The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-08

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 25.-In the midst
OF the driving STERN Of slset and rain, and
with the applause of the president Of the
United States, three memb ers Of his cabi-
net and 10000 others folio wing in her
wake, the battleship Indiana was launched
shortly after noon today from the ship
yard OF the Cramp building company.
Miss Jessie Miller. daughter of Attorney
General Miller, baptized the bow OF the
vessel in the champagne as the battleship
started down the ways and christened it
the Indians. The ship took the water
like duck, and. with her redeemed hull
showing IN marked contrast against the
muddy waters of the Delaware, she was
carried far ont into the river by the mo-
msntum acquired by her passage from the
stocks. As the vessel swung broadsids on
toward the shore the anchors were let 90
and she rested upon the surface of the
water as besutilui model of marine
architecture as ever left builders Yards
Launching day" at Cramps is always
q festival in the busy life of the great
manufacturing districts lying around the
yard and the operatives of the various in
dustFlal establishments of the neigh Dor
hood never fail TO throng the place by
thousands when a ship leaves the stocks.
A more inkuspicious morning for witness
inga great outdoor event could hardly be
suppiisd bv the clerk of the weather de-
partment, and it doubtless brought
disappointment to many people who
had looked forward to seeing the Indiana
launched. A steady, persistent downpour
OF rain mixed with sleet was falling and
transforming the ship yard into a mass Of
dirty, sticky mud. that chung TO the feet
and garments of the people who wadsd
through il. With the coming of the
morning every preparation for the launch
had been completed, and the battle ship
stood ready for her plunge into the water
The dull brown iron hull was painted a
virginia. white to the water line, below
which a vivid red coating of paint shone.
A line of gay bunting ran the vessels
length alsng her deck, and above the
other flags the stars and stripes tapped
and stiftsnsd to the northeast wind.
The ship stood upon the stocks, with her
great steel ram pointing toward the yard.
Around the bow 3 platform was built and
directly beneath the keel q small inclossd
space was raisd off and intended for Presi-
dent Harrison and the christening party
The Indiana, az she lay in her wooden
cradle. was nothing but an iron shell and
conveyed to the spectator but little sug-
gsstion of this terrible engine of war she
will he when completed.
The great battle ship Indiana was sue
cessfully launched today at the ship-vard
OF the William Cranp & Sons Co. in
the presence of thousand of people,
United States, the secretary OF the
\ Il a. l.
net, and quite q large delegation of
congressman and OTHERS who arrived from
Wasb iDgton this morning. on a special
train As if anxious to pes irto her native
elemsnt the hugs coast defense ship slid
down the Well-grsased ways with comBar-
alive rapidity and struck the smooth wa
tiers of the Delaware river with a force that
sent waves high into the air. Then she
was towed back to tho wharves, and in
about year will be ready for service and
turned over to the government From
cary morning crowds began TO gather
around the works and as day advanced
the multitude increased. The anxiety of
the gathering to get a RliApss OF the pres
ident and other distinguished MEM
bers OF the visiting party from Wash
ington was so much greater
than the desire to see the launch that the
entrance to the main office of the era ps
was blockadsd for hours before the arri-
val OF the honored guests. The nom
issuance of formal invitations. however
gave the thousands OF slEhtseers an oppor-
tunity to be present to see the launch and
points OF vantage were numerous. The
river abounded with craft of every de-
scription. and almost every boat floated
the national cOlors. The interior of the
shipyard presented a scene of activity.
Flags were flying from dozens of poles (;
the cruiser New York and cruiser No. II,
the Columbia, which was launched last
July, and other ships were bedecked with
flags and hung with bunting, while flags
innUmsrRbla and other decorations were
stretched from the stem to the stern Of
OF the Indiana.
The arrival of the presidential party
was the signal for logd and continued
cheering. The party cane from WASH
ington on a special train over the Bnlti-
more 4 Ohio road. Among the passen-
gers were: Secretary OF the Navy Tracy,
Postmaster-Genersl Wanamaker, At
torney General Miller and hio daughter,
Miss Jessie, the fair christsner, Senators
Voorhees, and Turpie of Indiana I'm honor
of which state the vessel is named) and
others. The presidents and other gentle.
men OF the navy acknowledged the COM
piimsntsry cheering by smiling and rais-
ing their hats. The guests were received
in the Offices OF the company by Charles
Cramp. president; Henry w.
Crsmp, treasurer, and other officials.
The line was then formed and the christ
ening party proceeded to whore the battle
ship lay and took possession on raised
platform at the bow. The noise OF the 500