The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-21
HOWARD G0ULD'S NIAGARA
LAUNCH OF LARGEST PLEASURE YACHT EYER BUILr IN AMERICA.

Miss Clemmons as Sponsor-She Breaks
 the Bottle of Wine Over the Bow as the
 Vessel Slides From the Ways-Desorip-
 ton of the Yacht.
 Wilmington, Del, Feb. 20.-Despite the indictment weather, one of the most successful launchings that have ever taken place in any of the shipyards on the Atlantic coast was that of Howard Gould's new steam yacht, the Niagara, which took her maiden plunge from the ways in the yard of the Harlan & Hollingsworth company here yester- day.
 The occasion of the launching was made semi-holiday, and large mum Der of the residents of the city went to the shipyard to witness the event, The place was decorated with flags and bunting, as were the several vessels III the yard. Among these vessels were the yachts Hildegarde, Elcedo and Jo- sephine. They were decorated In raln- bow fashion. Signal flags were run from the bows over the trucks of the nasts to the stern.
 A platform had been erected at the bow of the vessel for the christening party. It was decorated with bunting, as was the staircase leading to it. OW- ing to the bad weather 1t was found necessary to cover the platform With ,ic tect the guests from the driving rain.
 The launching party arrived on special train from New York over the Pennsylvania railroad shortly before Il a. m. The train consisted of two Full man coaches and dining car attacheo to the new Chicago limited. The par ty, which was escorted to the yard by MT. Wilson, superintendent of the liar Ian & Hollingsworth company, consist ed of Howard Gould, MT. and Mrs. E. w. Sells, MT. and Mrs. John H. Kimble, Mir. and Mrs. G. N. Kirkpatrick, MISS Katherine Clemmons, Captain w. G. Randle of the American line steamship St. Louis, Captain W. G. Shackford, formerly commodore of the, Pacific Mail Steamship company's fleet, ana his two daughters, Marion and Anna, and others.
 Miss Katherine Clemmons christened the vessel She was escorted to the platform by MT. Gould, and took po- sition directly in front of the bow of the vessel Mir. Wilson stood beside her and directed her when the time came to break the bottle of wine.
 "Now," said MT. Wilson. Miss Clem- mons took the bottle of wine, which was incased in 8 network of silver bands and decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, and struck the bow of the moving vessel. The bottle broke in small pieces, and as the champagne foamed up on the bow of the yacht Miss Clemmons said, T christen thee Niagara" At the same time the Union Jack was run up on the bow staff, while the flag of the New York Yacht club, MT. Gould's private flag, and the Stars and Stripes were thrown to the breeze from the masts and staff at the stern of the yacht.
 The vessel started down the ways at 11:16 a. m., and in less than half a minute had entered the water, where she was taken in tow by one of the company's tugs. As the Niagara made her first plunge into the water the crowd cheered and the steam whistles and sirens on the vessels in the river were given full vent. MT. Gould shook hands with Miss Clemmons and com plimented her, as did the other mem
 bers of the party.
 The yacht was moored soon after ward to one of the docks and was in spected by the members of the launch. | ing party MT. Gould was pleased witt | the construction of the vessel Ht said: T am sure we can build yachts l as good and just as cheap in the Unit ed States, and can get as high class oi workmanship as can be had in any for | eign country. The yacht when com
 pleted will cost not more than $500, l 000."
 l After the launching dinner was giv I en at the Wilmington club to tht
 launching party by the builders of thu vessel.
 | The Niagara is the largest stean yacht ever built in the United State'
 and in point of tonhage is equalled b, | only three or four yachts in the world Her displacement is about 1900 tons
 She is 272 long, PAT feet on the watel line, 36 feet beam, depth to spar decl | 27 feet, depth to main deck 19 feet l inches, draught 16 feet She Is bari ] rigged, has three decks, 8 double bot tom, twin screws and will be fitted witl bilge keells, to prevent her from rolling l The house on the spar deck, 110 fee long and IS feet wide, is built of stee 1 and covered with mahogany In tn ] forward end is the owners navigation ! room and nautical library. Just abaf
 this room is the captains room, ant 1 then comes the social hall 32x16 feet | which will be finished in African ma | hogany and upholstered in greet.
 A large orchestrion at one end of tn
 room will furnish music. Around tn
 skylight in the ceiling will be arranged | growing foliage and running plants, il
 such manner as to give a conserva | arIo