Connecticut western news., 1894-11-15
TIE ST. LOUIS.

heavy black serge, looking warm and com fortable in the rather nipping air. Mr c. H. Cramp as her side held bottle O, champa9 9ne mado In St Louis, rcd. white and blue ribbons adorned it, and net oi golden wire over s field of golden starred blus satin incasod it to protect the fair hands from the broken glass.
 Presently there came a sound as of e myriad of hammers pounding upon wood. The carpenters were knocking away the shores, and the preparations for the launch were well under way. Tho minutes oropt along until the tide bcing exactly right Mir. Cramp handed to Mrs. Cleveland the rayly bedecked bottle of wine. Her face paled a little with suppressed excitement and oomprossing her full. rcd lips she grasped 1t tightly. The town clocks struck 1.
 Americas Most Sotsbls Launching.
 Therc were final chatter of hammers. . confused shouting and then n hoarse roar from the crowd of "There she goesv' and the great mass of steel started on It's way to It's proper clement A cannon boomed, 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 smote the swiftly recodina ship fairly on the nose, shattering the bottle and hap tizing not only the ship, hut Mir Cramp and her own august husband as we'll with the vinous shower.
 Thus started, tho great hull careened down the ways gaining in momentum as it sped along until, striking the Delaware stern foremost 1t threw up silvery del- uge and then glided swiftly over toward the hanks of New Jersey as lightly and gracefully as the most beautiful of water fowl. Anchors were dropped one after an other, gradually slackenlng her speed until she came to halt in the middle of the river all safe and sound. The new ship had taken the first step on what may prove to be a 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. shrioking 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. Alter lunch thore were speeches Mir Cramp spoke. Then President Grisoom 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: Il would not be entirely frank if I did not acknowledge the extreme DOT sonal satisfaction afforded me by the ref rrenoe 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 samo time stimulating Amer ican shipbuilding. cannot, however. keep out of mind the feeling that the qualification appropriately growing out of this occasion Is such as must be shared by ovory patriotic American, and that the important event which has just now taken place is of such national interest that 1t is fittingly witnessed by the high est officials of our government.
 Inc lunch was an elaborate affair and was spread in the large mold loft attach cd to the yard. Covers wero laid at the presidents table for ll0 persons. the par ty including tho visitors from Washing ton and St. Louis and the officers of the Cramp company and the International Navigation company. Seated at other tables about the room wore about l, 0O0 guests, comprising distinguished newspa- per men. naval officers, city. state and national officials and leading business men of this and othor cities.