The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-29
ANEW BATTLESHIP LAUNCHED
THE IOWA GLIDES INTO THE
WATER AT PHILADELPHIA.

Distinguished Parties From WASH
ingtOn and Iowa Present at the
CeremOnies-The Vessel Christen-
ed with a Bottle of Champagne
Broken Over Her Bows by the
Daughter of the Governor of the
State of Iowa.
Philadelphia, Pa, March 2s.-The sea-
going battleship Iowa was launched at
liza o'clock this afternoon from Cramps
shipyard. The vessel was christened by
Miss Mary Lord Drake, daughter of the
governor of Iowa, and the launching was
witnessed by a distinguished representa-
ton from the Hawkeye State, headed by
Gov Drake and by Secretary Herbert OF
the navy, 1owa's congressional delega-
ton, members of the House of Repre-
sentatiVes naval committee, several
members of the Senate committee and the
principal heads of the different naval bu-
reaus.
Besides the party gathered upon the
christening stand, the yard was opened to
the public and thousands of people wit
messed the event from various points of
vantage The weather was delightfully."-
bright and warm.
The Iowa representatives arrived here
yesterday afternoon. The party consist
ed of Gov. F. NJ. Drake, Secretary of
State w. NJ. Mcfarland, State Auditor
c. G: Mccarthy, State Treasurer John
c. Glasson, Col. j. Nutting, Col. +. C..
Let's, Col George Bogart, Col. G. +. Nc
Carly, Col; L. NJ; Martin, Col. c: G. Saun-
ders, Col. H. o. Weaver, Col. W. A. Mac
Arthur, Col. f. L. Drake, son of the gov
ernor, and Col. w. IL. w. Nuttng, COM
posing the governors staff; With the
party were the following ladies: Miss
Drake, Mrs. NJ. d. Shouts, Mrs. z. d.
Grace, Mrs. j. r. Nutting, Miss Mary
carpenter, Mrs. Mcfarland, Mrs. Robert
Rae, Mrs. John A. Drake, Mrs. f. d.
Drake, Miss Clarisse Mccarthy. Besides
the above, the party was accompanied by
the following invited guests: Hon. l.. A.
Ellis, Hon. Il. G. Penrose, Cyrenua Cole,
Hon. w. r. Boyd, Col. Robert Rae, Capt.
j. f. Merry and Capt. John F. Drake, Col.
I. B. Shouts, J. A. Mills and L. Shear
The Iowans were driven from their no.
tel to the shipyard and were early on
and Henry w. Cramp, respectively presi-
dent and treasurer of the company. The
governor and Miss Drake and Miss Car
space directly beneath the bows of the
snip. Many of the Iowans had never seen
me huge hull of heavy vessel out of the
water. They gazed in wonderment at the
lowering sides of the red and white paint
ed huh that arose many feet in the air
above their heads and could hardly real
lze that this mass of dead weight, iron
and steel, would become in time floating
fortress bearing upon it's decks the heav-
lest of guns and thousands of tons of ar
NOR and machinery.
The evolution of the hull before them
into a modern battleship was illustrated
TO them by the battleship Massachusetts,
which was lying al the dock adjoining the
launching ways as far as outward APP
pearances go, ready to hold the seas
against an enemy.
After escorting the Iowans to the plat
form, Charles Cramp returned to the rail
road siding running along the yard and
IN few minutes a special train, having
aboard the party from Washington,
steamed up. In all about 300 people came
from the capital to the launch. After
Secretary Herbert and the party had dis
embarked they were taken to the chris
tening platform and the secretary and the
members of the two naval congressional
committees were given good positions close
10 Miss Drake
When Miss Drake had arrived ait the
yard, Mr.. Henry Cramp had presented her
with a bunch of beautiful roses, but up
TO this time he had borne beneath his
arm pasteboard box. To all the old
launch-goers this pasteboard box was an
evidence that something more sparkling
IMAM Iowa water would baptze the yes
sell Presently Mr.. Cramp opened the box
and brought forth a pint bottle Of cham
pdene and presented il to Miss Drake.