New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-07
TIE NAMING OF THE KEARS4RGE.
COMPLICATIONS ARISE OVER THE SEl'EC-
TON OF A SPONSOR FOR THAT
BATTLE-SHIP ALSO

Washington. Dec. (SpeciaD The smoke Of the
combat over the naming OF the batte-shp Ken
lucky has no sooner barely blown over leaving the
wounds however. to rankle than another small
cloud appear. above the horizon which may develop
disagreeably for those who concerned IN the
double launching next month at Newport Ne"s
Va. The sponsor for the sister battle-ship hear
sarge has yet TO be designated and. as that vessei
Is not named for a State. no Governor VII! ne
placed in a quandary over the selection. but inc
duty will devolve Secretary Long, who WI"
doubtless md II disagreeable enough before thc
ship floats
Lieutenant Herbert Winslow. the son Of Adn"ai
Winslow. who captain took the kearsarse
out to the duel with the Alabama, suggested 10
Secretary Long to-day that his wife be chosen u
name the Kcarsarge. The suggestion exacuy w
feats the sentiment which actuated Secretary LONE
several days ago to write Lieutenant Winslow LOT
advice In the matter, the appropriateness OF nav
ing tho act performed by descendant OF the gar
liant commander having been apparent to all con-
cerned in the launch. II was confidently expected
that In the first place such descendant wouio DC
proposed by Lieutenant Winslow. and In the secoh"
place that the sponsor would be unmarried tue
only exception to that rule having been in al IN
stance during the last Administration ny avn"
Ing the latter precedent, well known TO ever! nav "
officer and ignoring the Secretarys evident desire
In the former the suggestion az 1t has reacheo ~"
Navy Department struck an exceedingly uhpoPui"
chord, and were II not for another consideration
Its ndelicacy would have caused 1t 70 De nieo III
the loftiest pigeon-hole
The President was about to designate occre'iis
Longs elder daughter TO name the kear aise' anu
would have done so had not the lameniabe aiflIc-
ton overhan gng his home driven al other thoushs
from his mind this week He had learned that tn n
original Kearsarge called FOR the inouI.aI -, !"
In Merrimack County, New Hampshire. AND tnat u
was emirenty fitting that The daughter OF .sG y,
glands representative in the Cabinet no co,, =
being involved. should be chosen TO carry our o'
vi Of VI specifically
hattle-ship to commemorate the fHos. ,di'Uu'
fighting ship Of the Civil War. This act Oh tne En-
ecutive would have come as a totaI SURPRISE ~
Secretary Long who could have had no intimauoh
OF such a thing when he wrote 20 WinsloW-d ldC.,
however. which. once decided upon, coua h sni
have deferred but rather accelerated, MS ues'l .
to give fullest credit to the distinguished pare" Vi
obscure living officer 49,, -.
The exceedingly delicate complication when mas
now been precpitated can scarcely De shyt.I.,
but doubly embarrassing to the Naval secretary
whose sense Il propriety Is so exquistely attuneu,
and the only solution that now suggests itsell 10
naval officers and that arouses no enthusiasm
Il that a maiden descendant OF the brave con,
queror OF the Alabama not being dscoverabe; ana
the Presidents choice having been DELAYED. an
entirely effort I've made to fad proper spoh-
sor for the ship. Leaving the selection To neeths
OF the Cabinet