Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-10-21
THE LAUNCH OF THE ALvA
DssoRKPrKoN or THE QUEEN OF
YAOHTs.
Vnn,derbiirs PRiatal Yacht Esaptixed
.-Her millionaire owner Aboard
Large Crowds Af tho Ceremony.

.-Mer millionaire owner Aboard
Large Crowds at tho Ceremony.
-
The Alva, William X. Venderbilt's pala-
tial steam yacht of steel, was launched MT
the Yards OF the Harlan IL Hollingsworth |
Company ut 1.38 o'clock thia afternoon.
Thousands of people gathered at the ship
ward and occupied every vantage point |
along the Christiana's banks, watching |
with intense interest the launching Of the |
largest and finest pleasure craft in the |
world. Flags waved from every post and |
pinnacle on the river 'front.'
The Republic and Warner were fairly |
animated with their coatings Of flags |
md bunting, and the proud racer, the |
Priscilla, was rocked approyingly in her |
cradle as the queen of the ocean swept
by her and ont across the river.
On every side there was the greatest
activity and every attache of the COM
pany exerted his best efforts to have the
important affair success. Such II was
In every sense of the word, the vessel
taking the water beautifully and settling
gracefully upon the bosom of the stream.
The launch was an event of unusual
interest and marks an epoch in the aunals
of yacht buiiaihg, ae indeed 1t is tri-
umph of the highest typo Of marine de-
signing, engineering and architecture.
ijt. Glare j. Byrne, the famous yacht
.iesigner Of liverpool, and who probably
planned more yachts than nny other man
in England, was selected by Mr.. Wander
bilt, and given almost carte blanche to
introduce the ripest result of his expe-
Fience and Judgment into this new yacht,
and generally TO produce for him the
finest piece of marine construction attain
able either in this or any other country,
and the consequence has been that Mr..
Byrne has exercised his best talents in
evolving what he il proud to call his
"show card"
Upon the other hand IL is needless TO
say that the Harlan Il Hollingsworth
Company has exerted itself especially TO
further Mr.. Byrne's designs in every way
possible, the result in their hands being
piece Of workmanship as TO strength,
stability, symmetry and elegant finish,
such as has not been surpassed in the
history of ship-building.
Particular mention is also due TO the
corps of able supervisors and inspectors
appointed in the interest Of Mr.. Byrne to
explain all of his ideas TO the builders,
and see that no omission, however slight,
shouid be made in the construction Of the
yacht
Besides Mr.. Wellmans efforts Mr..
Samuel jackson and Mr.. Robert Wright
also undertook part Of the supervision
Of The work. Mr.. Jaokson's inspection
relating mainly to the hull and iron and
steel work, and Mr.. Wright's to the finish
adjustment and trial of the steam ma
chinery.
Having thus briefly mentioned those
who have originated and executed the
plans Of the Alva description of
The vessel herself will not be ont Of place.
As indicated, the general plans for the
hull and engines were brought over from
England last winter, having been pre-
pared by MIR. Byrne, and which, having
been amended and altered in some minor
particulars, were afterwards adopted as
being entirely satisfactory TO MIR. Wander
bilt.
As tho time approached for the prepa-
ration Tor the launch, the immense throng
Of people grew quiet and fell to examin-
ing with the eye and pointing out the
lines and peculiarities Of the shape. Al
1890 the Vanderbilt party went up the
inclined plane TO the yachts deck, the
centre of all eyes. Four hundred work.
men were standing ut their respective
POSTS with arms folded, awaiting
orders to strike the blow that would STAR
tue vessel ON her brief journey to the
water. Now and again there was q move
ment as some new step was taken in th'
preparations, such as stretching a rope Il
keep back the crowd. The bank on tn,
south side of the Christiana was fringe6
with a phalanx Of photographers, wh'
we're taking the various scenes as the!
took place. The Amphitrite and ever.
boat along the whnrves was crowded
with people. In the midst of the paus'
even the sun came out TO take peep
the all-absorbing proceedings. The con
nection between the inclined plane an
the yacht was removed at LILO, and nov
every man stood in his place wit
his hammer in hand. At IL
o'clock the order that made tn
yard resound with the ring of the hamme
was given by N. Il. Benson, Jr who ha
the superintendence of the launch. In
hammers fell upon the wedges, an
in four minutes the big hull ma
been raised of the standards. Fe
10 minutes the men were engaged knoel
ing down the props and braces along u
ships side. AT l.3G the last stroke wi
inangurated and the saw at the bo
FhANN -
come. AS the saw tore its way throue
the lust fastening of the hull
the stocks, the plank weakened,
groaned, there was sound Of tearir
and then the shouts Of. the crowd pr
claimed throughout the yard that she WI
going. When she broke loose at the bo
the lower point Of her rudder was but
inches from the water, and it touched u
waiting element at exactly 1.3S, follow'
most gracefully and majestical
by the immense hull. Gradually 81
foAted out into the strea
with the glittering drops of b
baptismal spray trickling down her bo'
and she reared her proud front like
colossal swan looking toward what W
50 lately her resting place. The whe
event was one of the most successi
that has ever taken place from the shi
yards Of the Delaware. Shortly after 8
was towed up to the wharf, made fast
her moorings, and the great launch "
accomplished.
As the yacht buoyed up ON the wat
tho bottle containing the champag
dedicated to her christening was brok
over the bow by Mrs. L. A. Yznaga
New York, sister of Mrs. w. X. Wand
bilt and she was named "Alya" in hor
of the wife Of the owner, the name sig
flying ''the first light of the dawn"
Tho party upon the yachts deck, o
which had come from New York on
Vanderbilt private car, consisted
William X. Vanderbilt and wife, fr
erick w. and George Vanderbilt, Mrs.
a. Y2naga, Ohauncey M. Depew,
David l.. Haight, Winfield Scott flo
IL. b. Hollins, Oliver King, j. Fred Ta
and AIessrs. Forster and Gray.
Among others who were present "
j. CasR Garfield owner of tile Prisci
st. Clare j. Byrne of Liverpool, desig
Of the yacht, Robert Wright, superin'
dent Of the machinery, James Harg
government overseer at Roach's 81
yard, Chester, and many more,
Mr.. Vanderbilt generously gave al
the employees of the Harlan u Hollii
worth Company half holiday. A.
the launch the millionaire entertai
the various newspaper corresponds
and several heads Of different dep
ments at dinner served at the Phiia
phia cafe.
The principal Dimensions according tc
specifications are as follows: Length
all 2S5 feet; length for tonnage, 266
length on load line, 252 feet; be
moulded, 80 feet inch; beams extrem
feet 5 Inches; depth OF hold, from to
floors, 10 feet 1 Inch; depth moulded
feet 9 inches. The intended draft OF WI
when fully loaded with coal, water, bal
provisions, &C., Is about 16 feet . IN
aft, at which line her displacement Will
proximate.