Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-02
THE NEW BATTLESH|P,
The Illinois to Be Launched
Next Tuesday,
AN IMPORTANT EVENT
For Which an Interesting Programme
Has Been Arranged.
"CUR NAVY" AND VIRGINIA" )"
secretary Long and Governor Tyler
VIII Respond to These Toasts-
Large Attendance Expected-Dc-
tailed Description of the Ship.
"oUR NAVY" AND VIRGINIA

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. October l.
(Special)-The launching of the hrst-class.
sea going. coast-line battleship Illinois.
az the plant Of the Newport News
Ship-Buildug and Dry-Dock Company.
next Tuesday morning. will, beyond all
doubt. be the most important event Of
its kind in the history of American ship
building. one Of the lessons Of the late
wal taught the people Of the nation the
real value Of the battleship, and thou
sands to-day know what a war vessel is,
where, six months ago, they had no idea
Of the vast amount Of time, money, and
brain work required to turn out single
craft OF this class. The Ilirois being
the first battleship to be launched since
the cessation of hostilities. the naming
OF this ship by such prominent young
society woman as Miss Mamie Letter. of
Chicago and Washington, is being looked
forward TO with far more than the usual
interest in occasions of this kind.
Il think the launching of the Illinois
will be equal in Importance to that Of
the Kearsarge and Kentucky" said Cen
eral Superintendent Walter A. Post, in
the presence of your correspondent last
evening, basng his statement, of course
on the fact that this event will be at
tended by a larger number of dignitaries
and, perhaps. fully as many people, as
the double launching of last March. Peo-
pie who had no more than passing in
terest in the sister ships when they glided
into the James will be present when the
monster Illinois leaves the ways. The
preparations being made in the Eastern
and near Western States surpass all pre-
vious efforts. and IL is estimated that
fully 5000 people will come from States
west Of the Virginias. Between $4,000 and
5000 seems. at this date. to be fair es-
innate Of the crowd that will be present.
NAVY AND ARMY.
The representation of the navy, army,
and society on this occasion will be
greater than at any previous launching,
and the liberality with which the citizens
Of Chicago and the State after which the
big battleship is named are preparing
their programme for the day makes it
very evident that they propose to outdo
all other States that are to-day repre-
sented In the navy of the United States.
The Newport News Ship-Building and
Dry-Dock Company will spare no ex-
pense to make its part of the programme
complete success. and all indications
point TO an eventful day
The programme for the day will be as
follows:
Launching. at high tide, about II o'clock
a NJ.
Banquet. 2 p. NJ, at Chamberlin Hotel,
Ola Point Comfort.
Hop, F. NJ, at the Chamberlin.
The vanguard of the visitors to New
port News for this occasion will be led
by Hon. John d. Long. Secretary of the
Navy, accompanied by the bureau chiefs
Of the Navy Department, who are eX-
pected to arrive here before noon Mon
day. The Secretary and party will leave
Washington on the Presidents boat Dol
phin not later than tomorrow evening.
lie will spend the balance of Monday in
specting the naval work in course Of con-
struction at the ship-yard. He and his
party will make their home on the Dol |
phin. which Is luxuriously fitted up, and |
Will not go 10 hotel.
dON LhANOfN IAN4NLh.
Monday afternoon will see the first |
Of the crowds coming in and by night the |
Golden Gate Of the Atlantic will welcome |
thousands of guests. Governor Tanner, |
OF Illinois, accompanied by his staff and |
specially invited guests, and Mayor Car |
ter Harrison, of Chicago, accompanied |
by the committees in charge of the pro- |
pramme. will arrive at Old Point Com |
Tort at $50 o'clock Monday evening, and |
VIII at once occupy rooms at the Cham
berlin and Hygeia hotels. Quarters for
these parties were engaged some months
ago and the managers OF the two famous
hostelries agreed to have rooms ready
Tor them at whatever time should be
selected for the launching. SO. when the
IInoisans reach Old Point they viii find
everything in readiness for them IL is
expected that the state will send at
least 5000 or 1900 people. and the others
Will find quarters at The hotels and board
ins-houses in this city. Persons contem-
plating a visit TO the city next week nave
been writing for terms for some tlHe'
and now every hotel and almost every
boarding-h house IS assured of all the bus
mess II can handle The great mass
Of people will come I'm Tuesday morn
ing by rail and boat and the ship-yard
gates will be thrown open 10 the pubic
ar early as o'clock in order TO accom-
modate all.
High tide will be registered Tuesday
morning about il o'clock, and shortly |
before that time the force OF specially
selected workmen viii commence 10 re-
move the shores from under the Sides
Of the towering hull. The last restrain
ing planks will then be severed, the snip
Will start slowly down the creased ways.
and Miss Letter Will break bottle OF
champagne across the bow, christening
the ship as directed, using the four
words. II christen thee, Illinois On
reaching the river. the stern viii strike
the water with a mighty splash. ana the
big defender. in her incomplete state
viii glide out upon the water, barring
accident with the buoyaney Of duck,
amid the cheers Of the thousands 'nd
he shrieking OF whistles. and possibly, ,
the boom OF cannon from the decks of
Cncle Sam's warships. That will be all,
he whole occupying barely two minutes
Rom the time the last plank Is severed.
FALSE IDEAS.