Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-02

an exquisite network OF eold esrA
rom which hung cresm-colcred ribbons fast
oned together by tassel of gold. Prom the
neck OF the bottle hung three stre~mersL ous
OF them. OF pure white. had the name Of ths
New York printed on it in letters OF gold. The
others were blue, with marrow L ordered stripss
OF red and white. On one Of them was printed
Mise Page's name, on the other the date u
the ceremony.
KNOCKING AWAY rHE surpoRrs
When the honr Of O'Clock arrived the vort-
men under the hull began to knock away the
long poles which had served ~ props 81 shs
vessels sides. Before tins the bat,erine ram
and mallets had driven the wedges slowly and
evenly into the sides OF the cradle until shsy
had raised the hulls enormous weight
clear Of the keel blocks. Then thsss
blocks were knocked away one after
another and the great hull rested quite free
from the ground against the sides OF the huge
timber cradle which had been built about iI
During all OF this time the noise had been
almost desfening. The incessant pounding.
the clatter of falling timbers and the shouts %
the workmen had flied the air.
Conversation among the guests Of the ooca-
sion had been almost wholly suspended as they
watched with earnest interest the progress of
the work. The las; Of the shores" side
timbers had been knocked away. the last Of the
keel blocks had been displaced All that held
the hull and lite timber cradle Was the
big iron bolts that fastened the cradle
10 the ways at point near the bows.
just below these bolts ON each side q line bad
been drawn across the timber. On each side q
each % these runways at the place marked by
tins chalk line workman took bis place They
had two big saws over the runwsys and waited
ior the signal TO put them in motion. To cus
through the umbers at this point would free
the cradle fromtthe restraint Of those big bolts,
which we're all that stood between the New
\ ork and freedom.
Mr.. Cramp escorted Miss Page 90 the altar on
whose eminence she stood in full view Of the
waiting thousands sharing with the inaminAts
mass IN front of her the interest of the throng
Above her head rose the graceful line of the
vessels prov. From the bow lust above her
rose short staff. from which hung
the ensign. Against the swelling sides
OF the vessel with their bright cost
OF red and white, hung two big black anchors-
] his was all that came within Miss Pages field
OF vision. But TO the throng that gathered In
the improyised amphitheater. or along the
wharses ad djacent. the vessels deck was CAV
Will bGnung. hung from stem TO stern along
the line Of a series of short masts running down
the center Of the deck
The foreman gave q last look up and down
the line OF workmen under the hull The work
seemed complete. He locked up for the signnl
Mr.. Camp nodded. The next minute the big
saws began to move backward and forward,
cutting narrow paths through the timbers.
The thousands who stood watching the vessel
were silent. The noise of the saws
ticdf anu QlttluCt tIfOuku
the breathless stiffness. Miss Page
grasped the champagne bottle with her
right hand and prepared herself for quick
action. Crack. The strain Of the !. 500 tons
weight had anticipated III part the work Of the
saw. One of the timbers had broken. A half
suppressed murmur for u moment drowned the
creaking Of the cradle timbers. IL died away
suddenly. Crack The other timber gave way
and quick, sudden animation thrilled through
the great hull.
Il cHRIsrES THEE NEW YORK"
Thousands held their breath and watched FOG
the second movement Of the vessel IL came
with quick jerk that carried the cradle hardly
an inch along the runways. yet the movement
was evident TO all Of the an xious watchers. Miss
Page stood with bottle upIfted. almost touch
ing the steel A third movement came and
then suddenly the huge hull started on its voy-
age 10 the river.
Suddenly. Now" said Mr.. Cramp in a whis-
per, and Miss Page broke the bottle of wine
against the fast receding prov and an a clear,
distinct tone said: Il christen thee New
York
But very few outside the christening party
would have known that Miss Page had said any
thing but for the movement of her lips As tie
vessel started down the WAYS every timber be-
meath her groaned under her weight Faster
she moved and faster. As her keel struck the
water: the shrill whistle of a tug boat rent tbs
air A hundred others answered il. Above
ten yards distance. The great hull glided into
the water, scattering over the rivers surface
| the wedges and other timbers which had gone
| down with il.
THE CRUISER ENTERS THE WATER
As the hull entered the water the curreus
caught it and turned it almost broadsiie TO the
shore. There was a rattle Of chains and .
splash on each side. The big anchors had bees
dropped, and before the ship had begun to feed
! The cheering and waving of hats con-
| tinued for several minutes. and not ths
least demonstratlye of the spectators were
| the zoo boys from the school ship
Saratoga, who lined the deck of the uncom-
pleted cruiser, No IL, and threw their hats
| into the air. Ii had been intended originally
| that these boys should have manned the deck
| OF the New York, but the danger of . sudden
| lurch of the vessel, or some other mishap, made
Mr.. Cramp afraid to carry out this part of the
program. So a crew of twenty-five men from
the yard went out on the launching trip -
drop the anchors
MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
From her anchorage she will be towed to
| one of the wharyes, where she will remain fos
nearly year while workmen fasten on her
steel armor, put her boilers in place and fit her
out for duty. The tug whistles still
sounding, spasmodIcally. when Mr.. Cramp &C.
corted the guests to the banquet room, where
the collation. was spread.
THE BANQUET.
The room was brilliantly lighted with in
candescent lamps. A large round table at one
end of the room had been decorated especially
for Mrs. Harrison and the other more distin.
guisned guests. Smaller tables laid near
this. each intended for party of four. Al the
other end Of the room we're longer tables. The
menu Of the collation. simple.
At the luncheon Mr.. Cramp presented 20 the
ladies of the christening party an exquisits
souvenir Of the occasion. They were cbatelains
pins, the design being the letters U. 3. b. n. T.,
curiously strung together. The souvenirs for
Miss Page and Mrs. Harrison were Of gold, the
others silver. At the close Of the collation. the
special trains for Washington and New forh
viii leave the ship yard, probably between .
and 4:30 O'Clock.