The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-05
A BRILLIANT SUCCESS
MANY DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE
AT NEWPORT NEWS.
MISS LETTER, OF CHICAGO, SPONSOR
fhristenei Amid Deafening Cheers, Screams
ing of Whistles and Waving of Flags.
Governors Of Virginia and
Illinois Present.
Illinois Present.

Illinois Present.
Newport News, Va, October Amid
the enthusiastic plaudits of nearly 40,00N
intensely interested people, the shrill
salutation of steam whistles from many
boats and tugs and the strains of "The
Star Spangled Banner the frst-class
battleship Illinois was launched to-day.
The launch was a brilliant success in
every particular the mechanical prepara-
tions being perfect, the asscmblage of
spectators unprecedented IN the history
of the Newport News Shipbuiiding and
Dry-Dock Company, and distinguished
in personnel. The sponsor of the vessel,
Miss Mamie Letter, Of Chicago, accom-
panied Governor Tanner, of Illinois, his
staff in full uniform and ii crowd of dis
tinguished Chicagoans came up from
other points early this morning by
steamer. The steamer Newport News
brought the distinguished guests of the
ship-yard from Washington, and all the
steamboat and railway lines poured peo-
pie into the port up to the very hour Of
the launching.
Notable among the vessels in the har-
Dor was the Presidents dispatch boat
Dolphin. having on board Assistant Sec
retarv of the Navy Allen and a party
of Washington people.
AS the hour for the christening OF the
powerful addition to the country's fight
ing navy drew near, the immense crowd
sought points of vantage around the
ponderous painted steel hull, lying help
lessly upon the ways, from which its
initial plunge into the water could be
viewed. A sun as burning as mid-su1-
mer poured its searching rays upon the
crowd. which was constantly being aug
mented up to the very moment OF the
vessels plunge. The approach OF the
christening party was heraI1ei by
cheers. and as Miss Letter and her COR
tege, ascended the platform alone
side the PROV Of the vessel all eyes were
turned thither.
The hull lay upon the inclined sliding
platform with her bow pointed inland,
as is usual when vessels are to bc
launched While the crowd expectantly
waited the keel blocks on which the
hull rested and the stays along her
sides were carefully removed until the
weight rested upon the Siding ways. The
vessel was held then only iy the caken
planks between the sliding and the
ground-waqs As these were being sew
cred by the saw, all eyes were concen-
trated on the bow and the reviewing
stand, where the sponsor stood waiting
to perform her conspicuous part in the
ceremony.
Suddenly the painted mass of steel
quivered. then slowly and more rapidly
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, stimuli
taneously uttering the words Il christen
thee Illinois, then amid deafening APP
plause, the waving of banners and the
din Of steam whistles the gaily decorated
hull with more than hundred persons
aboard. glided gracefully into the James
river, and as her bows cleared the waves
slowly fioated out into the stream.
Among the distinguished spectators were
Governor John r. Tanner, of Illinois:
Governor J. Hoge Tyler, Of Virginia;
Mayor Carter Harrison. of Chicago;
Judge II. r. Hamlin, of Shelbyvil'e, Ind;
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Allen,
Mrs. John A. Logan, Judge Advocate
General Lemly, and wife; Naval Con
structor Philip Hitchborn, designer Of
the vessel; Surgeon General and Mrs
Van Reypen, Paymaster General and
Mrs Stuart, Speaker Ryan. Of the Vir-
ginia House of Delegates; Senator Ma
son and Mrs. Mason. and the Misses
Mason; Secretary Finney, Private Sec.
retary to the Secretary Of the Navy. and
the Misses Finney; Interstate Com
merce Commissioners Knapp, Yeoman
and Thomas, accompanied by their
wives; Past Assistant Constructors
Evans and Zabem; Congressman Foss.
of Illinois; Assistant Secretary Of War
Meiklejohn; Commander and Mrs. Haw-
ley, Interstate Commissioner Of Com.
merce: Russian Naval Attache; Mr..
Kennedy, Mr.. Sicard. son of Admiral
Sicard; and Mr.. and Mrs. Miller, of the
Associated Press
In the Chicago party besides the Gov
ernor and sponsor wesa Mr. and Mrs.
Letter, Mr.. oseph Letter, and d 9arty
of friends.
THE BANQUET AND BALL.
At o'clock a grand banouet was
spread to the distinguished guests in the
beautifully decorated bah room Of Tho
Chamberlain Hotel. Covers were laid for
600 persons and the assemblage was =
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