The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-02

NEWPORT NEWS. Sept. so-Tues-
day will be the occasion Of the most ex-
Densive christening ever celebrated at
Newport News-probably the most eXpen-
sive even known in The history OF our
navy.
While society on both sides OF The ocean
is sending its gifts with best wishes for
the christening Of The Leiter-Curzon
baby, society on this side is getting ready
to come down here on the occasion OF
the christening Of the batteship Illinois.
which takes place Tuesday. with Miss
Nancy Letter, as the officiating person.
age
Not only Will the christening be a
very expensive one. but its chief actor
will be "A very beautiful parsonage, for
no prether siri than Mamie Letter can
be found. She may not have the bright,
dazzling. snowy beauty OF her sister
Daisy, nor the marvellous carriage Of
her sister Mary but she is beautiful in
her simplicity and in her quiet dignity.
Her features are almost ptrfectlOu-s0
nearly SO that she was selected by a
Washington sculptor for the model OF
Venus which was 10 rival the Venus do
Milo.
Il is no secret that Mrs. Letter Is de-
lighted over the appointment of her
daughter Nancy. Tor the elder Miss Letter
has been greatly east ga the shade by
the brinincy OF Miss Daisy. The Letters
intend to Guido themselves on this occa-
sion as may be guessed from The follow
ing paragraph from private letter writ
ten by Mrs. Letter TO a friend who is
stopping 90 one Of the hotels here:
OF feel that Governor Tanner has great
~ honored our family by appointing
my daughter, Nancy TO christen the bat
tleship Illinois.
IL see the names OK my daughters.
Daisy and Nancy. have been somewhat
confused. Nancy is my Oldest daughter
and q Is she who has been chosen by
the Governor TO Christcn the ship
Newport News, though the youngest
Of American ship yards is capitally
adapted for the elaborate launching Of
a battieship. The ceremony Is necessarily
a picturesque one, and IL there is plenty
Of space I'm which 90 gather the crowds
who would witness the occasion, then IL
becomes an impressive ceremony.
'"rhe News is also pronounced by
naval experts one OF the best yards i'm
existence In its facilities for building bait
tleships and ocean liners. 10 is unsur-
passed. even abroad. AT one time three
ships We're being constructed at Newport
News all upon the same ways. The ships
were the Nashville, Wilmington and
Helena. They were butt tandem fash
ion, one ahead Of The other with con-
tinuous decline. The shviile was near
or The water with her bow Few feet
from the wilmington, bota ships taking
the water stern foremost These ships
were launched at the same time and the
ceremonies were priormc1 by TWO beau
tiful Southern girls
All Newport News was alive on the day
Of the famous double christening Of the
Nashville and Wilmington.
AT g.4S the Nashville started majesd-
caliy. while Miss Emma Thompson, Of
Tonncssee's capital, christored her with
champagne. Seventeen seconds later
amid the din Of steam whistles and shouts
, Of the crowd drowning the national airs
played by the artillery band from Fort
ress Monroe the ship hoatcd ia deep
water.
The Nashville had TO travel only go
feet before floating freely. but the VIII
mington stern post had $50 TO slide be-
fore reaching tle water and 10 yards
altogether before she was fully noated,
the constructors having estimated that
in this decent she would attain a We
lodty of eleven knots an hour. on acc
count of this unusual trip for ship TO
make out Of her element, special precau-
lions had been taken n the construction
of her supporting cradle 10 obviate any
arrangement while IN motion. Under the
Nashville the sliding ways were 10 feet
long. - inches broad ana l5 Inches thick,
while under the Wilmington, the thick
ness remaining the same the breadth
was increased 20 % II inches and the
length TO l15 feet
The Nashyine's cradle having scraped
most OF the taliow from thar portion %
the ways over which lt moved, delay
Of more than an hour was required I'm
order that additional lubricant could be
applied to expedite The Wilmington pas
sage and the sphere ana keel blocks had
also 20 be removed.
Finally, at 1880, Miss Anne Cray, Sem
ator Grays daughter was given the sig
nal that he ship was beginning 30 move
almost perccpubly and she swung the
champagne bottle against the Whining
ton. which with rapidly Increasing We
iocity moved seward with salutcs Ike
those which had greeted the Nashville,
ana ia f0rty-eight secOEds completed her
journey.
The biggest crowd that ever attended
boat chistcuing was present when Mrs.
c. Oliver Iseiin launched the Defender
in 1895.
Mrs Hope Goddard Iselin IS always a
Incorporating young woman. She has
wholesome face, with rosy cheeks,
large, clear. gray eyes. and shining brown
hair. Her manners are simple and I'M
affected and she never ovcrdresses. On
that day Mrs. Iselin was attired IN a
tasteful summer frocx. Her pleasant face
beamed with interest and pleasure as she
stood By the side OF the Defenders bow,
provided with the customary ubb0n-be-
decked bottle OF hzz. When Captain Nat
Herreshon waved his long arm and the
final stroke started the huge mass Of
lead steel and manganese bronze on its
course towards its future element. Mrs.
Iseiin swung the bottle gracefully and.
in a clear voice. exclaimed: Il name thee
Defenderl"
Then the pretty lady stood with lips
parted an her eyes gazing eagerly on
the receding craft as az 1854 o'clock IL
slowly and maiesticaily moved into the
calm waters of Bristol harbor.
! a pretty scene attended the christening