St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-31
SUCH IS THE NEW WAR SHIP
LAUNCHED AT NEWPORT NEWS
YESTERDAY.
1T is CHRIsTENED HELENA.
PAGNE is BROKEN BY A MON.
TANA BELLE.
WAS A DoUBLE-HEADER EVENT.
The Grand Duchesse, Which VIII Be
Part of the Auxiliary Navy,
Goes OF the Ways.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Jan. 30.-The
third warship constructed by a pri-
vate Southern shipyard since the war,
and also the largest merchant steamer
built in this country, with the excep-
ton Of the two American trans-At-
lantic liners built by the Cramps, were
launched successfully here by the New
port News Ship-Building company at
high tide this morning in the presence
Of a distinguished party from Wash
ington. Members of the house naval
affairs committee, Admiral Brown, COM
handing the Norfolk navy yard, and a
large concourse of people, estimated at
5000. from adjacent towns. There were
present also representatives from Ad-
miral Bunce's great fleet in Hampton
Roads; Senators Carter and Mantle
of Montana, and Assistant Secretary
McAdoo, who represented the navy de-
partment in the absence of Secretary
Herbert.
To add to the spectacular effect pro-
duced by numbers Of steamers and
sailing vessels, which had gathered
here for the occasion, was the battle
ship Indiana, which came up from Fort
Monroe this morning to load coal. pend
ing her departure later for Port ROYAL.
Both vessels are the finest type of
their class ever turned out by this
yard, which soon begins the construc
ton Of the mammoth battle ships Ken
lucky and Kearsarge, authorized by the
last congress-
IN order to take advantage of the
flood tide, the launch of the vessels took
pace pe1ore II O'Clock. one followed the
other, as fast as the workmen could
knock away the shores and wedge nm
tnelr keels. The first to take the water
was the merchant vessel, whose name
had been kept a secret until she began
10 SIDE down the ways. when Miss Mel
lie s. Eldridge christened her the
Grand Duchesse. AS the stern of the
great hull caught the water, the shriil
whistles Of the foreign ships at the
yards and the hoarse steam siren Of the
battleship Indiana e gave greetings.
while thousands Of people. showed their
appreciation by prolonged cheers for
the Newport News ship building yard
and G. P. Huntington, as it's founder.
FOR what route the new vessel is in
tended has not yet been announced.
Thirty minutes afternthei' Grand Ouch
-eSse entered the water and had been
lowed out Of the wayefor the warship.
the Helena was ready toftake her nat
"a q! eleEienl, ana, with at first Slight
hesltatlon, due to lack of sufficient tai
low ana with stately precision, she
giided off into the James as Miss Agnes
re lie Steele, daughter of Mayor Steele,
or Helena, smashed q the champagne
bottle and named hersin honor of Mon
tana's capital cityui . ec,
senators Carter and Mantle, Mayor
steele and party of eighteen from
Montana: Capt. Glass, tofa the Texas.
and Admiral Brown. were on the plat
FORM The Indiana greeted the new
addition to the service with deep blasts
from her steam whistle and the tugs
and other ships added to the DIM : Al
the conclusion of the ceremonies Presi-
dent circuit entertained the visitors at
a banquet where the ships and the
company were toasted by the senator's.
representatives and others. The keels
OF the two new battleships will be laid
near the spot where the two ships were
launched today 81