Evening journal., 1891-06-20
LAST EDITION
A BIG VESSEL LAUNCHED.
The Four Masted Schooner Florence E
Mcgee Glides Into the Christiana.


Mcgee Glides Into the Christfans.
The four masted schooner Florence O.
Mcgee, one Of the largest sailing vessels
that has been built here, was launched
from the Jackson & Sharp Company's
yard this morning. The vessel is 190
feet long on the keel, 40 feet beam and
II feet depth of hold. She was designed
by Captain Edwin Kershaw and has been
built under his supervision for Champion
q Mcgee of Philadelphia.
The four masts will be ~ feet long,
the to opmasts 10 feet long, making the
entire length Of the masts 149 feet long
The foremost is % inches in diamet r at
the deck, the main mast % inches, and
the two intermediate masts 26 inches;
the foretopmast is II inches, and the
other three topmRsts 10 inches in the caps.
The bowsprit is built of four yellow pine
logs, 14x14 inches and is 2Sx2S inches in
cross section and AZ feet long. The Jig
gerboom is 65 feet long and 16 inches in
the sings. The other booms are 40 feet
long and IA inches in the slings; the four
gsffs are 80 feet long and 10 inches in
diameter; the jibboom ~ feet long and
II inches in the caps.
The sails will contain about 3, 600 yards
of canvas. The anchor chains 10 16
and 80 fathoms long, and the anchors
weigh 1900 pounds each. The vessel will
be furnished with steam holsting ma
ehinery ard the anchors sails aud cargo
will be raised and handled by steam. She
will also have a Worthington steam
pump with 6-inch suction There are two
deck houses. one forward for machinery
and one amidship for the cook and the
crew.
The launch was announced to take
place at 10 o'clock, but some delay was
experienced in starting the wedges, and
the big vessel did not move until 10 40
o'clock. At the hour announced for the
launch crowds entered the yard and
climbed upon the deck Of the big
schooner. Men, women and children
were admitted indi. i.criminatelg, the
boats and schooners along the wharf
were crowded with spectators, small
boats filled with people dotted the river,
and the employees of the Christisna Glass
Works watched the plunge from the
opposite bank
Robert Brooks, Charles K. Schulz
Captain Clark, T. n. Champion and Cap
tain w b. Mcgee of the firm Of Cham
pion & Mcgee, Philadelphia, for which
the schooner has been built, arrived from
Philadelphia early this morning and
went on board Messrs. Schulz, Cham
pion and Mcgee were accompanied by
their families. Miss Florf ice @. Mcgee
a daughter Of one of the owners, aft
whom the schooner has / 3n CT led
stood near the bow as the schooner
glided into the water. Mss Mcgee
christened her namesske as she moveC
of going through the ceremony o
breaking bottle of wine.
Among those who were on board a
the time of the launch were Rober
Brooks, Charles K. Schulz. wife ant
family, Captain Charles T. N. Champion
wife aud fsmily, Captain w. H. Mcgee
and Miss Florence Mcgee, DR.. aud Mrs
Marshall, Miss Edda Champion, Willie O
Harts, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Nc
and Miss Nice, Mr.. and Mrs. Elkeuton
Mrs Walton, Miss Anna Wslton. MI
and Mrs Lippincott, Miss Emma Nc
Curdey, Miss Fannie HigbY, Mrs Fran
Kelly, Miss Katie Kelly, James Kelly an
William h. Hubert all OF Philadelphia
Mrs James R. Kelly of Lewes, Del Mrs
Anna H. Irwin and Miss Fannie Irwi
of Wilmington. DR.. and Mrs. Wirgman
Mrs Charles Arnold, Miss Dante, Capital
and Mrs. A. P. NOVEL;. Mr.. and Mrs
johnson, Miss Cavill and Miss Crosby o
Philadelphia, Miss Mary O. Morrow, A
Gilbert Robinson, John b. Martin an
many others Of Wilmington.
The schooner was in command Of Car
tain T. N Champion. Job Il Jackson
Charles w. Rowland and other member
of the Jackson and Sharp Company wer
also present and witnessed the launch.
When the time for taking the plung
arrived the whistles of the tug boats o
the river near by, the horn of locomt
tive and the schooner's own whistle
blew q salute.
On the schooner were Eve flags. A larg
United States stresmer swept the sterI
the Union Jack flew from the bowspri
and the company's and the ships flag
few from hagstaffs ra' sed amidsbiI
Her stern struck the bank on the furthe
side of the river, but although snua
bing line was thrown out, there was 4
necessity. as the schooner was move
with the aid of her own steam windlas
The tug boat Taurus drew her alon
side the wharf as quickly as possible
enable the City Of Chester. which hs
been delayed haitian hour by the launcI
to pass. The new vessel will remain {
the jackson and Sharp yard for abor
two weeks, during which she will
rugged and painted, and then delivere
over to the owners