Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
LAUNCH OF THE low A
Large aud Distinguished Party Present
at the Ceremony.
CHRISTENING NOT WITH WATER.
Something More Sparkling Used by
the Daughter of the Hnwkeyc
states Governor as She Names til e
New BattIeship.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, March d.
The sea-going battleship Iowa was
launched at ia o'clock this afternoon
from the Cramps shpyard. The vessel
was chrstened by Miss Mary Lord Drake,
a daughter OF the Governor of Iowa,
and the launching was witnessed by a
distinguished representation from the
Hawkeye State, headed by Governor
Drake, and by Secretary Herbert. OF
the Navy; Iowa's congressional delega-
resentatives Naval Committee; several
members OF the Senate Naval Commit
tee and the principal heads of the diff
ferent navy bureaus. Besides the party
gathered upon the christening stand, the
ward was opened 10 the public, and
thousands of people witnessed the event
from various points OF vantage. Inc
weather was delightfully."- bright and
warm.
The Iowa representatives arrived yes
,srdav afternoon. The party consisted Of
Governor +. NJ. Drake, Secretary-of-
state william Mcfarland. State-Auditor
O. G.. Mccarthy, State-Treasurer John
Herricott. Colonel Joseph McGarrugh
Colonel b. c. Chaser, Colonel j. X.
NuttIng. Colonel f. c. Let's, Colonel
George Bogart, Colonel c. +. McCarty
Colonel L. NJ Martin, Colonel c. G.
Saunders, Colonel However, Colonel w.
NJ. Arthur, Colonel L. +. Drake, son
of the Governor, and Colonel W. H. w.
Huttig-composing the Governors STAFF.
With the party were the following Ia
dies: Miss Drake, Mrs. NJ. ID. Shouts,
Mrs. f. ID. Grace. Mrs. ]. r.. Nutung,
Miss Mary Carpenter. Mrs. Mcfarland,
Mrs. Robert McRae. Mrs. John A.
Drake. Mrs +. r.. Drake, and Miss
Clarisse Mccarthy.
Besides the above there were the fol-
lowing invited guests: Hon. L. a. Ell
lis; Hon. f. G.. Penrose; cyrenus Cole;
Hon. w. r. Boyd; Colonel Robert Nc
Rae. Captain ]. F. Merry. and Captain
John F. Drake. Colonel It. Il. Shouts,
]. A. Mills, and l.. A. Sherman.
The 1owans were driven from their
hotel to the ship-yard. and were early
on hand. They were met by Messrs.
Charles II. Cramp and Henry w.
Cramp, respectively. president and trea-
surer of the company. The Governor
anu MISS Dfdht anu MISS thA BNhN'i
were escorted TO n small enclosed space
directly beneath the bows OF the ship.
THEY GAZED IN WONDER.
Many OF the 1owans had never seen the
hull Of q heavy vessel out OF water.
They gaZed I'm wonderment at the tower
ing sides Of the red-and-white-p painted
hull that were high above their heads.
and could hardly realize that this
mass of lightweight iron and steel would
become in time a floating fortress.
bearing upon it's decks the heaviest Of
guns and thousands of tons Of armor
and machinery.
The evolution OF the hull before them
into a modern battleship was illustrated
TO them by the battleship Massachu-
sets. which was lying at the dock
adjoining the launching-ways. and. as
far as outward appearances go. ready to
hold the seas against an enemy.
After escorting the Iowans 10 the plat
form, Mr.. Charles Cramp returned to
the railroad siding running along the
yards, and in few moments a spe-
cial train. having aboard the party from
Washington, steamed up. In ALL about
three hundred people came from the capi-
tai TO the launch. After Secretary
puItJ Hdu
they were taken to the christening
platform, and the Secretary and the
members of the two Congressional Naval
committees were given good positions.
close to Miss Drake.
When Miss Drake arrived at the yard
Mr.. Henry Cramp presented her with a
bunch of handsome roses, but up to this
time he had borne beneath his arm a
pasteboard box. To old launch-goeTs II
was the evidence of something more
sparkling than Iowa water. Presently.
Mr. Cramp opened the box, and brought
forth a thin bottle of champagne. and
presented 1t to Miss Drake. The bottle
was encased in a gold netting. and from
the neck depended long streamer Of
ribbon. on which was painted in gold.
Cramps Ship-Yard. March Is, 1ssS."
On the other side OF the ribbon. In SINH
lar letters. was painted. Launch OF tho
United States Battleship Iowa. On one
side Of the bottle was a silk label, on
which there was beantifully-p painted
picture OF the Iowa. as she will appear
when completed. II was with this bottle
OF champagne that Miss Drake ehristened
the vessel. and she subsequently bore
away with her its shattered fragments
a. q souvsntr-