The morning news., 1892-03-17
A NEW SHIP LAUNCHED.
SIZE IS THE FIRST LARGE ONE
BUILT IN TIE SOUTH.

The Yard at Newport News the Scene
of the Launching-The Vessel Called
El Sud, and is Of 4,5oo Tons Burden.
a Distinguished Company at the
Ceremony.
NEWPORT, NEws., ,VAs March IA args
and very notable assemblsge of congress-
men and other prominent people from
Washington, New York and Virginia wit
messed to-day the launching of the 1900 ton
steamship Ell Sud The South built by the
Newport News Ship building and Dry Dock
Company at this place for the South
ern Pacific Company's line be-
tween New York and Galveston, the first
large merchant steamship built south Of tho
Potomac. The LAUNCH was successfully ac-
complished at IL o'clock. After inspecting
the great dry dock (which is the largest in
America and the immense shops of the
company, fitted with machinery of the
latest pattern and capable Of handling tho
largest work known in the ship-building
business the total plant having cost S4 .000.-
000l the guests Of the company were enter
tanned at a sumptuous and admirably served
banquet.
O. P. HUNTINGToN'S SPEECH.
When speech-making was in order G. B.
Orcutt, president of the ship building COM
pany, called upon Q. p. Huntington as the
master spirit of the work, and the latter de-
livered brief address, which was received
With enthusiastic applause. He said:
We have met to chrsten and launch the
steamship El Sud. She is the frst great ship,
believe, that has ever been built south OF the
Potomac, and we have named her THE South. !"
May she be the first of long list of shipD TO be
built in this section of the country, where the
greatest amount Of material for such work ia
found. and may she be the pioneer Of the great
commercial future for the south. hope to see
you all at the christening and launching OF many
ships at this port OF Newport News, as many
shall be built here.
THE GATEWAY OF THE SEA.
This should have been the great entrepot OF
American commerce, as it is the very gateway
of the sea, with wide and safe entrance and
commOdious harbor; is neither hot in summer
cold in winter, and is In the center OF the At
lantic coast line Of this great republic, What Is
almost better than all, 1t is In the
state most affectionate regard, for
have met within her borders only friends, and
/ believe that all who come within her domain
will be equally we'll cared for. May many come
to this favorite port and that, too, from all the
trade centers of the world, and may the com
merce of this place 20 out even beyond the
points from which others come, for however
lhsb Lud ullhslouhTY anu buo may kot
commerce will always leave their utternost
limits behind and carry civilization and its
handmade, religion, far beyond them, for COM
merce is king.
THE ToAsTs.
Toasts, regular and impromptu, were elo-
quently responded to as follows:
"The Old Dominion" by Virginius New
ton, In behalf of Gov. Mckinney.
'To the flag Of our country" Congress
man Joseph II. Cultivate of Ohio.
"The navy" Commander Richard P.
Leary, U. 3. n.
THE shipping industry" Senator Will
lam p. Frye of Maine.
"Collis P. Huntington, the man OF ao-
tion," proposed by Senator Frye and re-
sponded to by William B. WINS OF New
York.
"The new south,n responded TO by Con-
gresham H. A. Herbert OF Alabama.
"The press" Congressman Charles A.
Boutelle Of Maine.
After the banquet the guests repaired to
the ship yard and witnessed the laying Of
the keel OF another vessel, Ell Norte The
North, which is to be sister ship of the one
launched to-day.
The Washington party then embarked on
the steamboat Norfolk. which brought them
here Among those not above mentioned
were: Senators Dolph, Sawyer and Sanders;
Representatives Dingley, Boutelle. Milli-
ken, Cogswell, Weaver, Buchanan, Taylor .
O'Neill, Breokinridge and a number Of
other congressman.