The Butte inter mountain. [volume], May 18, 1901, Image 1

About The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912

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roany's News Today—Always.
Art Souvenir of Mrs. McKinley with this issue.
^ i fou See It in the Inter Mountain—It's So.
The Butte Inter Mouj/tain
o
VOL. XXI. NO. 51 Probably Showers Tonight.
BUTTE. MONTANA. SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 18. 1901. r»ir Tomorrow Jooler.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
President McKinley at the Launching of the Battleship "Ohio."
Miss Barber Pressed the
Button and Miss Deshler
Smashed a Bottle of Call
ifornia Champagne Over
the Nose of Uncle Sam's
Greatest Floating Fori
tress, Launched Today.
(Hy Associated Press.)
San Francisco, May 18.—Miss Barber pressed the button.
Miss Deshler smashed a bottle Of California champagne,
and at 12:26 p. m. the big battleship Ohio took her first dip
into the sea.
Fifty thousand people cheered themselves hoarse, the
big guns of the warships boomed out a salute and every
steam whistle within a radius of five miles shrieked its
loudest as the steel monster glided into the water. The
noise lasted for nearly half an hour, and when it finally
simmered down there lay the Ohio, peacefully floating in
the little cove in front of the Union Iron Works. Later
s.he was towed to the dock where she will be tied for a
year of more until finally completed.
As the vessel slid into the water stern foremost, she
created a big wave that made even the biggest steamers
near by bob uncomfortably up and down. As for the smaller
ci aft, they fairly stood on end. Mrs. McKinley was to have
pressed the button that started the Ohio down the way%
but on account of her illness her niece, Miss Barber, acted
in Mrs. McKinley's place.
Hon. Irving M. Scott and Henry T. Scott took the presi
dent and governor and their parties for a cursory inspec
t'on of the more important sections of the great yards
where the ocean warriors are built. Both President Mc
Kinley and Governor Nash followed the explanations con
cerning the works closely and with evident interest. By the
hour of 12 the greater number of the nation's official repre
sentatives and other guests had arrived at the stand be
side the hull of the battleship.
They saw lying there a great shape of steel, ready for
the sea. The greater part of the superstructure of the
slip wherein the Ohio was* built had been removed. The
battle craft lay in her great wooden, shoe-like cradle on the
slippery ways. Toward the stern the ribs of the cradle ran
well up her sides, shortening toward the forward length of
the ship and disappeared. Tail shores, reaching from their
firm foundations in the earth to the decks of the ship,
were standing close along her aides. On a table on the
etand near by was an electrical instrument. The pressing
of the button meant the' launching of the ship.
The ceremonies were simple but significant. There was
the formal exchange of acceptances upon the part of the
government, and then the tide having reached its flood, the
word was given.
The bottle of California champagne was suspended from
the bow by ribbons of red, white and blue, braided into a
roDe.
The hour had come. At 12:26 p. m. sharp Irving M.
Scott gave Miss Barber the signal and she touched the magic
electrical machine. The guillotine shot downward like a
flash of lightning, severing the cord. The dogshore toppled
over of its own weight and the cleverly constructed system
of props caved in like a hous,e of cards.
The Ohio seemed to shiver slightly, the tremor running
her entire length. There was scarcely a motion perceptible,
but in a twinkling she began to slide, and then—a rush, a
bound, a cracking and creaking and groaning of the tim
bers beneath and around her—she shot down the ways,
stern foremost and took her dip into the sea.
When it became generally known this morning that the
president was to attend the launching of the battleship Ohio,
the population of San Francisco and vicinity seemed to be
moving toward the Union Iron Works. Although the time
for the launching was set for 12:26 p. m. the people cotp
rienced to gather about the iron works many hours before.
Only a few were allowed to enter the enclosure surround
ing the ways, but thousands of spectators clustered the
b'.uffs overlooking the works.
On the bay shore on the farther side from the ship
of the cove in which the Ohio glided, stands had been
erected, and these were black with people at an early hour.
On the bay the scene was most animated. Every pleasure
craft and steamer, sail boat and rowboat that could be
pressed into service hovered around the ship, and were
kept back with difficulty by the patrol of tugs. It was
estimated that fully 50,000 people saw the big battleship
plunge into the water.
Three score of picked men, who have In their time
launched some of the best of our great fighting ships, Of
v hlch the Pacific coast is proud, were selected by the
fecotts to do the work of preparing the enormous steel hull
for its first dip into salt water. No outsider w^ allowed in
the yard adjoining the ways until the appointed hour for the
gates to open—11 o'clock.
