Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1898 — NOW IN THE WATER. [ARTICLE]

NOW IN THE WATER.

Battleship Wisconsin Floating in San Francisco Bay. The battleship Wisconsin was launched at San Francisco Saturday morning. Thousands of spectators witnessed the ceremony. Long before the hour appointed for the launching the visitors crowded the yards of the Union iron works, the adjoining housetops, and the hills. Many took places of vantage hours before the vessel slid from the ways, and they patiently stood in the cold morning air until the ship entered the brine. Even then they were loath to depart, many remaining for hours to watch the giant hull as it floated at anchor iu the bay. The launching party, which included prominent visitors from Wisconsin, was given a place upon the large platform which had been built around the prow of the vessel. Miss Elizabeth Stephenson of Wisconsin, to whom had been given the honor of christening the battleship, and little Miss Lucije Gage, daughter of Gov-ernor-elect Gage of California, who had been chosen to touch the button that started the vessel on the ways, took positions within a few feet of the ship’s prow. Irving M. Scott of the Union iron works chose workmen to knock away the supports, that held the vessel on the ways. Almost simultaneously Mayor Phelan stepped forward upon the platform above and introduced Margaret Duff of the Irving M. Scott grammar school, who, on behalf of the school, presented to the battleship a large flag made by the pupils of the school. Commodore Watson, commandant at Mare Island, accepted the colors on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy. “May its folds,” lie said, “never float above oppression, but be ever the signal of liberty and freedom. Let all join with me in the hope that it may lie given to the care of men as brave as Clark and Milligan, and the gallant crew of the Oregon. We can wish no better.” Following the unfurling of the flag Mayor Phelan read an ode to Wisconsin, written by Clara Iza Price.

Hardly had the Mayor ceased reading than little Miss Gage, at the bidding of Mr. Scott, touched the button that freed the giant ship. The massive structure responded to the touch of the button like a thing of life, and without the slightest jar started down the ways. As it trembled on the move Miss Stephenson broke the bottle of wine upon the prow and in a clear, full voice said: “I christen thee Wisconsin.”

The dimensions of the Wisconsin: Length on load water line, 368 feet; beam, extreme, 72 feet 2*4 inches; draught displacement of 11.525 tons, 23 feet 6 inches; maximum displacement, all ammunition and stores on board, 12,325 tons; maximum indicated fabrse power (estimated), 10,000: probable speed, knots; normal coal supply, 800 tons; coal supply, loose storage, 1.200 tons; full bunker capacity, 1,400 to 1.500 tons; complement of officers, 40; seamen, marines, etc., 449.