The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-17
CHRISTENED HER PORT ROYAL.
LAUNCHING OF THE DREDGE ron
THE PARIS ISLAND WORK.

A Cold BOTTLE Over Her Bow the For-
NAL Ceremony of Her Naming-Thc
Huge Hull struck "a Pile as She
Went Into the Water and Knocked
IA Hole I'm Her BOttOm-The Damage
Not Serious and the Dredge VIII
he Ready For Work by Feb. 4.
Crowds of People witness the
Launching.
one of the prominent features of ship
building at Savannah was demonstrated
yesterday by the launching of the inn
mense dredge built at the old lower rice
mill wharf, at the foot of Houston street.
Forty-five days ago, the New York
Dredging Company commenced the con-
structon of a suction dredge, to be used
in digging out the channel leading to the
government dry dock on Paris Island, OPP
posite Port Royal. Yesterday the hull was
successfully launched at O'clock
The machinery which is of the most inn
proved character, win be placed in the
dredge at once, and It is expected that she
will be ready to go to work Feb /.
Crowds gathered along the bluff during
the morning to see the launching. At
o'clock the wharVes and bluff of the green
overlooking the river were lined with men,
women and children. When everything
was in readiness. the jackscrews were re-
moved from the bottom of the dredge, and
she rested securely on the carefully greas-
ed runners which were to convey her to
the river At signal from Superintendent
Field, a slight jar was given the immense
BULK, and away she glided into the water
"a
board as the dredge slipped into
the river. AS she struck the water Mr..
+. @. Clark secretary of the Stevens
Clark Co. of this city, broke bottle
OF champagne over her Prov saying as he
aid Il christen thee Port Royal"
The crowd on shore cheered as the
mammoth dredge drifted out into the
river. Whistles from steamers and fac
tories in the neighborhood greeted the
newcomer and flags which decorated the
Port Royal made pretty sight. Flags of
all nations were displayed in the decDra-
lions, noticeably the American stars and
stripes and the flag of Erin.
There was only one accident to mar the
success of the launching. In passing into
the water the stern of the dredge struck
a piece Of piling on the edge of the wharf.
which crushed one of the planks In het.
bottom. 1t was discovered as soon as the
dredge foated in the river, and a tempo
fary patch was placed over the broken
plank. 1t may be necessary to put her ON
the marine railway to permanently repair
the damage.
Mr. George w. Cat, president of the
New York Dredging Company, was pres
ent at the launching. Mr.. George p.
Fields, superintendent of construction of
the company, has been here attending to
the building of the dredge. He has a ma
tional reputation for this work, having
built the mammoth dredge Delta for the
United states for work on the MIssissippi
river. This dredge and several others.
which he built, were accepted by the gov
eminent after severe trial of sixty days
and sixty nights steady work
The Port Royal will be used in dredging
the entrance to the government dry dock
at Port Royal. She is 125 feet in length.
"a feet breadth and 10 feet deep. The ma
ehinery is to be of the latest improve
ments, and in the suction pipe will be
constructed a drill to cut up the formation
of phosphate rock and other hard sub
stances at the bottom of the river
The cost of the dredge is about SIS. 600
all of which, with the price of the ma
chinery, will be spent in Savannah The
workmen employed In the construction of
the hull were Savannah mechanics and
all Of the materials used were the produce
ton of Georgia.