Work was knocked off at 10:15 for a few minutes so that
the men engaged in striking away the blocks could join their
fellow workmen in hearing the address of the president,
who had arrived at that hour on the United States transport
tug, Slocum, with the cabinet officers and specially incited
guests of the army and navy.
After the speech making, the launching crew returned
to their posts and the rattle of mauls and splitting of timbers
gave warning that the cradle was being released down to
the restraining block, or shore dog. A tug boat and launch
patrolled the channel in front of the ways and took final
soundings* to make certain that all was clear.
The launching platform had been enlarged somewhat to
admit of the seating on the south side of about 200 people.
On the platform there was standing room for more. In the
lower yard a number of seats were put in place for guests
fortunate enough to hold general admission invitations. To
the east of the ways were anchored the barges of the Ohio
Society, with Heating capacity for 800 persons.
The big, broad hull of the Ohio looked anything but
pretty, but the lines of signal flags and large national ban
kers strung and set fore and aft, softened the grim outlines,
and when the ship took the water a number of men on the
decks waved small American flags with which they had been
provided. The customary decorations prevailed on the
launching stand and bunting and banners were in profusion
about the adjoining ways» and on the vessels building nnd
awaiting repairs at the company docks.
The "Ohio" is a sister ship of the Maine, now building at
the works of the William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine
Building company, and of the Missouri, building at the yard
of the Newport News Ship Building and Dry-dock com
eanv.
The hull, which is divided like those of the most recent
battleship, is built of steel and is unsheathed. It is 388 feet
long on the load water line; 72 feet 2(4 inches extreme
breadth, and, at the mean draft of 23 feet 6 inches, displaces
12,230 tons.
The hull is protected abreaat of the boilers and engines
by a side armor belt extending 3 feet 6 inches above the load
water line, and four feet below it, having a thickness of 11
inches for a depth of 4 feet 6 inches tapering to 7Vi inches
At the bottom of the belt; and by the casement armor six
Inches thick, which extends from the Slide belt to the upper
deck, and Is worked from the center of the forward to the
center of the after barbette. At the ends of this casement
armor diagonal armor nine inches thick extends from the
sides of the vessels to the barbette armor.
In the casement thus formed are placed ten of the 6-incb
guns. Above this, on the upper deck, four of the 6-inch
guns are placed, in the vicinity of which 6-inch armor ist
worked far enough forward and aft to afford protection to
the crews of these guns.
Protection is afforded the vitals of the ship below the
water line by a protective deck worked flat within the
casement, and with slopes forward and aft of it. The deck
is worked in two thicknesses of plating, the total thickness
on the fiat being 2% inches, while that on the slope forward
and aft is respectively three inches and four inches. Cof
ferdams are built on the protective deck from the diagonal
armor bulkheads to the bow and stern in the vicinity of the
water line, and on the berth deck for nearly the length of
the vessel. All of these cofferdams are filled with corn pith
cellulose.
The main battery of the ship consists of four 12-lnch
breech loading rifles, placed in two balanced turrets, and
sixteen 61inch rapid fire guns.
The turrets are turned by electricity; and the motors
/ i
V. S. BATTLESHIP "OHIO."
Launched to-day at San Francisco.
used for this purpose can revolve one of these great tur
rets through 36 degrees in one minute. The armor of both
the turrets and barbettes are 12 inches thick.
Three of the 6-inch guns are within the casement as be
fore slated, two others are on the berth deck forward in
6-:nch armored sponsons, and four are on the flipper deck.
Those in the sponsons forward and two on the upper deck
can fire directly ahead, and the other two on the upper deck
directly astern, in addition to having a broad-side fire.
1 he secondary battery consists of six 3-inch rapid firing
gur.s; eight 6-pounder rapid firing guns; six 1-pounder rapid
firing guns; two Colts and two 3-inch rapid firing field
guns.
A new feature introduced in the offensive power of this
ship is the submerged torpedo tube. While submerged tor
pedo tubes are not new abroad, German warships hav
ir:g been equipped with tern for a number of years, the
"Ohio" and her class are the first battleships of our navy
to be supplied with them; though prior to her construction
many vessels of the United States navy were fitted with
torpedo tubes above the water line. The "Ohio" will have
two of these tubes, one on each side of the vessel, situated
about 50 feet from the bow and about 10 feet 6 inches below
the water line.
