The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-25
The American Steamer, st.
Paul, Wouldn't Move.
Great Gathering to See the Plunge Of
the Great Ship.
The Ceremony Had to he Postponed
Because OF an Accident.

PHILADELPHIA, March 25.-The launch
of the st. Paul has been indefinitely post
poned. II Is the first failure to success
fully launch ship since the old Pennsyl-
vania In 1873.
While thousands of eyes were riveted
upon the big st. Paul, and waiting with
bated breath to see her take her maiden
dip, it was seen by the superintendent that
the ways had settled down and that the
big boat would not bulge an inch. The
crowds were quickly ordered back and
work began at once on the ways. 1t was
stated that 1t might require anywhere
from an hour to half day to bolster up
the ways.
Alarge crowd gathered at Cramps ship
yard today to witness the launching of
the second of the International Naviga-
tiou Company's new steamships, the st.
Paul, into the Delaware river.
The st. Paul is @ sister ship to the
st. Louis, which was launched from
Cramps several months ago in the
presence of President Cleveland and
q distinguished assemblage OF notable
people, and which was christened by
Mrs. Cleveland. Miss Frances &. Girls
com, the 16-year-old daughter of the
president OF the international Navigation
Company, was selected to perform the
act OF christening the st. Paul.
The international Navigation Co. was
represented by President Clement A.
qriscom and several directors of the COM
pany; the Cramp Company by President
Charles ii. Cramp, the other officers OF the
company and its directors. In
addition to these there was a large
delegation of Washington's famous
Correspondents club, the Gridiron Club,
present with their wives and daughters,
and a couple of hundred distinguished
Philadelphians. As the guests of the In
ternational Navigation Company, the city
of st. Paul sent large number OF repre-
sentative citizens to do fitting honor by
their presence at the launch Of the vessel
called after their city.
The yard was thrown open to the gen.
ersl public at an early hour and the
throng that always attends a launch at
Cramps began to flow in and pre-empt
oil available spots from which to view the
ceremony.
The st. Paul is much further advanced
toward completion than was the st. Louis
when she was launched, and the big ves-
sci in its shining coat of red lead and
black paint presented a fine picture to
the most unnautical eye among the thou
sands riveted upon her as she reared high
into the air from the stocks.
Shortly before noon three steamboats,
having aboard the st. Paul delegation
and other invited guests, drew up to
the wharves at the yard, and the company
disembarked and were led by the
Messrs. Cramp to the launching plat
form built around the bow OF the ves-
sci. Upon this platform and directly
was a small railed-off space for the
christening party. Here Miss Griscom
and some young girl friends and Others
took their places and awaited the critical
moment for the ship to move, but the dis
tinguished company was doomed to dis
appointment. The launching will prob
ably take place tomorrow.
Inc St. Paul IL Duilt OF domestic ma
terial throughout - is American from
truck to keelson. No foreign material
enters into its construction. 1t is of
American model and design, of American
material, and is built by American skill
and muscle.
1t will be seen from the gross tonnage
of the st. Paul and the st. Louis-10, 40
tons-that they are considerably larger
than any other steamers now running
in the world, except two, but the
improvements in machinery which
have been made since the time our fastest
liners were built will enable their owners
to run these vessels with less coal con-
sumption than smaller vessels now run
ming, while the space available for cargo
Il. A. L.