New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-01
THE INDIANA LAUNCHED.
THE GREAT BATTLE-SHIP GLIDES EASILY
INTO THE DELAWARE.

FROM WASHlNfFION PKESENI-A VAST
THIoNG Or SPECTATORS. DESPITE THE
wRETCHED wEATHER-THE wAT.
SHIP NAMED BY MISS MILLER
Philadrlph Feb. 2s Specal.-With the red.
white and blue flying in graceful profuson from
stem to stern with bells and whistles innumeraDe
changing and shrcking a dcafcning chorus and
with the President and ter thousand other loyal
Americans giving emphatic expression to their
patriotic zeal and their interest in the occasion,
the stately battleship Indiana at high nocn to-
day gldcd lnajrstcaliy down the ways into the
icy waters of the Delaware, presenting to the
eyes Of an enthusiastic multitude ono of the
greatest trumphs yet achieved in marine con-
struction. and the most important addition ever
made to the fighting strength Of the United States
Navy.
The proceedings. which could not fail to he
interesting, were admirably conducted through
out. Everything in connection with the launch
ing had been carefully arranged, and the hearth
ness which characterized the CONCENTRATIONS
showcrcd upon the McSsrs. Cramp and their in
dcfatigabc superintendent. Lieutenant Nixon.
was in evident appreciation of this fact, as well
as mark of admiration for the splendid evidence
Of their genius and workmanship The weather
was simply cAccrabc 1t was cold, penctrl'insly
cold. Heavy clouds hung over the river and city
from sunrise Long before the crowds assembled
II began to rain. Then II began 10 hail. AMI
finally the rain and hail came down together,
slush and all Of { ,comforts TO pc1es-
tIians resulting more forbddinc and alto
gethcr unpleasant day could not well be imag-
incd but all its disagrccable features were not
sufficient 10 prevent hundreds OF delicate women,
a. well as thousands of stalwart mon, from rarinS
the Elements the war of which seemed not map
propriate 10 the occasion.
The pondrrous gates of the big shi >ard were
thrown open at IL o'clock, and in less than half
An hour nearly every advantageous point Of
view was occupied by surging mass OF UNI
brcllaed humanity. The people swarmcd on the
decks OF The massachusetts, the sister ship of the
Indiana living south Of her not more than twenty
icct away they throngcd the empty ways from
which the Columbia Lad been launched; they
filled the workshops that formed the background
Of tho scene; they stood in dense crowds under
the Official stand, unmndful Of the pouring rain;
and there was not "A tug or steamboat IN slght
on the river that was not black with them, stol-
calN, even checrfully, enduring III" chilling ei-
fects Of the storm deeper motive than the
desire Of sightseeing must be assigned to account
for such a display Of interest. Me.c IDLE curl
oslty will not explain it, The fact Is the peopl"
Of this country do want Navy worthy of the
Nation. and they are pleased at tie successful
way in which it is being constructed. That Is
the underlying cause OF the remarkable demon
stration here today
President Harrison and the otLer invite guests
from Washington arrived here promptly on tihe'
little before l. O'Clock The terror that thc
storm had inspired was shown by tn" depleted
ranks Of the visitors from the Capital Never
theless. all branches OF the Government were
rc,r,~on,c1 Three members Of the Cabinet,
Secretary Tracy Postmas'cr-G"nerai "snamaNer
and Attorney General Miller whose charming
young daul9ltcr named the man-oi-war, accom-
parted the President
Others la the party were Senator Washpurh'
Mr. Soey. assistant secretary Of the Navy;
Lieutenant Parker Dr. and Mrs Lorinc Repre-
...ntatiyc McAiccr, Lieutenant Melville, the
Arctic explorer Senator Daniel, Acting Nhlcf
Constructor IIckborn. Naval Constructors Copp',
Fcas,cr Lrnnard and lIanscom. Tn" latter, IN"
Government Inspector of battl"-ships building at
H.. Cramp,: Chief Engineer kierstcd, Captain
.Iohn ". Philip who is to command th" New
york. Lieutenant L. B. NJ Mason ana
,cutrnant-C commander Charles .. Allibonc,
vLo i, to be th. executive officer Of the cruiser
Columbia: Lieutenant Wainwright Kellogg, Si-
l.rintcndcnt Of Electric Lighting for the "oVerh-
mcnt ~ Cramps: Captain / l.. thahWlrh'
Chirf of Oncr of Naval Intelligence; Lieutenant
tomnanl.r W. II. Emory. lat" Naval Mtachc oi
,hc United States Legation AZ London; Lieu
tenant " H. II. Southorland. Captain Sahu"i
G. Lc.mlcy judge Acknowledgement OF III" Navy
Admiral John g. Walker. until recently IN com
r,nd Of the Squadron of Evolution; captain
W g. Simpson. Chief of Ordnance; Lieutenant
e. 4 BRADBURY, Icutcnants \. f.. Mason, Charles
Lauchhcim"r, IT, o. Dunn. j. j. Bandln sur
econ-t General John NJ Browne, Surgeon Johh O'
uovd Lieutenant X. VI. Brown, '"fiinnh''r
Charles NJ Thomas and daughter. ana hrigao'er
General r. VI. Vincent. Adjutan'-G"nrraI 'hi'''
States Army Most OF these men were ACCOM-
panied hy their wives.
ErcaIls, cf the incl"mcncy OF the weather cah-
VA, was stretched over the stand that HAD ne'h
o,cc,cd upjor the vessels bow. In the centre
Of this stand was raised platform re'rN'N '"'
H.. Presidents party ronsing cheer was given
as General Harrison entered th" var" WIN '"''"'
cr,mn. The President was escorted at once to
tLc platform mentioned, the limited space OF whch
v,s severely taxed by the large number Of per
.,,. vim were anxious to stand close to the Chlrr
u,oistrotc Miss Miller took her plac" az once.
directly ur,cr the bow Her face suggests ;hat
~ her father, having the SAM lrmy
comprc-scd lips and decidedly intellectual
' Ina stood there flushed
east. Us sic '' l.
y;tb excitement and exceedingly nervous sue
made =, p,asant picture Mr.. Cramp handed h'r
ia. conventional bottle of champagne III"
crashed it firmly, and while the President smiled
,pproyinelv upon her, and her father ga|"a WITH
,,rdonab.. PRIDE and the gallant Postmaster
General and the equally courteous shippuiider
.uokc words of instruction and cncourag'n'h''
.,,od vaitina as calmly any other hlgh->pirl'"i
american girl could with the gaze oi huhdre"s
fixed upon hcr.
She did not have long 70 wait, bnt II s'eh''
long time to her. SO complete had p"cn 'h'
,rr,pocmcnts for tho launch that there was Attlc
,,, for tle Nrrkmcn to do to-day preparatory TO
,loliro I'M the huge hull. The work Of rhov-
inc Icgan promptly az II A. when AT s2na,
m ~. the f,r.mln 800 hammers were heard
wv" Wv -. IL ,,ndrns Slnwlv but snrrlY tic