The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-08
At THE LAUNCHING
Interesting Particulars of the Chris
tening of the Helena,
IT WAS A MERRY PARTY
Miss Steele Was Annoyed at What
the Reporters Said About Her
The Montanans Are Enter
tanned In Royal Style.

Speciai Correspondence of the Standard.
Washington, Feb. 2.-Montana has
had quite a week in Washington. AS
YOU. have learned by wire. the party OF
Montanans who assembled on Wednes-
day to see the gunboat Helena launch
ed at Newport News has discharged
Its duty, and Mayor Steele departed
to-day for his home, taking weary
party of ladies back with him. Inc
newspapers made much of them whlle
they were here. The navy department
in sending out the invitations Tor the
launch, were obliged to say something
about the Montana visitors, and the
Interviewing reporter seized the oppor-
unity offered. Soon after Mayor
Steele arrived at the Ebbitt house a
reporter appeared, to call upon Miss
Steele The young lady had never
seen that sort of animal before, ana
she talked freely about her trip and
was willing to say what she thought
of Washington after she had been In
the city but a few hours, most of them
being dark hours. What was Miss
Steele's surprise next morning to IND
that she was advertised as tender
foot in the east, that she was especial
ly fond of shooting when at home, that
she was a famous shot in Montana,
that she hoped for woman suffrage,
and that she trusted she would not be
scared at the sight of an ocean vessel
But the Helena young lady was most
indignant about the heading. All this
stuff that suggested that she was
1narksman and a suffrage shrieker was
displayed under a heading like this:
GODMOTHER OF GUNBOAT.
LITTLE MISS STEELE WHO WILL
CHRISTEN HELENA TO-MOR-
ROW.
NEVER SAW SALT WATER.
VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE THE BIG
OCEAN WARSHIP TO WHICH
SHE WILL GIVE THE NAME
OF HER NATIVE CITY.
Little Miss Steele" resented the
diminutive on board the steamer Nor
folk on Wednesday night. while the
guests of the Montana delegation and
the officers of the navy were making
ACQUAINTANCE in the cheerful saloon.
She enlisted the sympathy and APP
prevail of Assistant Secretary McAdoo
and Mrs. McAdoo, who read the fam
ing description with amusement.
Down stairs in the social hall Senator
Carter was seated at a table distrib-
uting keys to guests who had been as
signed comfortable quarters for the
round trip. and was making himself
popular as a senatorial purser. The
company on the boat included about
80 persons, 20 of whom were Montan-
ans.
when the boat arrived at Fort Monroe
for the passengers to see more than
the outlines of Admiral Bunce's North
Atlantic squadron. which lay at an
Choir just in front of the steamboat
landing When the boat reached Nor
folk. a little later, it was daylight and
there was an opportunity to see that
lively Virginia city. Soon after the
boat pulled out for Newport News.
That is six miles west Of Fort Monroe.
Before reaching the landing il was
seen from a distance that the battle
ship Indiana was lying off the town.
Secretary McAdoo had ordered her
around to coal SO that she could be
seen by the visitors.
Drawing near to the Shipyard the
white hull of the Helena was seen
where it lay on the ways ready for
Launching. Near by was the black
hull of a big merchant vessel. to be
launched first At just 10 o'clock the
Grande Duchesse was slid off into the
water. Miss Steele. who had been pre-
scented with a big bunch of pink carna-
tions. too large 10 go in n buShel has
ket. and tied with long streamcrs Of
pink ribbon. learned how to fling the
champagne bottle by watching the
lady who ohristened the first ship to
take the water.
No one cared especially about the
merchant ship. As soon as il was out
of the way, the Montana party was
escorted to the platform about the bow
Of the Helena. Miss steele was a trine
disappointed when she found that she
was not to be on board OF the ship
and 10 slide off with Il while she
cracked the bottle over the bows. al
though she had not quite made mp her
mind how she could do that without
making the glass fly uncomfortabiy
and running the risk OF being spatter-
ed by the wine When the business
was ready she found herself in n sort
Of pulpit with n dozen other Montana
people bottle Of champagne secured
in net and tied with red. white and
blue ribbons hanging 70 string
swung from the shin. and nothing for
her 70 do but to give il a sharp pSsh
when the ship began - move.
For half an hour the party. several
thousand strong. from all The neigh
boring towns. listened while The wedge
were driveA home 10 raise the ship and
the shores knocked our TO D.. na-
down Then Mr.. circuit Of the ship
building company. who stood al Miss
Steele's side in the pulpit. warmed her
to be ready. Miss steele crGsued the
big bottle. There was a movement. ai-
most iwperCeptihla. A. the ship start
I'd. 1t Increased very slowly. When
il was plain that the hun was moving
away. Mr.. circuit called out Vow %
and Miss Steele. pushing the bottle
from her with EiErr that made IL
crash against The -uuH.at ANA -pa.r.r
ar. WaterS1u and several others with
The fragrant Huid shouted n ehrl~taa
thee Helena The champagne 5r.t--
"a down The sides Of Ri. gliding ship.
which was getting farther and farther
away from The Al0.ar. Uartr There
was a shout and .G.r. TIN boats
of ~hUre Including IL. Indiana. n..F-n-
"a with -.e.r whistles ga 81 they HrI-
q thousand boats. Tho Helena rushed
keel .rs- into -he river with great