Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-24
ALL IN READINESS
ron THE DOUBLE LAUNCHING AT
NEWPORT NEWS TODAY.
THE CITY IN HOLIDAY ATTIRE.
Tbc Programme-Nany Persons Arr
r,xt,y-Tbe Event VIII lie Wit
messed by Thousands-AlI business
TO De Suspendcd-Notcs.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA, March o.
tspeciaI.) LIVERY preparation has been
made for the double launching tomorrow
OF the batueships Kentucky and Kear-
sarge. and the event promises to be the
most brilliant affair of its kind in the
history OF naval ship-building.
thousands of people will watch the
ships slide from their ways into the
waters OF the historic James. Already
incoming trains are bringing visitors to
the city, and the hotels and lodging
houses are rapidly iilling up. At the
breaking OF day tomorrow special trains
and steamers will arrive laden with hu-
man freight 1t is estimated that fully
! 1850 people Will be present
There is nothing TO be done at the
! ship-yard. Everything is ready. From the
| tail military masts on the ships stream
ers of bunting gayly float in the breeze.
Inc last wedge has been driven, and. it
| only remains for the workmen to saw a
Few planks and drive home the wedges.
1nen the ships will rush into tho water
The ship-yard will be thrown open TO the
pubic at O'Clock IN the morning; but
besides the thousands who will watch the
spectacle from the yard there will be
hundreds OF others who will see the ships
plunge into their natural element from
me decks Of craft lying in the stream.
KEAkSARGE FIRST.
According TO the programme the Kear-
sarge VIII be launched first. She will
leav2 the ways at 10 o'clock, and the
kentucky Will be cut loose an hour later. |
lowed 10 inspect the immense plant. Then |
will follow the banquet at the Chamber |
lin Hotel. rns, too will be a brilliant |
event, for around the festal board will |
be gathered many of the nations most |
distinguished sons and daughters. The |
invited guests viii be taken TO Old Point
on the steamer Newport News, leaving |
the ship-yard at l 80 o'clock in the after
noon. Prominent among the guests at
the banquet viii be Governor Tyler and
staff and Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee.
IN HOLIDAY ATTIRE.
Newport News has taken on holiday
attire. FROM every housetop Old Glory
mas been flung to the breeze Tomorrow
business VIII be practically suspended
In the forenoon the post-ofiice, banks
business houses, and the schools will he
closed, and the clerks and proprietors, in
fact everybody in the city, will go to
ne snlp-yard.
The launching will be preceded by a
military display and parade. Besides the
wo military companies coming from
richmond the Fourth Regiment will be
lere. and this body Of mtitia will act as
IN escort to Governor Tyler.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Herbert Winslow
rrived this morning az 10 o'clock and
lave taken rooms at Hotel Warwick
Inc Meet of vessels ordered here will
rive late tonight or early in the morn
ne. The monitor Puritan, of the squad {
on, steamed in this morning, and is :
ling Off the ship-yard. a
GOVERNOR BRADLEY. '
Governor Bradley and his staff were not ]
Ormally received when they arrived at ! ;
be depot at $50 o'clock this afternoon. c
hey had engaged rooms at Hotel War b
lick, whittier they proceeded without i
CEREMONY. This is deeply regretted by r
ne ship-yard officials but there was a b
Misunderstanding regarding the time the A
ain bearing the Kentucky delegation a
ould reach the city; then, too, it was an &
ounced that the Governor would go q
trough to Old Point and spend the night "
the Chamberlin. c. b. circuit, presi- t.
mt of the Ship-Yard Company, met the
hief Executive of the Bluegrass State r
the hotel and took him to the ship in
lrd. Here Governor Bradley spent al
me time inspecting the plant and ii
he ship named for his State. The
,ecal train which brought Cover pl
,r Bradley and his party consisted of i'll
ne sleepers. In the party were the Gov
nor's staff members of the Louisville pc
Oard of Trade, and Miss Bradley's ia
aids Of honor-Miss Alice Castleman, of liz
Miss Sallie Bronston, Of Lex III
gton: Miss Lillian Siege, of Louisville ri
ISIS Able Ballard, of Louisville. and Miss
airy Il. Gatewood of Mt. Sterling. to
Miss Christine Bradley who will re
Kristen the Kentucky, arrived at pa
clock this evening from Washington. ar
by her mother. They were tn
ct at the station by Governor Bradley tic
ID a delegation Of the Woman's Chris
m Temperance Union. When she step on
d on the platform Miss Bradley was be
esented with a beautiful basket Of an
nerican Beauty roses. da
GOVERNOR TYLER ma
Governor Tyler was not expected TO ar IN
'e here till tomorrow morning. but late OH
night the Chesapeake steamed in with
e Governor and his party on board.
s. Tyler is not well, and the Governor
ought it would be best to come TO New Br
RI News at once. Governor Tyler called
Governor Bradley and paid his re- Y
ects. The party will spend the night on 81,
= Chesapeake. Tomorrow morning Gov va
Tor Tyler will go TO Williamsburg and lat
et his staff. at
Tonight launching hop was given at bee
2 Casino. and among those present were yea
vernon Tyler, his daughter, Miss Belle. Jol
0 Miss Kate Montague, of Richmond cOu
ne contingent from the Bluegrass felt
ne Drought win them goodly supply bee
OId Bourbon" whiskey. 1t is limited Pre-
nlsht that they propose to do a little hay
listening on their own account When cou
good ship named for their state be- vie
s to descend the ways scores of TASKS dec
I'd with the whiskey, 1t is said, will be sen
ted against her hull. Tn,