The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-27
DAY CLOSES WITH
BANQUET AND BALL
Glasses Click to the Never
Ending Success Of the !
Giant Ship.

An epoch IN the history OF CdiiAoi
nia-the ceremony surrounding the
launching of the great battleship WIS
consin-was closed last night with
banquet and ball at the Palace Hotter:
The American dining room IN the
Palace was ablaze with light and Drill
liant with the flowers of garden ana
field. On the south two flags, the
stars and stripes, were draped, anu
above them an eagle, in one talon an
olive branch, emblematic Of peace, IN
the other a spear emblematic OF war.
Shortly after Z o'clock two hundred
guests of Irving NJ. Scott entered the
room and were seated. To the right OF
the president. Of the Union Iron Works
Miss Stephenson took her place the
Mace of honor. At the same table were
seated Governor elect Henry T. Gage,
Senator Mitchell of Wisconsin, NJ. Nj.
Estee Captain Cotton. Mayor Phelan,
Senator Sawyer of Wisconsin, Mrs.
Henry T.. Gage, Lieutenant Governor
Baensch of Wisconsin, Frames u.
Newlands of Nevada, Ex-Governor
Stephenson of Wisconsin, General
Barnes and Congressman Julius hann.
Irving NJ. Scott first addressed the
gathering. In part he said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1 am happy to-
night to have the privilege to extend
welcome to the people OF the Bauger
State. and as to the ship l can only say
that I hope she will carry the nag ana
maintain its honor as have the other gar
liant ships of the United States navy.
Mr.. Scott then read a telegram from
Secretary Whitney saying Good luck
to the ship and good luck to you, and
another from Governor Budd who con-
graduated the Union Iron Works and
the nOtables from Wisconsin on the
successful launch of the vessel. Mr..
Scott then continued regarding the
launch of the giant vessel.
The launch was a complete success, in
fact it was the most successful IN every
way we ever had. considering the size OF
the battleship. The fact that 1t went
without a hitch or a jar is due entirely TO
Mr.. Dickey. the prince of launchers, VINO
in this case outdid himself having the
vessel ready for launching nine minutes
before the time fixed on July last. TnlS
was a most important launch in fact sec
ond to none in the United States. as the
vessel is 1909 tons larger than the oregon
and the contract calls for one knot more
speed. The State pride Of the people OF
Wisconsin who came across the country
to witness the ship named in honor or
their State also added ZeSt to the occa-
sion. which is a most memorable one
Lieutenant Governor Baensch then re-
sponded to the toast, State OF VISION
sim In part he said:
THE people of Wisconsin hail with de-
light the launching of a nameSake winch
is to be part and parcel of the brightest,
bravest, most efficient navy in the world.
Halfway across the continent they have
sent this delegation to escort one of Wis
consin's daughters fair that she might
christen the ship with all due form and
ceremony, while from million hearts
comes the sincere cheer of Good luck,
coupled with an earnest prayer that the
vast strength and power of this modern
engine of war win make it a preserver
and guaranteer of universal peace"
Governor Henry T. Gage was next
presented to the gathering by Mr.. Scott.
His response to the toast State of
California" was roundly applauded by
the guests, and Senator Mitchell of
wisconsin was introduced. He said:
Once ranged with our warships the
Wisconsin will have to look lively to keep
abreast of her mates, for the American
navy in the world. as recent events have
shown. The American navy is the most
efficient, not because of the ships and
their armament but because its officers
are selected with mare care and more
thoroughly trained than those of any 9TH
er nation. We hear a good deal about
the man behind the gun. but the officer
behind the man behind the gum is who
does the business. They are taken, not
from the ariStocracy-because we have
. none; not from favored class, but from
the people-the robust people Of the whole
land.
Before we take leave of our ship we
never pound on the pitiless rocks May
she never be pursued by the wild hunts
man of the storm. When she drops slow
" into her last haven, may she never
have had the necessity for firing a shot
save in practice or of burning powder
save in salute.
At the conclusion of Senator Mitchelrs
address the following toasts were re
. spOnded to: General W. H. l.. Barnes,
1.-The Occasion; Senator George c.
Perkins, "A Greater Navy; Miss Olsen
poem; Edward P. Hackett, presenta-
ton; Mayor James D. Phelan, "Our
Guests; Horace G. Platt, First
Rivet''
Mr. Scott announced at the conclu-
sion of the toast on the First Rivet'
that a ball was next in order i'll the
hotel parlors. Host and guests alike
then returned to the parlors and
mingled in the mazes of the dance unti
the midnight hour came, then the fes-
tivities ceased.