The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-30
MRS, PICKETT DEFENDED,
Didn't Interfere With the Christening
of kentucky.

A special telegram to the Cincinnati
Comrnerc.al-Tribune the DAY after the
launching of the man-of-wdr Kentucky
sale Mrs George +. Pickett. widow OF the
famous Confederate general. had inter
fered with the water christening of the
ship This telegram was widely COPIED
over the country. The story. which was
sent from Newport News turns out TO
DE al solutely without foundation. and
Mrs. Pickett has been Frustrated by the
very unkind aud untrue report.
A distinguished Federal officer who
command ID battery in front Of Pick
ett's charge during the war and who at
tended the launching from Louisville. de-
MED the story in the most vigorous Ian
guage lat night lie said:
Mrs. Pickett. who lives in Washington
and supports herself. IS very modest
gentle lady. who shuns all publicity be-
yond what is inseparahle from the fame
OF her husband. who led one of the most
famous charges In the history of the
war. | had the honor Of making her ac-
quaintance on the gettysburg battlefield
ten years ago. and we became good
friends She was invited by Governor
Tvler of Virginia TO accompany him and
Mrs. Tyler TO witness the launching OF
the Kearsarge and Kentucky. but. shun-
iation. when Mrs Tyler was taken sud
denly in and tcloeraphed Mrs. Pickett
10 please come and be her representative.
The room on the boat that was re-
served for President and Mrs. Mckinley
was n'eced ~ her service. and she came
90 O'd Point with her son. who is an aide
10 Governor TYLER. The Kcarsarce was
She first lanched and then The Ken'cky
party. the Fe9rsa~ge Marty and Gov
e~ror TYLER Mrs Pickett ard the staff
with others v-alfei over 70 The chrisfen-
ing stage under the bow OF the Kentucky.
The stare besides tho Marine Pand OF
II y nie IS. rro'ably acc nm dated aho Z
three hundred persons tut Cor the Gov
fr~o" 30 Er~'vo'rv Ms Pradlev. Miss
Bradley and her maids Of honor there was
provided a small inclosed space elevated
above the roe' Of rho stage. The Gov
ernor. WITH Me- and Miss Bradley en-
tf-od ne inrlosaf space first and We're
followed hv tho m'ids OF honor This
party nearly MED all Of me space.
tfe1 sow Governor TYLER core for
ward and station himself IT the right OF
tHe enc'oeure where he could easry con
verse with the youn~ lafies and n n
as Mrs Pickett was detained somewhere
IN the crowd he sen. one Of his SAT- 10
brine her forword. She may have en-
tered 'he inclosure and so have been on
line with Governor TYLER senarated from
him Nv 'ha railing and elevated n foot
or two above the stage.
AT his time left the christening stage
because ] Wished to get a full length
view Of the ship az she glided into The
water and what occurred later 7 will ten
as Mrs Pickett told il 10 me at her house
IN Washington last evening only I may
say that ! know 1t would not have been
possible for Mrs. Pickett 20 have elbow
ed Mrs. Bradley Tor they were too far
apart and the crowd was dense. II took
Just ono hour and half 10 get the Ken
lucky ready tor Tie launching. ana during
the wait Mrs Pickett tells me that some
one In tho Kentucky crowd handed n
small bottle Of whisky 10 Miss Castleman
with the pink badge worn by Kentucky
eNcursionists pinned 70 the cork OF the
bottle. Miss Alice handed II 10 Mrs. Pick.
EFT. who slipped 4, into her pocket think
ipg Al pretty souvenir OF the occasion.
Che never for a moment thought OF
breaking the bottle against the ship She
carried IL home with her. and showed Il
= noe at her house yesterday There were
a.great many OF these miniature bottles
OF whisky on the ground. but whether
they were given away for advertising
purposes or were sold do no; know
1 saw number Of them flung at the
ship as she was sliding OF the ways. but
II was all IN fun and goodwill as far as
] could see or hear. After the ships were
launched the guests invited 10 the ban
quet at old Point went on board the
steamer Newport News. but Governor
Tyler and his party had their own boat.
and ] did not see Mrs Pickett until we
formed 10 march into the banquet room.
She was placed al the table with the
maids Of honor. and ] sat at her right
hand. as Governor Tyler was placed at
the speakers table. She did not mention
the incident 1 have above related, but
after the banquet she asked me 10 present
her To Governor and Mrs. Bradley and
Miss Bradley, which ] did. Mrs. Pickett
has just finished writing a book on the
war and wished that might read the
chapter on Gettysburg She therefore
invited me 10 dine at her house Saturday
st o'clock. When I went to fulfill the
engagement. ] found that she had been
since her return from Old Point Friday
morning made III by the report printed
70 New York paper that she had done
such thing as 10 interfere with the man.
ner adopted for Christening the Kentucky.
Her modification and distress were ex-
IRENE. Spe authorized me 10 write 10
0ovsrnoA Bradley on my return home.