The magazines and shell rooms of the ship can stow 240
rounds of the 12-inch ammunition; 3,200 rounds of the 6-inch
ammunition; 9,600 rounds of the 6-pounder, and 4,000 rounds
Of the 1-pounder. The forward magazines are located im
mediately forward of the dynamo rooms, and the after
ones just abaft of the engine rooms»
There are two military masts fitted with the usual
signal yards, tops and topmasts; two tops are built to
each of these masts. The foremast is located in the usual
way, over the forward conning tower; the foundation of
the tower forming the lower part of the mas,t. The armor of
the forward conning tower is 10 inches thick, and that of
the after or signal tower is six inches thick. A steel tube
12 inches in diameter inside and seven inches in thickness
extends from the forward conning tower down to the pro
tected deck and protects the voice tubes and telegraphs
from the commanding officer to the important stations in
the vessel.
The "Ohio" carries 14 boats, of which one is a 40-foot
steam cutter and another a 33-foot steam cutter of the
usual navy type. Over each end of the boat deck two small
tippet bridges are located, on which is placed a portion
of the secondary battery. The boats are handled by four
cranes, all operated by steam; the engines for this pur
pose being located on the working platforms of the cranes.
Each crane can lift the heaviest boat that it has to handle
at the rate of 40 feet per minute, and can also be revolved
by its hoisting engine at the rate of a revolution in one
minute.
Bilge keel to reduce rolling are fitted to the vessel. Ex
periments in recent years in our own and foreign navies
having demonstrated the great efficiency of these keela in
preventing excessive rolling. The forward bilge keels ex
tend for a length of about 87 feet, while those aft have a
length of about 75 feet.
Hydraulic gear is u*ed in steering the vessel, and can put
the l udder from hard aport to hard astarboard in twenty
seconds, when the vessel is moving at full speed. The
valves of the gear are connected by an electric telemotor
with the conning tower beside the mechanical connection
with the pilot house.
The "Ohio" and her class are the first battleships of the
United States navy in which water tube boilers were pro
vided. Steam for the propelling machinery is supplied by
Mater tube boilers of the Thornyeroft type placed in four
water tight compartments. There are three smoke pipes.
The two propelling engines are rights and lefts in sep
arate water tight compartments, and are of the vertical in
verted cylinder, direct acting, triple expansion type, hav
ing four cylinders. The diameters of the cylinders are as
follows: 35.6 inches H. P., 53 inches I. P. and 63 inches fop
two low pressures by 48 inches stroke.
The collective I. H. P. of the main engines with their
air, and circulating is about 16,000 when the vessel is making
a speed of eighteen knots. It should be stated here that the
l 'Ohic" ranks next to the "Georgia" class of battleships in
•ur navy in regard to speed. The "Georgia" and clacn
which will have the greatest speed of any battleship yet
authorized by congress are designed to make nineteen knots.
A refrigerating room on the berth deck forward furnishes
cold storage, and the ship is supplied with an ice machine
of the dense air type that can produce the cooling effect
of two tons of ice per day.
Only such wood material as was deemed absolutely -nec
essary is used in the construction of the vessel, and all of
this except the armor hacking is thoroughly fireproof.
The windlass, which is of the most modern pattern, is
operated by steam, and can raise both the bower anchors
at once. It is housed in an enclosure just forward of th e
forward barbette.
There are four steam winches used for hoisting and
general deck purposes.
The construction of the "Ohio" and her class was au
thorized by congress May 4, 1898, when the Spanish war
demonstrated the wisdom of a much greater increase of the
navy. The keel was laid on April 22, 1899, and the con
tract price of hull and machinery is $2,899,0000.
Her complement is 25 officers and 511 men.
The following dedicatory poem, by Mrs. Ida Eckert.
Lawrence, of Ohio, was read during the ceremonies. It was
roundly applauded by the great audience.
Oh star of empire thou that went before
The pilgrim, in the misty days, of yore,
When glad, the Son of Progress left the throne,
To pioneer Hesperian shores alone—
We owe la thee, with every passing hour,
A new world life and liberty and power.
With bosom bare, and limbs of sturdy brawn,
The manly youth ran thro 1 the early dawn
11 is husklned feet touched light the troubled deep.
His quest, to wake a dreaming world from sleep.
By sandy shores, o'er Allegheny's crest,
He paused to hear the valley's purring rest.
