The evening times., 1896-03-28
LAUNCHING OF THE IOWA
Continued on Second Page.

on which was printed in gold Camps
Shipyard, March IS. 1886 On the other
| side of the ribbon, in similar letters, WAS
painted Launch of United states battle
ship Iowa.
CHRISTENED WITH CHAMPAGNE.
On one side OF the bottle was silk
label, on which there was a beautifully
painted picture of the Iowa as she will
appear when completed. II was with this
bottle OF cha tnpa pne that Miss Drake
christened the vessel. and she subse-
quently bore away with her its shattered
fragments as u, souvenir
A few minytes before l O'Clock the
hurey-burley sounds that had been arising
from beneath the: keel of the vessel.
ceased. Then period OF comparative ST.
| lence and antiCipati lion folio owcd.
Mr. Henry Cr;lmp, Is he had done on many
another similar OCCASION, recited i.s last
admonitions oiMiss Drake as to the best
means of shattering the bottle upon the ship.
Then a peculiar hi ssing sound made
by 4 saw cutting through wood came up
from near the ground and, i'll brief
space the '.sl.pe- piece" was cut through
and the big hull started down toward the
river. II.
As IL began to move. at ia o'clock.
nj IS Ora Ike swunt, he bottle byitsstreamers
moving above her head, and the champagne
bcspa,tered tho. side, sine exclaimed. Il
christcn thee Iowa"
GREETED By HER SISTER SHIP.
The hull slipped smoothly and gently into
the river. and, as II ffoated out on an even
keel. the big siren whistle of the Massa-
chusetts was turned loose and made IA din
that was exceedingly effective but still
more trying on the earirums OF everyone
in the vicinity. Tugs sCreeched and whis-
tied, people chcrrad, and those on the
christening stand congratulated each 9TH
er on the success of the launch.
Tie Men aboard THE Iowa let go two bow
anchors when the momentum she had re-
cciyed in the passage down the ways had
died away and brought her up, head down
the stream.
After the launch luncheon was served
in thcmoId loft of the yard. At thisluncheoD
an innovation and "A departure from the
usual speechmakiDg occurred. A poem by
Major S. IL. N. Bycrs of Iowa was read
entitled The Launching of the Iowa
THE LAUNCHING OF THE IOWA.
Wake, giant of oak and steel,
Asleep by the yellow sand.
And give to the sea thy keel.
. And bid farewell to the land.
At the touch of beauty arise,
AT the words that shall bid thee move,
At the hand that shall thee baptize,
And give to the sea its love.
Sail. sail, o, ship that is ours,
New warrant that peace shall be.
Whatever the cloud that lowers,
o. ship of the western sea!
To every land of the earth,
To seas that are fair and far,
Bear thou the mcssag age OF worth
That peace is better than war!
And guard thou ever our fame,
From gulf to the utmost bay,
And keep forever thy name
AS fair as 1t is today.
And If ever grim war should come,
In spite of the mien We bear
With the sound of the hurryipg DRUM
And a wall of death ON the air
Then open thy sides of steel,
And fight with thy thousand men
Till the ships of the foe shall feel
There are giants abroId again;
And thunder with all thy guns,
And smite with thy lightning stroke,
Nor stop though thy brayest sons
Lie bleeding in battles smoke.
Cry out 10 them Perry's name,
Remember how La awrence fell,
Aud the flag that's above the flame,
In spite of the fires OF hell.
Aud if ever n foe should bid
Thee yield to naughty hand,
Tell him what our Morris did
When lie sank with the Cumberland.
Far better the ship odOwn,
And her guns, and her thOuSl nd men,
In the depths of the sea to drown,
Than ever 10 sail again
With the day af her promise done,
Or the star Of heH glory set.
Or thread fr0m the standard gone.
That never has welded yet.
Then wake, @, gbnt Of steel,
That sleeps BY tar yellow sand,
Arise from thy drea ms aud feel
The thrill of u iMtioRs hand!
Sail, sail to lnauy main,
Strange lands and trackiess ways,
But ever Gomez back again..
New crowned with the victor's bays
Your colors already We know
The colors OAR hearts adore,
The sea -wnve-s White and the wines red
And e'5e tRs blat s.s bending DER.
Sail. sail, 0, sail.
But come TO us at the last,
II from the Ia tile Or from the gale,
With the old flag at the mastt
There was no set specChmakipg but
addresses appropriate 10 the occasion were
made by Gov. Drake, Secretary Herbert
and Others. After the luncheon the Wash
ington party returned to the capital ON
their special train.