ana the great
nv, was released, Tho weight OF tho
nun. with tho heat OF the dav had
looscncd the hundreds Of sons of ,ol.
low and oil which had been placed
between tho slide WAYS ana tho sta
'ionary WAYS. and The hull begin to
! NOV" away as soon as tho trigger was
released.
( scarcely had tho ship started on tho
/ way down tho ways when the sponsor
send The champagne bottle crashing
against tho steel PROV and said the
| words that gave the inert steel its
F., proud name Instantly the crowds
! broke Into cheer and then the
| scrcechos Of scores Of steam whistles
! joined in the general noise. which went
mp to welcome the new bride Of the
seas.
No, Unlike tho Delaware.
In general appearance, the Texas
WEI not be- unlike the drcadnou-ht
Delaware, the Lost battIeship to be
built al the plant of the Newport
News Shipbuildins and Dry Dock Com
pany The chief difference will be tho
absence OF the high deck forward.
The Texas has a straight run deck
from stem 10 stern and just forward
of amidships is the small Superstruo.
ture il which will be located the cap