Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-05-22

+ LAUNCHING OF THE TEXAS.
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Our Gigantic Floating Fighting Ma.
chine Launched at Newport News.

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Our Gigantic Floating Fighting Ma.
chine Launched at Newport News.
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Newport News, Va, May 18.--Edi-
tor Keowee Courier: The worlds
greatest dreadnaught, the battleship
Texas, was launched here this morn
Ing at 1908 o'clock, Miss CLAUDIA
Lyon, OF Texas, dashihg a bottle or
champagne against the Prov as she
slowly slipped into the waters OF
Hampton Roads. Miss Lyon not only
christened the ship, but has the dis
tinction OF being the first girl to
launch a ship at Newport News, she
having pulled n trigger that released
the final restraining wedge.
The launching ceremony was very
brief, but impressive. AS this great
mass OF steel began to quiver the
band from the Norfolk Navy Yard
struck up the Star Spangled Banner,
but a second later the notes OF this
inspiring music were drowned by the
shrieking whistle. of steamers, tugs
and yachts, and the applause OF some-
thing overten thousand people. A
feature OF the big ships first DIP was
the preservation of the event for fu-
ture generations with cameras. a
battery OF motion picture onerators
getting excellent films Of the scene.
Among the distinguished visitors
who Witnessed the launching were
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer, Secre-
tary MacVeagh, Miss Helen Taft, Ad-
mirals Watt and Fletcher, and many
more government officials, who came
down from Washington on the Presi.. q
dents yacht, the Mayfower GsG
The New and tho Old Texas.
The following figures will serve to
show the immensely OF the new
Texas as compared with the old: M
New Texas K
Length over all, feet Il. 573
breadth, teet ..,......f 952 SIS
Mean draft, about ..... 2S6
Displacement 25,367 ,-,
speed, Knots ,..s,.EE 81
Ten 14-inch 45-calibre breech-loading
T'Wenty-one 5-inch rapid-fre guns OF Y
81 calibres in length. & e,
Four 3-pounder guhs for sal1ting. X S8a,
Two 1-pounder guns for boats. IN
Two 3inchS field pieces. AZ 80
Two 0.80 libret machine guns .s$ a8{ ~
Z Gon,l,l eirlent /: /, 10 q
ssS)lsls
Iengt tn Yer al ll feet v. S.1'. 3 g f.$
Breadth, feet ~ ..'..$ Ga s.'s
Draft, feet ,..... 253
displacement ..,.. ;. 6,315
Speed. knots .....,.. It's
Battery 'atl4,N8i55
Two 12-inch guns.
Two 6-inch guns.
Twelve 6-pounder guns.
-Four 1-pounder guns.
Six 2-pounder guns
One torpedo tube.
Complement, men .42S
Many Of the older citizens Of Nor
folk and Newport News who attended
this launching Of the "New Texas"
recall the launching OF the "Old
Texas" here In the Navy Yard, which
took place juno 28, 1892.
This new dreadnaught weighs five
times as much as the Old Texas and
will cost $11 100000 when COM
pleted.
The Texas is equipped with many
new features, such as ventilators.
cooling and heating plants, appara-
tus for refrigerating the cold storage
ana magazine spaces by ventilation
to all of the confined spaces OF the
vessel.
After the launching ceremonies
and luncheon, Secretary Meyer and
MS party came to the st. Helena
training station at Norfolk and In
spected the battalion OF the appren-
tice steamer. The inspection began
with full dress parade at 2.3O D.
M, and lasted about 40 minutes, the
battalion going through the physical
drill and manual Of arms. Immedi-
ately after this the party boarded the
Mayllower and started on their re-
turn to Washington, a 19-gun salute
.Delhg.. fired as they steamed out Of
the harbor. This Is the next highest
salute giVeni> the Presidents being +.
u guns. VIII. Cary, U. S. N.