The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-30
A SPLENDID STEAMER.
TIVE JAMES RIVER BOAT PocAH0N-
TAs LAUNCHED.
Glide. beautifully Into the Water At Will
n,inston. Dci.-fui Description OF
Her From Stem TO Stern.

,,r,,a,ion Of this great enterprise some
-,onths aeo. and its special correspondent
IS an honored guest on the occasion,
which is also reported for 1t specially.
Tho launching OF a vessel is common
,,,ce event at these great ship-yards.
rom which have gone forth so many
steamships. steamboats, and steam yachts.
rat 10 these officers OF the company It was
a red letter day. and their pleasure at
,ieving the beginning OF the fruits OF
,hclr labors was great.
The unusually severe weather inter
r-.ptcd the work during the winter just
closed and threw back the launching
some six weeks or two months, till to-
6av. Meantime all the indoor work went
an with dispatch. and now that she is
An the water, will he pushed to early
completion as rapidly as is consistent
Nth best work. Cuts Of the plans OF
each deck are given herewith. and give a
good idea OF the size and opportunities
for furnishing and appointments Of the
new boat
Tcparations for the great event began
several days since. for on the Thursday
previous the workmen began removing
IT, staging and supports. timbers.. scat
folding. and the like. with which the hull
vas surrounded and supported. so that
the steamer rested easily on her cradle.
ready 10 glide of into the stream.
The work of building the Pocahontas
has had the careful personal supervis-
ioa Of Mr.. William S. Selden, OF New
York. the constructing engineer Of the
Clvde line; Mr.. Thomas w. Goodwin. OF
Norfolk. Va. OF the Virginia Iron Works.
in addition TO the shipbulders best care.
Besides these experts. the president OF
The Virginia Navigation Company Mr..
Edward +. Barney. has been closely
seeing 20 the work together with Captain
James w. McCarrick. Of Norfolk, Va.
the second vice-president Of the company.
There has been no better boat ever
turned out from these yards than the Po-
cahontas. carefully built. as she has
been. with closest attention 10 every de-
tail Of speed. safety and comfort. IT
Is expected that she will show speed OF
twenty miles per hour on her trial trip.
The ladies present on the occasion or
the launching Of the new steamer were:
Mrs. CabeIl Of Wilmington. DEL Miss
Lila c. HUBBARD Of Virginia. Misses agnes
and Louise Barney. daughters OF Presi-
dent Barney. Of the Virginia Navigation
r,r.nanv: Miss Sewell of Baltimore, and
Np.e Henrietta Porter Of Covington. Ky.
Tho vessel was a beautiful sight. dress
a f-orn stem 10 stern in all the glory
,fts- new flags in which were represent
.f.n the principal countries OF the world.
socially prominent were the nags or
T-rinia. the well-known coat-of-arms or
che old Dominion. the national Stars and
S,-ipes. the House flag. monogram OF
.re virginia Navigation Company. and
The flags Of England, Ireland. France.
r..rv and Spain. besides the flags and
rios In the brisk
morning breeze these flags tapped
cheerilv and lent the beautiful and pic
,r~asoue tinee Of their colOrs to the scene.
Everything being ready, promptly at
so o'clock came the signal. and slowly at
frsr. then more rapidly. but gracefully
and easily. the beautiful vessel glided in
70 the river. which seemed 10 welcome her
20 IT'S embrace
Miss Lila c. HUBBARD. OF Virginia.
nneal descendant Of the great Indian
Princess Pocahontas had kindly consent
"a 20 christen her, and performed the duty
we'll As the hull of the steamer touched
the river. after gliding from the ways.
she dashed bottle Of wine against the
bow. saying. Il baptize thee Poca-
hontas" The spectators gave n shout Of
iov. and FASTENED with congratulations TO
President Barney. who has labored so
hard for the success Of the enterprise.
day in and day out. since its conception
and organization.
The "Pocahontas" was then lowed TO
the dock and made fast. to receive her
engines. machinery and interior work and
fittings.
These will be pushed forward with all
speed consistent with good work, and II
Is hoped that I'm a month she will be
ready for her place on the line on James
river.
The Virginia Navigation Company and
the people along the James river are TO
30 congratulated on the nearness Of the
great opening for prosperity In the future
that IS before them. Already is the
company besieged with inquiries from
tourists. travellers and intending settlers
rs 10 the new line and the advantages Of
Virginia for the purposes OF settlement
Il was A pretty sight al the yards of the
Harlan & HOllingsworth Company, ship
builders. on the Delaware river. in VII
mlngton. Del, when the new steamer
"p0cahOntas." was launched Tuesday
morning last. a report OF which appeared
in The Times next day. The pretty craft
was built for the Virginia Navigation
Company. and will grace the waters Of
the historic James as she plies between
Richmond and Norfolk
The weather was all that could be de-
sired. and much interest was manifested
by those who witnessed the handsome
boat as she glided smoothly down the
ways and settled herself peacefully on
the bosom Of the waters. il was deemed
best 10 reserve the festivities till the craft
reaches Norfolk and Richmond on her
maiden trip. The friends and patrons OF
the line will then be invited 10 inspect
her. and be given a sample OF true old
Virginia hospitality.
Among those who witnessed the launch
Ing were: Mr.. Edward +. Barney, Of
Homewood Va, the president Of the new
company; Major A. II. Drewry Of West
over. Va. the first vice-presdent of the
company: Captain James W. McCarrick,
q Norfolk. Va, second vicepresident;
Colonel c. =. T.. Burgwyn of Richmond,
Va. OF the directors: Mr.. Irwin Welsiger
% Richmond. Va, the agent OF the Vir-
GINA Steamboat Company. which the new
Company succeeds: Captain S. G. Deyo.
o. the steamer Ariel. and Mr.. NJ. w Nor
vel who is private secretary Of President
Barney.
Beginning with the main deck. there
sfe on this large open deck space FOR
ward for freight: the mates office, the
subway for the second class passengers.
t'a cafe. size 29xi1, with lunch stand;
TIE tar and smoking and card room; the
ice house and cold storage room, where
fsh end game and other like perishable
t'lf may be kent; the lamp room, engine
space. wheel pits. and aft for the dining
room. the social hall, size 3ix3i and meH,s
tohet room: the offices for the united
States mail agent and the purser. on
ttis deck IS the large life boat. made OF
TIE best cedar. 10 feet I'm length, carrying
IL d lower