Evening star., 1897-12-03
CHRISTENING THEKENTUCKY
Governor Bradley Has Not Yet Chosen the
Sponsor.
Ex-Secrctary Herbert's Statement Re-
EardfnE Miss RichnrdsOn's Claim
That She Was Selected.

1t is said at the Navy Department today
that the selection of lady to christen the
battle ship kentucky, when launched at
Newport News next month, has been left
to the governor of the state in whose honor
the vessel was named. On the 20th ultimo
Sec; etary Long addressed Gov. Bradley on
the subject as follows:
THE Newport News Shpbuilding and
Dry Dock Company, contractors for the
construction of battle ship No. 6. Kentucky
have informed the department that the YES
sci will be launched at their works, New
port News, Va, in the month of January
next, the precise cate to be hereafter de
terEained l have the honor, therefore, to
suggest that yoa designate a lady to be
present on the occasion of the launch for
the purpose Of christening the vessel.
'The date on which the launching will
take place will be comnunica toA'ou as
soon as possible. but in the meantime .he
department will be pleased to hear from
you as to the name of the lady who will
christen the vessel"
The Lady Not Chosen.
Secretary Long received a telegram from
Governor Bradley last evening in response,
as follows:
will designate lady to chrsten battle
ship Kentucky in few days. Accept my
thanks for kind courtesy
1t thus appears that Miss Bradley, the
governors daughter, has not yet been deS-
ignated to christen the Kentucky. out there
appears to be no doubt that she will
eventually be selected to perform that duty.
The Practice.
1t Is stated at the Navy Department that
Secretary Longs action in this matter was
in strict accord with custom, and, moreover.
was taken without knowledge that ex-Sec-
ietary Herbert had requested any lady to
act as sponsor for the vessel.
The department recognizes the right of
the builders to control all matters pertain
ing to the launching of vessels being built
Tor the governn ent, and 1t is only by their
courtesy that the department is author
lied to select the lady TO do the christen-
ing after the rame has been officially
designated
The builders invariably request the Navy
Department to select the sponsors. and the
department invariably requests the COVER
nor of the state or the mayer of the city
as the case may be, after which the vessel
is named, to designate the lady to act as
sponsor at the launching.
This course has been followed in the case
of all the battle ships, cruisers and gun
boats of the new navy, and Secretary Long
applied 1t in the case of the Kentucky.
Miss Richardson's Case.
Ex-Secretary Herbert mas made the fol-
lished statement of Miss Harriet b. Rich
ardson Of Kentucky that ne had invited
her to officiate on the occasion of the
launching of the Kentucky:
Il met Miss Richardson last winter at the
house of lady friend here in Washington
and found her very beautiful and attrac-
tlIe. We had pleasant conversation, and
she evidently understood that she was TO
christen the battle ship Kentucky.
Miss Richardson left for her home al
most Immediately, but shortly after she
sent a bottle of whisky, which she
hoped would be worthy to chrsten the
ship. 1 replied thanking her. and stated
that the ship would rot be launched dur
irg my administration, and that l should
have no control over the christening at
all, and / supposed that was the end of it.
'You will observe that Miss Richardson
says in her letter published a few days
ago that l wrote her that l could not make
good my little speech. All this was nearly
year ago.