Far to the West, the flood-tides ceaseless measure
Broke o'er his soul in waves of living pleasure.
\
MISS HELEN DESHLER.
Woo Broke the Bottle cf Wine.
II.
Through the wild primeval forest.
Crept the youth with wondrous meaning—
Blazing trees for future heroes—
. Waving wands with wizard seeming.
From the wigwam, came the cabin:
Birds soon flew the rifle's crack;
And the plying locomotive
Drove the saddened red man back
'Round the camp-fire chieftains marvelled
That the nature-dream was o'er;
Followed they the deer and bison.
Toward a friendly sun-down shore.
From the ashes of the cabin,
Mansions, farms and cities grand—
Lowly klne, and high-bred people
Sprang to bless this happy land.
Snirit-of-Ohio—goddess—
Puled this land of inspiration;
And the sun of Progress wed her—■
Lo their children lead the nation.
Proud the sire.—but discontented;
Undismayed—quailed not the wrack—
With his offspring, bold as Hector,
Drove the frontier border back.
III.
Afar, where the famed Gold Gate,
Swings, low at the close of the day.
Bronzed Progress sits moulding a queen;
War's arbiter—fresh for the fray.
With furnace and smoke and fire,
With tackle and block and blow.
In steel, men clothe this bold desire.
In a fleece of flame below.
And a patient, steady trend,
With bands that are horny with toil,
The ranks of men file In and out
To gather their harvest, of bread—
With hammer and forge and (lame,
With rivet and bolt and blade.
They bind her ribs to her monster frame.
'Tis a giant that man hath made.
Dark faces embose with the glow
Of sunlight, o'er labors well done.
Men's arms gather strength with each blow
And the men and the ship are as one.
They know that the gorges red glare
Touch oft where the higher sparks lay—
With cheers on the lips of the men,
They'll sigh when the ship heaves away.
Erect in her great wooden stall.
She yearns for her kingdom, the sea;
The Spirit—Ohio shall sever her chains,
And bid the fair captive go free;
To cut the brocade of the deep,
To walk by the feel of the land.
As love fondly lingers round sleep.
So Faith puts her seal on her hand.
PERORATION.
Plunge out in thy baptismal font
Oh! ship of the magical name;
Ride firm o'er the wave in thy pioneer way.
As men in the highway of fame—
Our men in the highway of fame. "
If like a proud sea-gull, thy fate,
To ride on the billows away.
Brave as Perry our stf.o will be there.
And fight o'er the flotsam of prey—
Trom lost vessels, the flotsam of prey—
The guerdon that hangs round thy name
And the sons of our bountiful soil.
Shall smite thy proud turrets with rancorous (lame,
If thou dost e'er shame her with spoil—
Dost shame her with ill-gotten spoil.
Pall out on the high seas of State,
If foul blows the South wind or fair;
With homes to protect and the nation defend,
Our sons and our ship will lie there—
Brave a^s Berry our ship will be there.
May the lust of the nation be lost
In life's tide, where the deep soundings are:
Then Captain fear not, with our ensign on high.
To follow the pale of his star—
With cannon to follow his star.
Let Mercy stride free o'er the deck.
And Love from the bridge draw the sword;
Then firmly thou'lt scourge, with thy thunderous Might,
The foe with the help of the Lord—
Wilt win with the kelp of the Lord«
Mrs.McKinley Shows Much
Improvement After a
Restful Night—Pleasant
Weather Helps to Cheer
the Invalid and Lend En
couragement to Those
Gathered at Bedside.
(By Associated Press.)
San Francisco, May 18.—The news this morning that
the condition of Mrs. McKinley was very much improved,
came after a quiet and uneventful night.
The weather was pleasant during the night, and there
were none of the bad climatic conditions that made the
two previous nights disagreeable to the guards and news
paper reporters. The sun came up in a clear sky, promis, ing
perfect weather for the ceremony of launching the battle
ship Ohio. The announcement had been made last night that
the president would make every effort to attend the launch
ing and his final decision this morning was anxiously
awaited.
It is learned that the rally which marked the turning
point in her illness came immediately after a treatment on
Thursday which included a s,aline injection directly into tha
blood. Her pulse showed quick improvement and she con
tinued to improve all day yesterday. Leading physicians,
Who have been informed of the course of treatment which
lias been pursued, not only entertain the hope, but have
confidence in the prediction, that the patient will have better
health in the future than she has had for many years. Yes
terday she talked to her attendants and smilingly told one
of her physicians that she wanted fried chicken. She made
an effort to get up, contrary lo the advice of her physicians.
