Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-02
Launch of the New York at the
Cramps Shipyard.
A NOTABLE GATHERING PRESENT
Five Persons Burned in Thei
Home in Detroit.
TRAGEDY IN PHILADELPHIA.
GIVEN To NEPTUNE.
Launching the Great Armored Cruiser New
York the Delaware.

New York. designed to be the most formidable
as well as the largest man-of-war in the United
States navy, WAS launched this afternoon with
appriate ceremonies at the yard OF the William
Cramp 4 Sons Ship and Engine Building Com
rany. She slipped into the water amid the
screaming of steam whistles and TO the
cheers of thousands. who had gathered 10
witness the event Nearly thousand of these
people were distinguished citizens Of New
lolk. drawn here by patriotic interest in the
great vessel appropriately named after their
state. and distinguished public citizens Of
many states, who had come from Washington
at the invitation of the ship builders to study
an object lesson on the subject OF the navy
of the United States-and most o: these were
accompanied by their wives and other ladies
OF their families.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EVENT.
The great ship yard has been in state of
confusion for more than a week preparing for
this occasion. For two days past workmen
have been busy erecting a platform for the
Christening party about the bow of the ship
anu preparing banquet room. in which the
collation. given by tie Cramps in honor of
the event could be served. Prior TO that
time the carl enters had been engaged
in the construction of the cradle ON
which the huge steel hull should rock as
she slipped into the water. Great timbers had
been fastened together with heavy iron bolts
and bound to the hulls Oh each side until they
held II firmly in tEeir grip, ready to lift it from
the Keel blocks on which 1t had been resting.
TIE VISITORS ExrEcTED.
The Cramps lad issued several thousand in
vitations for the launching and preparations
for the accommodation OF their guests had
been carefully made. In addition TO the plat
form erected at the ships bow for the christen-
ins party there was long triple tier Of seats
erected on pier not far from the scene of
action. affording full view of the
ceremony. Then the enormous yards of the
company furnished easy accommodation to
the 3OOO workmen of the company and TO such
of the guests could not find space on the
platforms. For the collation. to follow the
launch most elaborate preparations had been
made. Heretofore, when there has been
launching at the Cramp yards, a luncheon has
been served in the company's offices, which
usually have been inadequate to the demands
of the occasion.
In special honor of today's event banquet
room had been fitted up in the long model loft
over the main shops. The loft had been par
titioned into kitchen and banquet hall. In the
banquet room a carpet had been laid and the
walls and ceiling had been decorated with
bunting and with banners bearing the coats
of-arms of the states.
was had by long runway, and from that
platform another runway led to the banquet
room.
THE WASHINGTON PARTY.
The chief interest of the early afternoon
centered in the arrival of the visitors from
New York and Washington. Arrangements had
been made with the Pennsylvania railroad for
two special trains, one OF twelve cars to leave
Jersey City at ii o'clock in the morning and
the other of nine cars to leave Washington at
$50 clock. One of the cars in the Washing
ton train was the private car of Chas. L. Pugh,
vice president and general manager of the
Pennsylvania system. This had been intended
for the use of Presiden. Harrison; but urgent
executive business made it impossible for him
to attend the exercises and the car was placed
at the disposal of Mrs. Harrison and party of
her friends.
The Vice President and Mrs. Morton and Sec
retaries Tracy and Noble We're on the Washing
ton train, and among those VINO came over with
them were Senator Gray of Delaware and Mrs
Gray, Senator Higgins of Delaware Senator
Aldrich of Rhode Island and Mrs. Aldrich.
Senator Mcpherson of New Jersey and Mrs
Mcpherson, Senator Allen of Washington,
Senator Dolph of fOregon and Mrs. Dolph, Sena-
tors Frye. Hawley. Stockbridge and Manderson,
Representative Sperry of Connecticut. Repre-
sentative Sayers of Texas. Admiral Walker of
the United States navy, Representative Henry
Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts and Representa-
tive Herbert Of Alabama.
NEW WORKERS ARRIVE.
On the New York train came Edward Lauter-
bach of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
Capt. Snow and a committee of twenty from
the board of trade and transportation, Stephen
Taylor, James Seligman, Lloyd Phenix, Col
Elliot +. Shepard, Geo. +. Spinney, Mrs
Ernest Thalman, Capt Senor Don Manuel De
Caire. Lieut.. Commander Miller Of the naval
reserve, A n. Brown of the Cunard line
George Weed. Commodore Van Santvoord and
Gen. Josiah Porter, adjutant general of New
York state.
The ship builders had hoped that in view of
the peculiar interest which the state Of New
York has in the new cruiser Gov. Hill might
have attended today 8 ceremonies accompanied
by his staff. and because the appropriation for
the vessel had been made on the recommenda-
tion OF Secretary Whitney they had hoped that
ex-President Cleveland and Mrs Cleveland and
Mr.. and Mrs. Whitney would be present But
all OF these had sent regrets. Chauncey NJ
Depew, Governor-elect Flower and several other
distinguished men had also found themselves un-
able to accept the invitation to the launching
The two trains arrived at the ship yard half
an hour before the time set for the launch.
They came not very far apart, the New York
party being under the care and guidance of
henry w. Raymond, private secretary to Sec
retary Tracy, the Washington party chaperoned
by Lieut. Buckingham of the navy.
AT THE SHIP YARD.
The guests went directly to the ship yards,
passing through the shops, where they we're
welcomed by Charles II. Cramp. the senior
member Of the concern Beyond the shops
they entered the yard. The great rcd aud
white hull Of the New York stood directly in
front of them. Ranged in q row beside it were
the other vessels Of tho new navy
which the Cramps have under construction
the fast cruiser known No. IL (familiarly
called in naval circles ''The Pirate'D and
the twin battle ships Indiana and Massachu-
setts. Only the skeleton ribs Of the last two
rose above the framework on which their keels
rested. The nameless cruiser, mo. L." had
more substance visible, but all Of them looked
black, dingy aud incomplete by tie side Of the
graceful hull of the New York, glistening in red
and white paint Workmen were busy under
the sides adjusting the wedges which we're 10
raise it in its cradle free from the keel blocks
on which it had rested 30 long. The tap Of the
mallet and the pounding OF the bassering ram
There was much hustle through the yards,
md especially about the hull, where fully 500
men were at work The vessel must be
launched - nearly a. possible at the hour Of
Hood tide, and there must be no delay which
would postpone the climax Of the event be-
FOND that time. On the platform, at the
hips bow, an altar had been con-
'tructed- It was decorated with bunt-
ng Within "a horseshoe rail Mis-
Helen Page Of New York was TO stand 70 break
he customary bottle Of champagne over the
bow at the moment that the vessel started on
10 first voyage. The christening party gathered
N ths platform. where Harry w. Cramp vas in
personal charge of the srrangementa In hts
vas ths bettls of ehAnpagns vhioh