Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-11-13
THE ST. LOUIS.

heavy black serge, looking warm ana COM
Portable in the rather nipping air. Mr..
G. H. Cramp at her side held O bottle Of
champagne made in ST. Louis red, white
and blue ribbons adorned it, and net OF
golden wire over field Of golden starred
blue satin incased it to protect the fair
hands from the broken glass
Presently there came sound as Of
myriad Of hammers pounding upon wood.
The carpenters were knocking away the
shores, and the preparations for the launch
were we'll under way. The minutes crept
along until, the tide being exactly right,
Mr.. Cramp handed to Mrs Cleveland the
gayly bedecked bottle OF wine. Her face
paled a little with suppressed excitement,
and COMPRISING her full, red lips she
grasped it tightly. Tho town clocks
struck 1.
There were final chatter Of hammers,
a confused shouting and then honrse
roar from the crowd of There she goesi'
and the great mass of steel started on its
way to its proper element A cannon
doomed, and a steam whistle sounded.
Mrs. Cleveland, with fierce energy
struck at the ships bow and murmured
II christen thee ST. Louis" The bottle
missed its aim Raising it again. she
smoue the swiftly receding ship fairly on
the nose shattering the bottle and bap-
thing not only the ship, but Mr. Cramp
and her own august husband as well with
the vinous shower
Thus started, the great hull careened
down the ways, gaining in momentum as
it sped along, until, striking the Delaware
stern foremost, it threw up silvery del
uge and then glidcd swiftly over toward
the banks of New Jersey as lightly and
gracefully as the most beautiful Of water
fowl Anchors were dropped one after an
other, gradually slackening her speed
until she came to halt in the middle of
the river all safe and sound. The now
ship had taken the first step on what may
prove to be notable career, and the most
notable launching in American marine
history was over During all this time
there was perfect babble of cheers toot-
ing Of whistles, shrieking Of sirens and
booming Of cannon which lasted fully
half an hour.
A Speech by the President.
Directly after the launch lunch was
served to the guests. After lunch there
| were speeches. Mr.. Cramp spoke. Then
| President Griscom of the International
| Navigation company, who acted as toast
master proposed the health of the presi-
dent Of the United States, which was
drunk with cheers
President Cleveland in responding,
said: II would not be entirely frank II
/ did not acknowledge the extreme per-
sonal satisfaction afforded me by the ref
erence Just made to the part which fell to
me as a high duty and privilege in the
great work of creating an American navy
and at the Same time stimulating Amer.
lean shipbuilding 1 cannot, however,
keep out of mind the feeling that the
qualification appropriately growing out
of this occasion is such as must be shared
by every patriotic American, and that
the important event which has just now
taken place is of such national Interest
that it is fittingly witnessed by the high
est officials of our government.
The lunch was an elaborate affair anC
was spread in the large mold loft attach
ed to the yard. Covers were laid az thu
presidents table for 10 persons, the par
ty including the visitors from Washing
ton and St. Louis and the officers of tn
Cramp company and the Internationa
Navigation company. Seated at othe
tables about the room were about ], 90
guests, comprising distinguished newspa
per men, naval officers, city, state AM
Z national officials and leading bushes
men of this and other cities.
| After Mr.. Cleveland's speech Mr.. Girls
CON- in response to toast, reviewed tn
: events which led to tho construction {
! the St Louis and ST Paul, saying anon
I other things:
"The St Louis and her sister, the s.