The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-29
Illinois Will Be Launched Next
Tuesday.
Miss Letter Will Christen the
Great Vessel.
FROM NEWPORT NEWS
This Engine Of War VIII Go
Into Commission.
Illinois Citizens Will Do Honor
to the Occasion.

Chicago, Sept. Ex-Governor John r.
Tanner, Mayor Carter Harrison, the mem
bers Of their official STATS and the cabi-
nets and citizens with lesser titles and
with no titles at all will leave Chicago
Sunday, bent on the invasion of the state
of Virginia The objective point of the
invading company will be Newport News
and the object of the trip will be the
launching of the new battleship Illinois.
Incidentally there will be luncheons,
speeches and balls in sufficient number to
make the event memorable to all who go
to make up the party.
The committee charged with the re-
spOnsibility of arranging for the excur-
sion to Newport News met yesterday aft
ernoOn at the Great Northern hotel and
first of all framed a general invitation to
every citizen of Illinois to attend the
launching. The committee has secured
a very low railroad rate for the round
trip to the shipyards town and asks every
man, woman or child within the territorial
limits of the state to leave other affairs
to attend to themselves and join with
those who viii attend because of their Of
In addition to framing this invitation.
the committee considered the two very
portation. Charles Counselman, report
ing for The committee on transportation,
said that propositions had been received
from several railroads, giving substan-
TALLY the same rates to Newport News
rate viii be so. The Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad was selected as the official
rotue by reason of possessing the shortest
and quickest route
The Governors Special will be run
over this railroad 1t will leave Chicago
Sunday afternoon, October ?, at 1 o'clock
and will arrive at Old Point Comfort Mon
day evening at clock. Mayor Harri-
son, the members of his cabinet, aldermen
and other city and county officials will
also De aboard this train: Because of the
absence of so many of the members there
VIII be no meeting Of the city council
Monday evening, October 3.
No special form of entertainment has
as yet been devised for the first evening
near the scene OF the launching. The
members of the arrangements committee
Ieel that every mam6er OF the party viii
ing the day of the launching. According
~ there VIII be a general searching out Of
aNal!aDle notes, list OF which with their
special rates for the occasion is now be-
ing prepared by the committee.
Tuesday morning about the hour of II
the great battleShip will be sent down the
ways into the water of the Chesapeake
amld shower OF champagne from the
bottle to be broken upon the bow of the
great vessel by Miss Letter Following
this very important event the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock COM
terrain the citizens of Illinois at luncheon.
Addresses will be made by the governors
Hoge Tyler and John R. Tanner. A bali,
probably at Chamberlain hotel, will end
Every detail of the programme will be
arranged today when Senator Berry, chair
other members a the Great Northern. The
committee who were present yesterday
George E Adams, Joseph Donnersberger,
L. D Ray, Thomas c. Mcmillan, John P.
VI.
of Peoria.
Newport News, Va, Sept. 29.-Prepara-
tIons for the launching of the batt1eship
Illinois are rapidly nearing completion.
All the timbers surrounding the huge YES
sci, with the exception of the stays, have
been taken down and the sturdy steel
sides of the ship that is to bear the proud
name of Illinois tower above the warp.
One side has already been painted bright
red and the painters will begin work on
the other side tomorrow. The christening
stand, built right at the bow of the vessel,
on a level with the upper end of the keel,
has been completed. The official chris
tening party, including the invited guests.
will occupy this stand and will watch the
ship as she glides down the ways.
1t is announced that Secretary Long of
the navy will be present, and it is thought
he will respond to toast at the banquet
after the launching President Mckinley
has also been invited to attend and it is
hoped that he will find it possible to be
present.
Preparations are being made to accom-
modate one of the largest crowds ever
seen on a similar occasion Over 80 900
witnessed the earSarge-Kentucky launch
ing. Fully as many will see the Illinois
launched.