The San Francisco call., 1897-03-12
OFFICIAL ARMS
PROVED STRONG
Men With Titles Patrioti-
cally Swing Hammers
Hard.
So the First Rivet in the Bat.
tleshlp Wisconsin Was
D--iven In.
Admiral Kirkland, General Forsy th,
Mayor Phe an and Hugh Craig
Worked With a Will.

Patriotism inspired Mayor Phelan and
several other distinguished citizens TO
toll Ike village backsmiths yesterday,
and several horny-handed sons of toll who
stood by and watched the Mayors good
right arm at work and saw the drops Of
honest sweat dropping from the Mayors
manly brow made admiring remarks aft
erward such as
"Great sight that"
bet yer life, if Jimmy drove rivets
awhile to get his hand in he could hold
up his end with the best of u.s."
The occasion was interesting, being the
driving of the first rivet into the new
armed battle-ship Wisconsin, which in
three years will be ready TO plow the briny
main, the biggest OF all Uncle Sans white
navy. 1t is just three months since work
was begun on the armed battle-ship No.
9, as the Wisconsin is officially designated,
and yesterday was practically the begin
ming of the ships construction.
A few leading citizens had been invited
to be present and all the foreign Consus
had received invitations. The morning
dress of the visitors was livened up here
and there by the glitter OF gilt bullion
that adorned the caps and coats of officers
from the Presidio and Angel Island.
The first rivei was to have been driven
at II A. NJ, but it was nearly noon before
the guests had found one another it the
big yard. Without any formality Irving
M. Scott led the way to the platform of
rough planks erected for the occasion. 1t
was about amidshlps and to reach it the
guests had to pick their way through the
huge iron skeleton OF the ship, which
lowered above them and stretched out be-
fore and behind, 1853 feet long and nearly
90 80 suI L. t.n<x
on wooden supports and waiting for the
first link to rive. it together.
Every one crowded round to see who
would take the first hand at the job of
riveting. The Mayor smiled and leisurely
drew off his natty gloves TO be ready Tor
action and the horny-handed sons OF toll
at this signal handed him a red-hot rivet,
which he took firmly at the end OF long
pair of pincers and held it with the firm
ness and decision of o veteran, while Ad-
miral w. A. Kirkland and General For
syth took turns at beating it in with
mighty strokes OF the hammer.
Not having had extensive experience in
rivet-drlving, the son of Neptune and the
son of Mars hit the iron plate q great deal
oftener than they hit the nail, but they
worked till the drops of perspiration stood
out in beads on their brows, and the spec
tators rhurmured with satisfaction and
announcement each time they hit the
nail on the head. The Mayor also took
hano, and Hugh Craig and II. T. Scott,
who came in on the home stretch, COM
pleted the job.
As soon as the rivet was finished, the
horny handed sons of toll had their brief
m oment OF triumph. Admiral Kirkland
and General Forsyth, the Mayor, Hugh
Craig, II. T. Scott and all the visitors who
had watched their performance stood by
admiringly while the riveting gang showed
how the Job ought to be done with the
greatest possible neatness and dispatch.
That endei the cere monies. There were
no speeches, and all the congratulations
rendered to the amateur rivet-drivers were
of an informal and personal nature, but
until the Wisconsin is ready to plow the
pillows, the tale will be told and retold at
the Union Iron Works, OF how Admiral
Kirkland, General Forsyth, Hugh Craig,
! II. T. Scott and last but not least, Mayor
Phelan, drove the first rivet in armed bat
tle-ship No. 8.
Among those present were Constructor
Capp and his assistants, Constructor
Ruhm and Constructor Snow, represent
ing the Government; Professor Davidson,
Horace G. P,att, Irving NJ. Scott and
Judge w. w. Morrow. Governor Budd
sent telegram from Sacramento regret
ting his enforced absence. The following
foreign Consuls were invited:
j. L. Schleiden, Francis Korbel, Wilfrid B.
Chapman, Juan NJ. Luco, Fung Yung Heng,
Adoifo Canal, Rafael Gallegos. J. Simpson,
A,ex F. Ballen, Adoiph Rosenthal, Joseph
Warburton, Aug Goustiaux. Miguel Garlic,
Charles T. Wilder, John T. Wright, Saburo
Koya, Alex K. Coney, P. J. Van Loben Sells, w.
L. Merry, R. B: Hule, George E. P. Hall, l. da
Costa Duarte, Vladimir A. Artsimovitch, Eu-
stoejio Calderon, Jorge Madrilley, Henry
Lund, Antoine Borel, Jose Costa.