New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-29
LAUNCHING A BATTLE-SHIP
THE IOWA SLIDES OFF THE WAYS AT
THE CRAMPS YARD.

HAMED BY THE DAUGHTER OF GOVERNOR
pRAKE-sECRETARY HERBERT AND MANY
OTHER wELL-KNowN PEOPLE PRESENT
DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT
FIGHTING MACHINE
PHILADELPHIA March 2S-Amid deafening din
Of whistles and the cheers Of the crowds assem-
bled to watch the launching. the great sea-going
battle-shp Iowa slid smoothly and gently from
the ways of the Cramps shipyard at 114 o'clock
this afternoon, and Aoated out on the Delaware.
The vessel was named by Miss Mary Lord
Drake. daughter of the Governor Of Iowa, and
the launching was witnessed by large party
from the Hawkeye State. headed by Governor
Drake Secretary Herbert, Of the Navy the
Iowa Congressmen, delegates the members OF
the House of Representatives Naval Committee,
several members OF the Senate Naval Committee
and the heads of the principal naval bureaus
were also present. The yard was opened to the
public. and thousands of people witnessed the
launching from various points OF vantage the
weather was delightfully."- bright and warm
The Iowans were driven from their hotel to
the shipyard and were early hand. They
we're met by Charles n. and Henry w. Cramp.
president and treasurer Of the company The
Governor and Miss Drake and Miss Carpenter
were escorted to a small inclosed space directly
beneath the bows of the ship. Many Of the
visitors had never seen the huge hull OF heavy
vessel out of the water. They gazed In wonder
at the towering sides of the red and white
painted hull. which rose many feet In the air
above their heads. and could hardly realize that
this mass Of dead weight iron and steel would
become In time a floating fortress. bearing on
its decks the heaviest of guns and thousands
OF tons of armor and machinery The evolution
Of the hull before them into a modern battle
ship was illustrated to them by the battle-ship
Massachusetts,. which was lying at the dock ad-
joining the launching ways. and. so far as out
ward appearances go. ready to hold the seas
against an enemy.
ARRIVAL. OF SECRETARY HERBERT.
After escortng the Iowans to the platform.
Charles Cramp returned TO the railroad siding
running along the yard, and IN few minutes
special train bearing the party from Washing
ton steamed UP. In all. about five hundred peo-
rle came from Washington. Secretary Herbert
and his party were taken TO the platform, and
the Secretary and the members of the two Naval
Committees were seated close 10 Miss Drake
When Miss Drake arrived at the yard Henry
Cramp presented bunch OF beautiful roses 10
her but up to this time he had borne paste
board box beneath his arm. To all the old
launch-goers present this box was an evidence
that something more sparkling than Iowa water
would baptize the vessel. Presently Mr. Cramp
op,ned the box and brought forth pint bottle
of champagne AMI presented 1t 10 MISS Drake
The bottle was incased in gold netting. and
from the neck depended a long streamer Of rib
bon. on which was painted. In gold. Cramps
Shipvard March 2S 1885, On the other side Of
The ribbon, In similar letters. was painted.
Launch OF the United States Battle ship Iowa
On side OF the bottle was silk label on
gJ,ich there was beautifully painted picture of
tie iowa as she will appear when completed.
Il was with this bottle Of champagne that Miss
Drake named the vessel. ana she subsequently
bore away with her Its shattered fragments as
souvenir.
MISS DRAKE NAMES THE VESSEL.
A few minutes before l o'clock the hurly-
tu-ly Of sounds which had been arising from
beneath the keel of the vessel ceased. Then a
period of comparative silence and anticipation
followed Henry Cramp as he has done on
many similar occasions. gave his last admo-
n,ions 10 Miss Drake as TO the best means OF
SCATTERING the bottle the ship Then the
sound of a saw cutting through wood came up
from near the ground, and soon the shoe
niece" was cut through and the big hull started
down toward the river. AS 1t began 10 move
Miss Drake swung the bottle by Its streamers'
and as the glass crashed against the keel moV-
ing above her head and the champagne oespat-
tered the side she exclaimed: Il cnrlsteh '"Ve
Iowa" l..
The hull slipped into the river. and as ~ IL
foated on even Keel the Dig siren WhIeti. Va
tha Nassachusetts was turned loose and made
din that was exceedingly effective. but sui
more trying TO the eardrums of every one near
Tugs screeched and whiStled. people cheereu
and those on the launching stand congratulated
each other on the success Of the affair Inc
men on board the Iowa let go two bow anchors
when the momentum she had received in ths
nassape down the ways had died away, ana
brought her up head down the stream; =,
After the launch a luncheon was served IN the
mould loft OF the yard at which poem, by MAJOR
s " NJ Byers Of Iowa. entitled The Launching
Of the Iowa" was presented to the Cramps.
There was no speech making, as the cro"d wa MI7
After the luncheon the Washington party re-
turned to the Capital.