The San Francisco call., 1898-03-09
SLID CRABWISE DOWN THE WAYS Launch of a New Stern wheel Steamer at the
 Fulton Yards.
She Will Constitute Another Addition to the Yukon
 Fleet.
The Vessel Was So Anxious to Reach the Water That She De-
 scended Prenaturely.

It was rather a peculiar launch be- cause the great bottomed boat, in stead of gliding gracefully stern first into the water, as most vessels do, went down the ways sidelong, getting into the bay very much after the fashion of a crab. But this method of launching, adapted merely as a mat ter of convenience and to save Valua- ble ground space, did not detract from the success of the event at all. There was hustle and activity at the Fulton engineering yards yesterday morning when the time of high water drew nigh. The situation is somewhat ex- posed, looking right across the entrance to the harbor, and the waves of the bay were anxiously watched, to make sure that the swell which broke on the beach was not strong enough to injure the newly built craft. The launch should have taken place on Monday, but the sea proved too boisterous. Yes terday, however, the weather was more favorable, and punctually at Il the flashing which secured the ways parted with snap, and the vessel glided swiftly down the steep incline into the water. In fact, so anxious was she to reach her native element that she somewhat anticipated the wishes of the shipyard people, and went off while men were still knocking away the shores under her bottom. Fortunate 1y no one was injured, though it was a near shave for the shipwrights.
 There was no ceremony about the launching. They did not even break the traditional bottle of wine over her bows. The Alaskan trade is far too prosaic and money making, and has no time to waste upon such frivolities. A tug, carrying the president of the Alaska Yukon Transportation Com pany for whom the steamer has been built, and several of the Harbor Com mlssioners, watched the proceedings from the water. Ashore Captain Hat field, the superintendent of construc- tion for the company, looked after af- fairs.
 Also there were a great many small boats manned with a miscellaneous col lection of wharf lOungers. The pictur- esque side of the event had, however, no charms for them; their task was more prosatc. As soon as the vessel reached the water, and the cradles which had hitherto carried her were released, there were fine pickingS in the way of f1rewood to be obtained All sorts of logs and wedges and shores f1oated to the surface, and the boats promptly secured the spoil. Many of the cradles, however, did not float;
 
 toIn of the vessel and will probably remain there until dragged out with rope.
 As she dances lightly on the water the James Eva resembles nothing more closely than the traditional NoahS Ark of our childhood's days. She has the same flat bottom, the same spoOn- shaped bows. and above all, the same high superstructure in which Noah is popularly supposed to have stabled his menagerie. But, nevertheless, she Is a fine, substantial river vessel, solidly built out of Oregon pine, and capable of carrying some five hundred passen- gers, besides a large quantity of cargo. She is so shallow that, when launched a half of water. When completed, with all her machinery on board, her draft will not exceed twenty-one inches and thus she will be able to cross the dangerous flats on the Yukon, which have proved fatal to so many of the river craft.
 She would have been still lighter" remarked Captain Hatfield. If we could have built her of steel I calculate that a steel vessel of the same dimen> sions would have weighed at least hundred tons less and would have drawn six inches less water. This would have enabled us to have carried moro heavy cargo and to navigate the river with greater safety"
 The new steamer is 16S feet long, 36 feet wide and ' feet deep. She will have compound engines of 400 horse power. and will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $35, ,000 A sister ship is to be commenced at once by the Fulton Engineering Company. and as soon as navigation opens both vessels will be placed on the Yukon.