Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-25
TWO MORE SHIPS LAUNCHED
The Twin Sisters, Kearsarge and Ken
lucky, Christensd at Newport News.
Two Powerful Battleships - They
Bmbody in Their Design and Con-
struction the Latest Ideas in Of
fensive and Defensive Warfare.
Light Draft is Combined With
Heavy Displacement-A Speech
bv Governor Bradley.


private yard in the South kissed the
waves in the James river at 10: OF
o'clock this morning at the immense
piant of the Newport News Ship Build
ing and Dry Dock Company, and at
1l:25 o'clock, little more than an
hour later, 4 second ship, the exact
counterpart of the first one except in
name followed. They were christened
respectively the Kearsarge and Ken
tucky. proud and historic names that
have Just representatives in the SPLEEN
did lighting machines put afloat to-
day.
The snip Of the Nation was launch
cd first, and long before the hour an
nounced for the ceremony fully $4,000
neople were pushing and jostling
around the powerful steel hull of No.
Is as the Kearsarge was known in the
shipvard, each person endeavoring to
ret the best view obtainable of the in
fcresting ceremony about to take place.
Just before the preliminary prepxr-
atoms were finished the christening
marty arrived and was conducted
through the vast throng to the gaily
decorated stage at the bow of the
Kearsarge The party was composed
cf Mr.. Calvin B. circuit, president OF
the Newport News Ship Building Com
many; Mrs. Herbert Winslow, sponsor
for The Kearsarge, and her maid Of
honor. Miss Margaret Eastman, OF
Washington; Miss Christine Bradley,
snonsor for the Kentucky, and her
maids of honor, Misses Mary E. Gate
wood. Lillian Siege, Sallie Bronston,
Abbie Ballard and Alice Castleman,
all Of
THE BLUE GRASS STATE,
Miss Anna Webb, of Paducah, Ky,
Mrs. William o. Bradley, Governor
Bradley and staff and a number OF
State officials OF Kentucky; Lieuten-
art Commander Herbert Winslow, the
div surviving son of the captain VINO
Commanded the famous old kearsarge
Il har light with the Alabama; mem
iars cf Tie House and Senate commit
toas on naval affairs, and other as
5inguished visitors from Washington.
NU preparations being arranged
and the fair sponsor of the kearsarge
in her station, q saw severed the sole
nieees that held the Kearsarge in place
and fbe splendid hull started on hef
tourney TO the water. AS it started
Mrs Winslow broke the bottle q
chamnag ne over its bow and exclaimed
clearly and distinctly: Il chTisten thee
Kearsarge." AS the vessel glided
smoothly into the river it seemed as
if bedlam had broken loose.
Cheer after cheer went up from the
crowd and the shrill whistles OF the
steamers III the harbor welcomed the
new naval champion to its natural ele-
ment. The cruiser Brooklyn and mon
itor Puritan, which were lying out
in the stream, were the representa-
tives of the navy present.
The christening party then proceed
ed to the bow OF the Kentucky, which
vessel was launched at 1875 a. m.
This ceremony was an exact counter
part of the former except that when
the critical moment arrived Miss
Christine Bradley broke
CUT GLASS BOTTLE OF WATER
from the spring of the old Lincoln
farm and said: Il christen thee Ken
lucky" Then. as the vessel started
down the ways, several bottles OF old
Bourbon whisky were hurle1 against
her sides by Kentuckians who were
opposed TO the water christening. Wa
ter from the spring on the Jefferson
Davis farm in Kentucky was also
smashed on the vessels sides Both
launchings were successful in every
particular.
The invited guests and distinguished
visitors then boarded the steamer
Newport News and proceeded TO Old
Point, where the ship yard officials
rendered a magnificent banquet. Gov
srs were laid for six hundred persons.
Ii was entirely informal. Among the
toasts responded to were: kentucky"
By Governor Bradley, and Virginia"
by Governor Tyler.
Gov. Bradley said:
(which Kentucky? Is it the kentucky
where gallant soldiers have ever been
found in the forefront Of battle. whose
seamen have won fame upon the ocean
and christened heather lands with their
precious blood? Is it the Kentucky
whose generous people sympathize with
the oppressed and downtrodden of every
land and who earnestly desire that the
nation shall intervene to prevent further
atrocities upon the suffering people of
Cuba; and if the investigation should jus
1ify. to avenge the death of our sailors.
rot by demanding an indemnity in money,
but an indemnity in blood?
OF this Kentucky l cannot fittingly
sneak in the short time allotted. But it is
fae other Kentucky that calls for speech
and poetry and song, that Kentucky
Which to-day gave its first kiss to the sea.
There is no better ship; there could be
70 better name. When fully manned and
equipped she starts on her mission, we
viii all exclaim:
GOD BLESS KENTUCKY
on The land! God speed and protect Ken
lucky on the sea- No ship has ever
been christened as it has been. Not ac-
cording to the custom of pirate Vikings
tad with the skins of wild beasts. but
Mlth sparkling water from the spring
which quenched the infant thirst Of him
VITO gave freedom 10 a race and saved
our country from destruction. And when
NE great ship majestically moves to the
glorious destiny which is in store for it,
II viii be sancuhed by the prayers ri
more Christian women than all others
t.at have ever moved on the face of the
Waters
Whether under calm and cloudless
SKIES, or struggling with tempests and
wave whether in peace. or in war, there
SAal hover over it, nor the spirit of
ALCOHOL which has destroyed so many
hFes. desolated so many homes and
caused the shedding of so much blood
"h'' SO many tears but the spirit of Ken
lucky noblest son, the grandest man in
al the tide of time. symbolized by God
GIT 10 man. that which causes the earth