Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-06-10
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, yUNR 10, 1871
Launch of the Wildwood.

Saturday last was gala day upon Pu-
get Sound. The occasion was the expect.
ed launch of Meigs Il Gawley's new ship,
at Port Madison. The Olympia left this
port at 0 o'clock, A. NJ, with about 200
passengers for the excursion, with the
Olympia Brass Band At Stcilacoom 20
or 80 more were taken aboard. Arrived
at Port Madison at about = o'clock. In
rounding into the little inlet upon which
the mills are situated, gay and lively
scene was presented; one or two steamers
had already arrived, three Of the compauy's
fine ships were lying at the wharf arrayed
in holiday attire, and up and down the
Sound we're seen steamers following each
other 10 rapid succession, and landing at
short intervals saluted by the booming Of
cannon aud music by the bands, until
eight steamers, in addition to the sailing
vessels, were lying at the wharves, with
their live freight presenting more active
life than was ever before witnessed in that
little port Last came the noble war
steamer Saraxac, under the command Of
the world-renowncd Admiral Winslow, Of
,Kearsage and alabama fame, with large
number of invited guests from Port Town.
send.
We have no means Of estimating the
numbers Of persons present, but every port
upon the Sound was largely represented,
aud there was no feature of the grand ex-
hibition which attracted us so much as the
personal appearance of the representative
men of the immense lumber Interests Of
this region. They are very men-right
noble specimens Of American manhood !;
Injured to toll and accustomed to think !;
well trained heads upon we'll developed
bodies; they hewcd their way to compe-
petence with skillfully directed labor, and
have grown into opuleuce by we'll calcula.
ted enterprise, and now exhibit an equal
aptitude for the subtle arts of commerce
aud the skill of mechanism. Such men
are not only the bone aud sinew but the
vital element of the moral and material
growth Of the country.
The visitors spent several hours agreea.
bly, iu examining the mills and prominad-
ing the beautiful and extensive ornamental
grounds of Mr.. Meigs, aud many visited
the ship:yard on the opposite side Of the
inlet, to losk at the magnificent new ship
as she lay upon her ways, and she was a
sight we'll. worth looking at and going q
long way to see Never had we seen the
hull Of ship Of such vast proportions SO
perfect model of strength, beauty and
! minifest sailing qualities. She is the
largest vessel ever built upon the Pacific
coast Length Of keel 1874 feet; over all
420Q feet beam ~ feet; depth of hold %
feet. The model is that of full clipper
having q inches dead rise, with sharp
euds, snd calculated to rank among the
fastest sailers. Her carrying capacity Of
general merchandise is about 100 tons
and Tor lumber one million feet.
At 5 o'clock the preparations we're al
completed for the launch; the Olympus
and Seattle brass bands, with few invited
= guests, mounted the upper deck, the wedg.
Is we're kpocked away, and to the music
Of the bands and the cheers of the multi
.tude, the :, leviafhan moved slowly and
gracefully towards its destined element
1t had barely cleared its length, however
when its bow become embedded in tn,
mud and came to . dead halt. Severn
steamers we're Immediately attached t.
pull her Of, but all without avail. Thii
wss a decided damper to the joyousuess O
the occasion, aud most Of the visitors lef
ssddened by the belief that the vesse
!sosd oaly be got aaoat at great expens.
and los Of time to the entcrprising owners
Great relief was felt by all on learning thai
the next high tide set the Wildwood aaoa
without serious damage.