The record-union., 1898-10-05

NEWPORT NEWS Va), OCT. E
Amid the enthusiastic plauditS or near
ly 10000 intently interested people, the
Shrill salutation of steam whistles from
many boats and tugs and the strains
of THE ar-Spangled Banner, the
first-class battleship Illinois Slid into
the water to-day. The launch was
brilliant success in every particular.
The sponsor of the vessel, Miss Nam
ME Letter of Chicago, was accompanied
by Governor Tanner of Illinois, ms
staff in full uniform, and a crowd OF
distinguished ChicagOans.
Notable among the vessels in the
harbor was the Presidents dlSpatch
boat Dolphin, having on board Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy Allen, and
a party of Washingtonians.
The approach Of the christening par
ty was greeted with tremendous cheers,
and as Miss Letter and her attendants
ascended the gaily decked platform
and while the WOrkmen were engaged
in knocking away the last keel blocks
and the shores, all eyes were upon the
young lady of Chicago.
Suddenly the painted mass of steel
quivered, then slowly began sliding
toward the water. Just as the motion
fairly began, Miss Letter, who had been
standing with the christening bottle
poised in the air, let it swing sharply
against the bow, simultaneously utter
ing the words: Il christen thee Hi
nois," and then amid deafening ap-
plause, the waving of banners and the
din of steam whistles, the gaily dec
GRATED hull, with more than a hundred
persons on board, glided gracefully into
the James River and slowly fioated out
into the stream.
Among the prominent persons from
the National Capital was Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy Allen, who came
here from Portsmouth, where he has
been inspecting the navy yard. He was
On board the dispatch boat Dolphin and
Will also attend the launching luncheon
at the Chamberlain Hotel this after
noon.
The steamer Newport News brought
down from Washington the following
invited guests:
Commodore and Mrs. NJ. L. Endicott,
Captain A. s. Crowninshield, Paymaster
General Edwin Stewart, Engineering
Chief George w. Melville, Surgeon Cen
eral w. K. Van Reypen and wife, Chief
Constructor Philip Hichborn and wife,
Captain and Mrs. Samuel c. Lemley
Judge Advocate General, Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson and daughter, AS
sistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn, J.
D. Yoeman and wife.
Governor Tanner and party arrived
at Old Point at 10 o'clock last night.
The preliminaries began at 10 o'clock
to-day and the christening party passed
through the immense throng gathered
around the red hull of the Illinois at
1870. Finally the saw was heard as
it cut through the sole support.
The battleship Illinois was success
fully launched at 1872 this afternoon
amid the enthusiastic cheers of a vast
multitude of people and the blast of
hundreds of whistles. BY II o'clock, the
hour for the launching, the yards of
the Newport News Company were
crowded. AS many more swarmed the
decks of the steamers, tugs, yachts and
other craft, which had taken up posi-
tions of vantage on the river opposite
the immense ship building plant.
At 1:30 O'Clock Miss Nancy Letter
sponsor for the Illinois, accompanied
by distinguished party from Chicago,
ascended the christening stand There
was considerable delay in perfecting
all the preliminary arrangements, but
the immense throng waited patiently
until the only remaining obstacle was
single plank which held the vessel in
position. A hush fell over the crowd
as the sharp saw cut its way through
the timber. When the supreme mo-
ment came, Miss Letter poised on the
decorated stand, with the bottle of
champagne in her hand, and as the
ship moved slowly toward the river,