the hull framing, which included nine bulkheads, was completed on september 13, 1892. the ship's propulsion mechanisms were next installed, consisting of a single four-bladed, diameter, pitch propeller, the two reciprocating triple-expansion steam engines (with three cylinders of , and diameters in a common frame with a stroke) manufactured by samuel f. hodge & co. of detroit, michigan, and six steel tubular return scotch boilers, ( diameter by long), built by cleveland shipbuilding company. the rounded hull top was then added, followed by the six turrets, which were substantially larger than those employed on freighter whalebacks. the ship was launched on december 3, 1892, after which two superstructure decks were mounted on the turrets along the centerline of her hull to afford access to her two internal decks, one in the turrets and one in the hull below.