Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-13
STEAMSHIP ST. LOUIS.
Launched at Philadelphia and Named by
Mrs. CloYcland.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT
Navy and the American Merchant
Marine-Our Flag.

country for the International Navigation
| Company was launched this afternoon
| from the Cramps ship-yard. in the pres
ence Of President Cleveland, members OF
| the Cabinet. and q large throng of peo-
| pie. Mrs. Cleveland stood sponsor for
| the vessel and named 1t the st. Louis,
after the metropolis Of Missouri.
At 1910 o'clock the special train. having
| the President, Mrs. Cleveland, and their
| party aboard. steamed slowly up to the
| ship-yard gate. Clement A. Griscom. pres
| ident OF the International Navigation
| Company. and Charles II. Cramp. presi-
| dent OF the Cramp Shipbuildng Company,
had boarded the presidential special be-
fore II arrived at the yard. and they were
the first to alight. Henry w. Cramp, Sc
cretary of the company. and a number
/ Of others were in waiting. and they step'
ped forward and raised their hats as Mrs.
| Cleveland followed by Mr. Griscom and
| Mr.. Cramp, stepped from the car. Mrs.
Cleveland followed the President and took
| Mr.. Grlscom's arm, and Mr.. Cleveland
walked beside Mr. q. III. Cramp. The
other members of the presidential party
speedily alighted from the cars, and for
a few minutes salutations and introduc-
tions took place.
Mr.. II. w. Cramp presented Mrs. Cleve-
| land and the other ladies OF the party
with bunch of flowers. and then the
| party walked into the yard and up the
incline to the stand. Right under the
keel small platform had been rallied off,
and In this Mrs. Cleveland, the President.
Mr.. Griscom, and Mr.. Cramp took their
stand.
MANY PEOPLE PRESENT.
After the naming party had entered the
yard the gates were thrown open. and the
waiting crowd thronged in. There was a
rush to find points Of vantage from when
TO view the launch, and the ends or the
piers adjoining the place where the steam
ship stood were soon black with people.
The more fortunate ones. and these We're
mostly workmen Of the yard, found good
position to view the launch from the deck
of the unfinished ST. Paul. the sister ship
of the St. Louis, which Is on the stocks
adjoining where the st. Louis stood Full
ly $500 people were In the yard as the
moment for the launch approached.
All the morning workmen had Deen
busy about the steamship preparing her
for her first dip into her native element.
The national flag fioated from the bow,
and a string of flags of many nations
were strung over the deck from stem 10
stern. a great hammering came up from
beneath the steamships keel. Mr.. ii. W.
Cramp was finally notified that all was IN
readiness and he handed Mrs Cleveland
the ayly-decorated bottle Of champagne
that she was to break on the ships bow.
AS he did SO he advised her as to the
best way in which 10 break the bottle.
Mrs. Cleveland took the bottle. nodded.
and smiled in reply 10 Mr.. Cramps ad-
vice. and stood waiting for the ship to
begin to move. The sharp. Kissing SOUND
made by n saw cutting its way through
wood came clearly above the noise made
by the crowd.
SHE MOVES!
Suddenly the big ship began 10 move.
A cry of There she goes." went up from
the crowd. followed by a cheer that swell
ed into a great volume of sound as the
steam whistles in the yard and on the
fotilla of waiting steamers in the river
added their noise to the din.
AS the vessel began to move-at l:O2-
Mrs. Cleveland swung the bottle OF cham
pagne by its parti-colored ribbons, mucn
as a boy throws a stone from sing,
and smashed the glass against the slide,
at the same time calling out In a clear
voice: 81 name thee ST. Louis.
The movement of the vessel at nrst
had been almost imperceptble, but once
fairly started. the st. Louis swept down
the WAYS with the Irresistible rush or
an avalanche. The stern struck the water
cleanly. and an instant after the vessei
was floating on the surface OF the river.
big wave rolled over the ends oil the
vharyes In the steamers wake, ana
many of the crowd paid for their sight
of the launch with n ducking. the 81.
Louis sped a quarter OF a mile out upon
the river from the momentum received
on her slide from the stocks and waiting
tugs caught her and her anchor was
let go.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
When the guests had partaken Of
n luncheon. President Cramn. OF the
shipbuilding company, who sat at the
head of the table. raped for order. ana
delivered u brief address. Clement a.
Griscom. president of the International
Navigation Company. then made lew
remarks, in which he eulogized Preslueht
Cleveland for his assistance In creating
an American navy. Mr. Griscom then
formally introduced President Cleveland,
who said: =. =
"I would not be entirely frank If
did not acknowledge the extreme personal
satisfaction afforded me by the reference
inst made to the part which fell TO me
as a high duty and privilege In the great
work OF creating an American navy ana
at the same time stimulating American
shipbullding.
II cannot, however. keep out OF nina
the feeling that the qualification appro-
priately growing out of this occasion Is
such as must be shared by every patriotic
American, and that the important event
which has lust now taken place IL or
such national interest that IL Is fittingly
witnessed by the highest officials or our
government .
eve shall fail to realize the full Sig
nificance of what we have seen to-day
IL we overlook the fact that the causes
of our congratulation reach beyond ac-
tual accomplishment, and are not limited
10 the things already done and within
out sight.
AMERICAN COMMERCE.
while we may well be proud because
we have launched the largest and most
noyyerful steamship ever built in the
western hemisphere, and with two excep-
tions. the largest and most powerful In
the world. and while we may find rea-
son for additional pride In the fact that,
notwithstanding general economic condi-
tions not encouraging to such achleVe-
ments. this great vessel has been Duiit
on American plans, by American me-
chanics. and of American materials, we
must not forget that our greatest cause
of congratulation Is found IN the hope
and promise these incidents furnish OF
the revival and development Of American
commerce, and the renewed appearance
OF the American flag in foreign ports.
'I hope l shall not be accused OF
making a suggestion calculated 20 mar
the qualification which this occasion In
sn,res IL / remind you that the ship we
have lust launched was built in fuliilment
of conditions imposed in consideration OF
the relaxation OF our registration laws
and that the constructive plant and ma
chinery 10 build this ship. on American
nlans. by American mechanics. ana OF
American materials, originated In the ne
cessity of building an American navy.
"There should be no more delay III the
work of renstating American commerce.
not only by the inspiration supplied by
such events as We have this day wit
nessed. but by such legislation as viii
GET free American mechanical industry
and excite American enterprise. Com
,nerce Is the llfe-blood OF nation, ana
no country that loses or impoverishes II
can reach and maintain commanding
pcsition among the nations OF the earth.
OLD GLORY.
s.Our flag not only tells OF our exist
ence. but II Is symbol OF oil that
American institutions represent. 1t Is
-,~.s.,,. and patr}ofic To uphold our flag