The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-31
TWO WERE LAUNCHED
The Gunhoat Helena and the Plant Line
Steamer Graude DuCheSSs.
NEWPORT NEWS IN HOLIDAY ATTIRE
Many People Present - Interesting
Details Of Construction with Some
Novel Points That Fit tte Two
HOnfs for Special Uses Largest
GOnstwisc Steamer In the World.

With n mighty shout from some 5000
throats, the largest and finest and what
Is designed to be the fastest coaStwise
steamer in the United States was yes
teruay launched from the ways of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company. Half an hour later an
other gunboat for Uncle Sans Navy
went overheard, as gracefully as YES
sci ever sought its element. l was an
imposing sight. The crowd which gath
cred TO cheer the two vessels on, was
even larger than that which assembled
at the same place on the 10th of Octo-
Der, when the Wilmington and Nash
Willie were launched.
Yesterday was an ideal day for such
an event. The weather. while not cold
was bracing. and the warm sunshine
prevented anything CT inclemency and
wraps.
II seemed as If the entire population
OF Warwick and Elizabeth City coun-
ties had been emptied within the gates
OF the big shipyard, while the streets of
NirSinia's vigorous infant city pre-
sented a scene never before witnessed by
even the Oldest settlers. Houses were
decorated with bunting of vari-colorcd
hue and the city wore holiday attire
generally. Not only were people from
nearby towns there, but many came
from far-off Montana. for the capital
of which the gunboat was named
Every morning steamer carried a
number of visitors To the place. The
Navy Department was represented by
Assistant Secretary McAdoo, Admiral
lJcwett, Naval Constructor Taylor. DR..
| Dixon, Darius Green. Chief Clerk OF
| the Bureau of Construction and Re-
| pairs. and Lieutenant Vecder. OF the
Bureau of Equipment. while others in
| tercsted in the Helena We're: Senator
and Mrs. Garter, Of Montana: Sena tai
4 4 \ =
Sweat, Of Butte. Mont; Capt. Fish and
daughter, ana Mrs. Hardy Bryan. of
! Helena. Mont, and IN escort of fourteen
Montanans.
Among those specially invited to at
tend the launch Of the Plant line steam
| er were Nj. II. Plant, Vice resident OF
the Plant Line of steamers; T. @.
| Brown. President of the Florida South
! crn railway; NJ. jenkins. OF the Mcr-
| chants and Miners Transportation Co,
! and Mrs. Jenkins: S. =. Gardiner. SUI
| perintendcnt oE the Fall River Line;
| John r.. Sherwood General Manager of
| the BAY Line; c. IL. Tillcy, of New
| York. treasurer OF the Southern Express
Company, and Mrs. Tillcy; q. X. Dilkcs
| and Mrs. lpilkcE, of Philadelphia: II. G..
| Hoffman, President OF the Sea board Air
! Line ana BAY Line; J. r. Keadrick
| Third Vice President OF the New Ha-
| ven, New York, and Hartford railroad;
q. l.. Conner. dratic manager OF the
| tending Engineer of the Ocean Steam
| ship Company; General Sorrel, manager
| of the same company: p Fl. Savage
and Fl. T. Williams. of the New York.
| Philadelphia and Norfolk railroad at
! Cape Charles: Colonel W. IL. Thompson.
and Isaac b, Slater. of Washington, ID.
| c.; j. Il. Wise, treasurer of Northamp-
ton county, Va: Rev. Stephen II. Camp.
|. T.. White, and W. +. Sullivan. OF
| Brooklyn, N y; Joseph Barry T. e
l SO I.lr II.,n
i and Charles Il. Bates, of New York;
j. G. Lindsey, Of Philadelphia also the
| following gentlemen connected with the
Babcook IL Wilcox Co: N. W. Pratt,
| President; l.. II. Bennett. Vice Presi-
dent; Fl. +. DE Pew. Manager: j. c.
| Ward, Treasurer: w. ID. Hoxie. Super
| intendent Engineer: w. c. Turner and
r. II. Wales. General Southern Agents;
| President G. i. circuit. of the Newport
| News Dry-Dock and Shipbuilding Co.
and John Callahan, General Manager of
| the Norfolk and Washington steamers
| THE NAVAL DEMONSTRATION.
| The naval demonstration on the river
| i'm front of the yards was not nearly so
imposing as that on the previous oc-
| caston. for yesterday there was only
one naval vessel thcre-the formula BILE
battleship Indiana. There were numer-
Gus other crafts about however, includ-
| ing the Government tug Wnhneta with
the Navy Yard officials. and the steamer
| ANpiiplh, ol tHe w uSHlnptOn Line, which
made a special trip over from Norfolk
TO take the Washington delegation
| Great Interest was centred in the
name of the new Plant steamer for
| until tho vessel was ch.isyGned her
name was not known. 1t was exactly
| 10 o'clock when the timber which held
| the cradle in which the big vessel rest
| ed was severed and the monster steam
| er started slowly down the ways as the
! immense crowd gave one mighty cheer
| and as Miss Nellie S. IIldrcdgc daugh-
1 ter of the late James r.. IIldredgc Of
| Boston, swung the bottle Of wine as
she said. II chriSten thee Granac Ouch
essc." Al the same instant hinged sign
vessel opened, revealing for the first
| time the name of the vessel Miss FL
| dredge carried In her hands a. huge bou-
| quet of red roses, while she was at
| tired in "a dress OF brown cloth, with
| long cape.
The Grande Duchesse entered the
water gracefully and received royal
| welcome from the smaller craft about
the wharvcs. She will probably run be-
tween Boston and Tampa Fla
| 1t was just thirty-six minutes ter
! when the Helena started down the ways
as she was chrstianed by Miss Agnes
| Belle Steele. the 15-year-old daughter
of Mayor w. l.. Steele. of Helena. Mont.
and she, too, received a joyous welcome
! Miss Steele was attircd in a dress of
| Scotch cheviot and carried O bouquet
| OF carnations.
Both vessels were at once taken in