The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-24
Il SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH.

The New Schooner Jessie Elizabeth
AuspicIously Christened and Bap
tized-The Pioneer Of New Coastwis'
Fleet.
The announcement made In TIE NEWS OF
Saturday morning, that the new lhree.masted
schooner, built by Messrs. J. G. d D. G
Marsh, for the Charleston Coastwlse Trans
porlation Company, would be launched be-
tween the hours of and 2 P. NJ, last Saturday
afternoon, attracted large and promlscuous
crowd to the scene of the launching. The
soulhernmost pier of Palmetto wharves was
covered with spectators of all kinds, as were
also Marsh'd wharf, the decks of the Dry
Dock, and the sheds and shipping In the
vicinity. The occasion was, Indeed, one well
calculated to interest all classes of the com.
munity, as, apart from the noveltyit possessed
| 10 being The launch OF the first large merchant
vessel built In Charleston during period OF
twenty years, 1t was recognized as an indica-
tlon OF the revival of an Industry that promises
to constitute prominent source of wealth to
both city and State. The vessel, as she
stood upon her stocks, ready for the plunge
Into the welcoming wave, elclted much adml-
ration from all present. To those unskllled
In nautical affairs, her beautiful model formed
sufficient recommendation, while to the
wiser heads her stalwart frame and Iron
rjyeted planklng afforded tar stronger rea-
SONS for praise. It ls fact well worthy OF
note that all of the iron work used In con-
structing this vessel was manufactured ID the
best manner possible by Messrs. Ehney q
Deveaux, shlpamiLhs. Of this city. From her
ensign pole aoaled the stars and stripes. From
staff in the position OF her mzzenmast few
red flag thirty feet long by fourteen ieet
deep, which bore her name, "Jessie ELIZA
beth, :" In large white letters. A blue flag With
white bar in tho centre was holsted over the
step OF her malnmast. The cherished "pal-
melto fag," bearing the name Of the Palmetto
Regatta Club" futlered from her foremast
position, and over the end Of the bowsprit
waved the Union Jack. In this condition sne
was photographed by souder.
At quarter-past one o'clock Captain O. G.
White, of the steamer Emile, Mr.. John 81.
Deveaux, of the frn OF Ehney DeVeaux,
Mr. George Jefferson, the future rlgger OF the
vessel, Mr.. E. R. While and several other gen.
tlemen, ascended to her deck. At thirty MIN
utes past one the signal was given to cut away
the stays, and Immediately tie blows OF
hundred axes resounded In obedience, while
those persons on deck braced themselves for
the plunge, and murmur OF excitement ran
through the crowd of spectators. At the
came moment Mr.. George Jefferson climbed
from the deck 10 the end of the bowsprit,
with bottle OF wlue, and two experienced
tars stationed themselves ready TO sacken
and relieve the strain on the hawsers, which
were made fast on the starboard side OF The
vessel to prevent her from riding out into the
stream. Faster ply the blows Of the axes
beneath. "She's going," cry the spectators.
Crush goes the bottle of wine over her Dow
as The "Jessie Elizabeth" is chrislened with
oil the honors. Those on deck are suddenly
thrown from their feet; the vessel shoots Into
the dock, and plunges through the foamlng
water like maddened monster Of the deep.
The spectators hold their breath, the hawsers
AioSo
above The larboard bulwarks, where the fric-
tlon OF the flying haWsers threatens TO ignite
the live oak bits. Now one OF the hawsers
parts In the middle and darts backward each
way, like the head oil an angry serpent But
The Impetus OF the vessel is destroyed, and she
rocks from side 10 side for moment, and
then sils still, with the ease and grace OF
swan. The launch has been successfully per-
performed, and lis accomplishment Is an
nounced by deafening oulburst Of applause.
The launch was acknowledged by The experts
present 20 have been one of the most SUCCESS
ful ever made. The vessel was afterwards
drawn close up 10 the wharf and visited oy
many persons. Her draft was five feet
four inches oft, and five feet eight inches
forward, being remarkably near the an
tcpations OF her builders, who calcu-
lated for ak feet. The future master OF
the Jessie" Captain W. H. Brewer, oil New
Jersey, arrived from New York on The steam
ship Charleston, at 3 o'clock In the morning,
and was present at The launch. The rigging
will be done, under hls superlntendence, by
Mr.. George Jefferson, of this city, and 1t ls
expected that the vessel will be ready for sea
about the middle OF April. 1t Is probable that
the Messrs Marsh will shortly commence the
construction of another vessel of similar size
for the same company.
About an hour after the launch, the Messrs.
Marsh Invited their employees 10 partake of
substantial collation., prepared BY Mr.. Louis
Kenake. At The end OF the collation., Mr..
George E. Hazelhurst, bookkeeper OF the
Messrs. Marsh, appeared upon the scene, With
square paper box under each arm, and ap-
preaching MIR. J. G. Marsh, took from one of
the boxes a handsome silver goblet. In a few
well-llmed remarks he informed Mr.. Marsh
that his employees being deslrous OF furnish
ing a testimonial of regard for The kindness
and consideration they had received at the
hands of himself and his brother, had contrib
uted to pnrchase Two silver goblets, which
he had been dele gated 10 present. He hoped
that the Messrs. Marsh would accept the
goblets as souvenirs OF the warm friendship
entertained towards them by their employees.
Three cheers wers given for the brothers,
and each personally returned thanks for the
gifts. Mr. ]. G. Marsh then announced that
II also became bis pleasant duty 10 present 10
the foreman of the shipcarpenters, Mr. E. h.
Day, a trlhng memorial of the recognition by
himself and brother of Mr. Days valuable as.