Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-27
LAUNCHING THE COLUMBIA"
A Much Smaller Number Than Usual W.T.
nesses the Ceremony at Cramps

Much Smaller Number Than Usual w.t.
nesses the Ceremony ut Crnmps'.
Cruiser No. II, or, as the vessel has been
popularity known, The Pirate" was launched
yesterday afternoon from Cramps shipyard,
Philadelphia. and christened the Columbia by
Miss Edith Morton, daughter Of Vice President
Morton In consideration Of the time Of year
and with view to Just such weather as the
country is suffering under now, the Messrs
C-amP decided some time sgo not to issue any
invitations to the launch, and In consequence
there marked difference In the size Of the
crowd present in comparison with that of pre-
vious lsunchings at the yard.
Launching day ut Cramps is always OBJ
served as a holiday, aud with the exception of
the gang Of men at work preparing the cruiser
for her passage down the ways the army Of
laborers that daily throng the yard were absent
this morning. The business Of getting the
cruiser reody for her dip into the river was not
an enviable one. The sun shone with Q tropical
intensity and the steel ships Standing In their
stocks and the iron lying around the yard
seemed TO act as a magnet to draw its full rays
down upon the painting, perspiring men who
we're toiling under It, Although the launch was
not to take place until O'Clock by men and
women had begun to gather at the gates Of the
yard. At o clock, when the gates were thrown
~
people, and this number was doubled by the
time set for the launch.
Secretary Tracy, Vice President Morton, As
sistant Secretary Of the Navy Soley, Commander
John Soiey, Congressman John r. Fellows, Com
mander Allibone, ex-United States Senator Chill
ton and Assistant Secretary Of State Grinnen
reached the city at 1 o'clock from Washington.
Mrs Morton and her two daughters, Miss Edith
and Miss Helen Morton, arrived at 1:S0 from
New York. The two parties were met at the
station by Henry Cramp and taken in carriages
TO the shiPyard- They reached the yard about
$50 The Misses Morton were each presented
with a bouquet on their arrival, and then the
entire company was escorted to the christening
stand beneath the bows of the whiting cruiser.
As the vessel stood upon the stocks in her
unfinished state it was hard for the unprae-
ticed landsrnan to detect her in the most
powerful and destructive cruiser that has ever
been designed. The naval officers upon the
platform, however, were enthusiastic In their
praises Of the symmetry and beauty Of the YES
sells lines and predicted that in speed she
would realize the plans Of the designers. The
great length of the cruiser was especially
noticeable rs she hung out over the river, and
IN comparison to her the csrsvels Of Columbus
would hardly have served the monster for long
boats
While the christening party had been taking
their stand upon the platform the busy work
men beneath the keel Of the vessel were pre-
pairing her FOR her journey down the ways.
The shorings were rapidly struck down and
timbers sawed through. At $50 the crashing
sound of breaking planks was heard, and Miss
Edith Morton was handed the bottle of cham
payne and told 10 prepare herself to break it as
soon As the cruiser started. The noise Of the
cracking wood ceased, and Immediately the
cruiser started on her downward sweep toward
the river.
As the vessel began to gather Roadway Miss
Morton crushed the bottle against the keel and
said. II christen thee Columbia"
The cheers Of the crowd and the footing of
whistles greeted the Columbia as she passed
from the ways and sat upon the surface Of the
river as true as the spirits in q level.
After the launch u luncheon was served to
Secretary Tracy's and Vice President Morton
party, at the conclusion Of which thev were
driven to the railroad station and returned to
Washington. Mrs. Morton and her daughters
did not accompany the Vice President to Wash
ington. but returned to Rhinebeck, their coun-
try place on the Hudson.