Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-11-30

veyed TO the yards on a chartered tug
which left the Mission street wharf The
gates of the big yard were thrown open
10 the public at 8 O'clock and the crowds
surged in and proceeded to take up posi-
tons on lumber piles, telegraph poles
and other points of vantage affording
view of the ceremonies attending the bap-
tlsm of the latest addition to the nations
new navy.
The Wisconsin delegation of "christen-
ers which lourneyed all the way from
the Badger state to witness the event.
Were given the places of honor upon the
platform with the representatives of the
state, the city, and the great iron works
responsible for the safe delivery of the
craft to the government.
Presented with Flag.
Previous to the launching ceremonies
the ship was presented with 4 flag made by
the school children of San Francisco Il
measured Uwenty-seven feet long and four
teen wide. and is the result of the COM
bined efforts of 800 children of the Irving
nj. Scott public school, VINO at the sugges-
ton of their teachers, commenced work
upon the flag on October % of this year
Following the presentation of the flag,
the following poem, To the Wisconsin"
was read by Miss Clara lisa Price, its
author:
Go forth thou ship with the well loved name:
The waves of the sea to breast;
Leap out, like line from life bark flung.
TO the pillows waiting crest.
Thy charge, STAND firm should a foe draw
Nigh
AS firm as the pine-clad hills
OF the state whose name thou beareSt-ner
The training of mighty wills
Stand firm as her shores by the lake waves
Ice girt as the years roll by
FloWer-decked when the sun laughs out in
JOY
And the spring birds northward fly.
Go forth as the eagle skins the blue,
Defiant brave and free
a challenge to might, menace to wrong,
Wherever thy path may DC.
Ten thousand hearts with hopes leap high
Wisconsin, for thy veal.
Sail fearless, swiftly, proudly forth.
Thou giant armed in steel,
Claim foremost place on hiStory'S page
Thou proof of finite skill
80 safely forth, thou gallant bark
Nam S trust, beneath Gods will.
az Name Thee Wisconsin,"
Shortly after the flag broke out all was
declared clear and a little girl III white
touched an electric button which let down
the axe OF a guillotine upon Il line that
held the last block and the mighty ship
slid into the water with the grace of a
swan. AS she started Miss Stephenson
threw the Milwaukee bottle with a bottle
OF California VINE suspended above 1T
saying: Il name thee Wisconsin, She
was attended by Lieut.-Gov. Baensch and
staff, and by her father and members of
the Stephenson family. The remainder
of the Wisconsin party were grouped
around them.
The moment the marine monster
dipped her nose in the ripping waters
the enthusiasm Of the crowds found vent
The party on the christening stand
waved their hats and handkerchiefs, the
crowds roared and the swarm of small
craft in the vicinity let loose a deafening
shrek of whistles. When the Wisconsin
had glided several hundred yards out
and another of Uncle Sans defenders
had been auspiciously launched.
One of the features of the acclaim
which followed the ceremony was the
Wisconsin university YELL which was fire.
quently given with a will during the cere-
mony and on the way out and back to
the shipyard.
The vessel gathered momentum as she
proceeded to the water, and after leaving
the ways foated calmly along until
brought to stop III the basin where the
work of completing her will go on.
An amusing feature of the launching
was the wetting of a number of people
who were standing on the adjoining
beach The rush of water following the
baptism was SD great that the people on
the beach could not escape it and many
Of them were thoroughly wetted. A num-
Der of Whitehall boats narrowly escaped
capsizing.
Two Kinds of Wine Used.
There was no trouble whatever in re-
gard to the wine. The matter was cour-
teously arranged on Friday by Irving NJ
Scott of the Union Iron works, who was
told by the committee that he could use
as much California wine as he might
choose in addition to the Milwaukee bot
tie.
The Formal Invitation.
The letters of invitation sent out by the
Union Iron works is a beautiful piece of
art 1t bears q handsome steel engrav-
ing of the Wisconsin, underneath which
are the words: "Christened by Miss Ste
phenson, representing the state of Wis
consin. Launched by Miss Lucille Gage,
representing the state of California"
Then follows the invitation:
The pleasure of your company is requested
TO witness the launch of the Armored Coast
Union Ironworls for the United States of
America, Saturday, November 26, 1898, at
800 a. M Union Iron Works Present at
gate, Potrero.
A comparison of the dimensions and
amount of the Oregon. Wisconsin and
Ohio follows: also a list of the ships built
and ordered by the United States govern
ment from the Union Iron works. Also
the Japanese cruiser Chitose.