The patient was blessed with several hours of natural
sleep early yesterday morning. Opiates were not admin
istered to invite sleep, but a powerful stimulant was given
to reinforce the action of tlie heart. The expressed desire
for s,olid nourishment was accepted as a hopeful sign, but
the doctors believe that it is not prudent to oblige her in this
respect. It is yet impossible to determine when Mrs. Mc
Kinley will be able to leave this city for her home, even if
she continues to improve as rapidly as she appeared yester
day, betöre feverish symptoms were again noted later at
night. Last evening it was thought at the house that Mrs.
McKinley might safely be put on an east-bound train as
early as next Monday or Tuesday, but it is more than likely
that the Scott residence will be the home of the president
for at least ten days to come.
in fact, one circumstance indicates, strongly that the
president and his official family may be compelled to remain
in the city for even a longer time than that. This fact
is that the John Hooper residence, on the corner of Clay
and Lagune streets, has been offered to the president for
the use of the members of his cabinet, in order that they
might lie nearer to him for the consideration of affairs of
state. The proffer was considered, but no definite answer
was given.
This morning, when it was announced that President
McKinley would attend the launching of the Ohio, the
mounted guard was seen to draw up in front of the house
preparatory to his departure to the Union Iron Works, and
there was a feeling of great relief. The president's actions
seemed to give more assurance of Mrs. McKinley's improve
ment in health than any statement from the doctors could
have done.
When the president le ft the Scott house at 9:40 he walked
briskly down the stairs to his carriage. He appeared to be
in good spirits and the care-worn expression of his face,
which had been noticeable for the past few days, had dis
appeared.
There was every temptation for the crowd Chat waited
around the president's temporary residence to cheer when
they saw the head of the nation come out, but for fear
ci disturbing Mrs. McKinley there were no noisy demonstra
tions, simply a respectful lifting of hats as the president
passed by.
During the president's absence at the launching, Mrs.
McKinley slept quietly, and it was reported to the president
that her condition is constantly improving.
The president drove rapidly through the streets and
was cheered enthusiastically, and in response repeatedly
lifted his» hat. Arrived at the transport dock, he Inmrded
the government tug Slocum, which was to carry the presi
dential party and congressional delegation and other favored
guests to the scene of the launching at the Union Iron
Works. Besides the cabinet members and their ladies, there
were on board the little vessel. Governor Nash, of Ohio, and
his staff and ladies; Miss Barber, niece of Mrs. McKinley,
and Miss Helen Deshler and her sister.
The tug Slocum was handsomely decorated with flags
and draped with national colors. As she left the transport
dock the screeching of whistles, the clanging of bells and the
booming of cannon made a volume of sound that could be
heard for miles, and announcing to an anxiously waiting
population thrft the presidential party was on Us way to the
Union Iron Works, where so many vessels of warlike type
have been constructed during the past fifteen years.
A great fleet of craft of every ]>'c,bb!" description had
preceded the president out into the blue waters of the bay.
all loaded down to the water's edge with masses of hu
manity anxious to do the president honor. It was a glorious
sight. Flags and bunting streamed from their fastenings in
tin- cool breeze, flags fluttered and streamer* of national
colors trailed in the wind. Bands played popular airs and
there was an incessant cheering.
Added to the noise which issued from the smaller craft
in the bay, was boom of cannon from the several warships
anchored in the harbor. All along the water front the fleet
of boats were given ovations, and returning cheers and
salutes were echoed all down toe bay.
The Ohio party boarded the steamer Resolute, and the
steamer McDowell convey, d General Shatter and his officers
of the posts and their ladies to the scene of activities.
Barges without number, loaded to their utmost capacity,
were towed down the bay by powerful tugs, and in and out
of the process,'on steam. 1 the government tug.s Governor
Markham and Governor Irvin. bearing Governor Gage and
his staff and other state officers.
President McKinley arrived at the Union Iron Works
shortly after 10 o'clock. There he found the 3.000 employes
assembled in the yard. The president was greeted with a
cheet and was present.d with a gold plate in memory of
the occasion. He spoke briefly to the men, thanking them
for the gift and complimenting them on their skill as work
men.
Aft er an inspection of the works Mr. McKinley went
to a stand, where he saw the laun hing. When that was
over he board, d the -..ocuiu uu.c iuoig and returned to the
Scott residence.