The times., 1898-10-05

thousand persons witnessed the launch
ing Of the battleship Illinois at the plant
Of the Newport News ShipbuiIding and
Dry Dock Company here this afternoon.
The time set for the event was II o'clock,
one hour before high tide but it was an
hour and half after that time when
the great throng Of people whose pa
tience was about exhausted, was carried
away in ecstacy.
At 1888 o'clock this afternoon the last
plank which held the big huh in its posi-
tion on the ways, was sawed in two and
as the cradle began to move toward the
water with its great mass Of iron and
steel, Miss Letter, of Chicago, christened
the new fighting monster in the time
honored manner by breaking bottle of
champagne over the bow. As she threw
the handsomely decorated bottle against
the prov of the vessel, she exclaimed, in
q clear and ringing voice, audible for
some distance:
4 christen thee Illinois,"
Cheers for the Noble Craft.
The new addition 10 Uncle Sans navy
was given a hearty welcome by the
great crowd, as well as by every whistle
in the stream, and as she drifted out
into the channel many tugs, all gaily
decorated, gathered around her, each one
anxious to have a share in towing her
10 the pier nearby.
This was one of the prettiest launch
ings ever witnessed here-that of the
Kentucky and Kearsarge not excepted.
4 lS..s-Hf
cally from the first, and had she been
as far from the water as were the other
vessels. thus giving her a longer run,
the event would have been even more in
feresting.
The waters of the James River were
never prettier, and as the waves lazily
Tapped the shore they almost washed the
stern Of the new vessel, while the work
men hurried the work of getting out the
props
Clear Sky and Light Breezes.
The day was all that could be asked for.
Early in the morning there were several
showers, and the prospects for a good
day were rather gloomy, but by IO:3o
o'clock the sky began TO clear up, only
enough water having fallen TO lay the
dust, which had begun TO fly around TO
such an extent as to be sitting. The hot
October sun broke out and soon every
body was complaining of the heat, but
later light breeZes came gently from
across the blue waters of the James.
Never before has any section of the
country been represented in an Eastern
city by as large and as representative
body as was the State of Illinois and sur
rounding States here today. The party
on the christening stand at the bow of
the vessel was the center of attraction
Here, in the midst Of a crowd of admiring
friends, was Miss Letter, the sponsor. Not
far away were John r. Tanner, governor
Of Illinois; J. Hoge Tyler, governor OF
Virginia; Commodore Hichborn naval
constructor: Joseph Letter, of Chicago,
accompanied by his father and younger
sister, Miss Daisy; Mayor Carter II. Har-
rison, of Chicago; Judge II. L Hamlin, OF
ShelbyvilIe. H.; Mrs. John A Logan, and
President Orcutt. of the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
Many Public Men Present.
In addition TO those already mentioned
there were present at the launching As
sistant Secretary of the Navy Allen, who
arrived this morning from the Ports
mouth navy yard, on the Presidents dis
patch boat Dolphin; Assistant Secretary
of War Meiklejohn, who arrived at Old
Point Comfort last night: Senator VIII
liam r Mason OF Illinois, accompanied
by Mrs and the Misses Mason; Secretary
Finney. private secretary to the Secre-
tary Of the Navy; Secretary Wilson. OF
the Department of Agriculture; Congress
man Foss, OF Illinois; Captain Paget
british naval attache at Washington
Gen. Mestrago, Russian naval attache
NJ Kenney, Italian naval attache; NJ
Boeufve, French naval attache; Judge
Advocate General and Mrs. Lemly, anC
the following well-known Chicagoansi
Gen. Reece. A NJ. Rothschild, J. N. Tru-
tit c. d Osborne and host of others.
After the specially invited guests of the
company had been escorted about the
yard they repaired to the steamer New
port News, which took them 10 Old Point
Comfort There the party went to the
Chamberlain Hotel and were entertained
at banquet by the builders Of the
man-of-war. The following toasts were
proposed and responded to:
Illinois" Gov. John r. Tanner; "Vir-
ginia." Gov ]. Hoge Tyler; Chicago,
Mayor Carter II. Harrison: "The Presi-
dent" Judge H Z. Hamlin, of shelby
vile, ILL.,
Miss Letters Souvenir.
AT the banquet Gov. Tanner presented
Miss Letter with a miniature of the ship
done in beaten gold and white enamel
The souvenir is made in the form of ;
badge The ship is represented lyinl
broadside on. The model is three inche:
in length and carries all the guns, hf'
boats, the flag, jack, and banner OF tn
original reduced TO scale.
Below the ship. suspended by two golt
chains. swings the great seal of the Stat'
Of Illinois also of beaten gold. On th'
hack of this is inscribed: