Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25

nave recently quickened the pulse ~ the
nation. fs'Se VI the
The launching of battIeship is n mo-
,nen.ous event at any time. but M this
yuhcture when two monster defenders
",SS 'he waves In the space of two hours
."e Undertaking and it's attendant cere-
~es ~ assume a magnitude and impor-
.snSe a, never before equalled. This is why
PROBABLY 10000 spectators. two.thlrds ~
whom we're visitors to the city saw tha
hearsarge and Kentucky plunge into the
historic James this morning.
sURGING MASS OF HUMANITY.
Long before the hour announced for me
iauhching 20 take place. all the available
space III the vicinity OF the ways on which
.ue hui's OF the ships rested was occupied
W seething mass OF humanity swaytng
20 ~ anu iro IKE waves driven by the fierce
oiasts OF storm. Out on the river float
ga hundreds of craft OF absolutely every
description, from the skin and tlnv sail
boat to the great passenger steamer and
man OF war, all except the latter crowd
ed to the utmost capacity with eager
sishtseers. The national vessels on the
James were the cruiser Brooklyn. the
monitor Puritan, and the cutters Hamil-
ton and Window.
MOST OF the vast crowd of people gained
entrance 70 the ship-yard through the
gate at the southern end, while the Of
noes OF the company were practically de-
serted. only a comparatively small num-
Der OF people making an effort to gain adj
nittance in their walls. When the con-
course was once inside of the yard every
thinS else was forgotten i'm the eagerness
and haste displayed by all to gain some
point OF vantage from which the double
ll r IL #saa afnas. s.l.AN
ire Of attraction was, of course. the two
immense vessels which rested Iazily on
the rcady-greased ways in anticipation
OF the moment that they for the first
time would be gently lowered i'm the
waters of the historic James. The ways
are at the eastern end of the yard and
from ones in practically the same place
were launched La Grande Duchesse, the
Creole, and other of the many handsome
liners that have been built at the local
yard since its incipiency. Not far from
the twin vessels the Illinois, destined TO
be the Queen of the American Navy, rests
on her ways, well on the road to COM
pletion.
Before the time for the launching had
arrived, the crowd had made complete
examination of the two ships as they
proudly courted christening at the hands
Of their fair sponsors. Notwithstanding
the fact that the monsters are In every
respect alike the ones in the crowd who |
desired TO impress others with the opinion |
that they knew whereof they spoke were
heard to compare the lines of the ships, |
some declaring that the most graceful |
symmetry was the Kentuckys, while |
others championed the Kearsarge.
The Illinois was not deserted In inte- |
rest that centered round the other two |
nd toI Ticonsciopg
entered into as to the fighting qualidca-
tions of the Illinois, whose construction, !
naval experts say, will place the local /
ship-yard at the top of the list of ship |
building concerns. Meanwhile. the merry |
hum of the hammer as the workmen, |
proud of their handiwork, prepared the
monsters of the deep for their maiden |
dip i'm the placid waters of the historic |
James. |
tThe Kearsarge Christened First. |
The Kearsarge had been selected to |
leave the ways first, and in an incredibly |
short time every point of vantage IN |
the vicinity of the huge hull, whose dull- |
red sides lowered above its birthplace,
was swarming with men and women |
anxious to have a good view of the in |
teresting ceremony about TO take place
suddenly the vast throng parted, and |
through a lane fanked on either slde
bv thousands of curious faces. sturdy,
broad-shouldered workmen, with heaVy
hammers in their muscular hands stroue
10 their places on either side OF the
shin Then at "a preconcerted signai, the |
hammers rose and fell upon the white
oak wedges that were to llft the "elsh'
of the vessel from the ground ways TO |
the cradle, or sliding ways, on when the
trip TO the water was to be mace.
Again the multitude opened up PAIN
and i'm the midst of an outbursI Oh en-
tbusiastic applause. the christening party
passed through and ascended the sIdhu
at the bow of the Kearsarge. |
The sound of the hammers from be-
meath the hull grew fainter ana FAINTER
and then died away altogether
Now the rasping sound of single saw |
az II ate its way through the sole pieces |
holding the ship in position, caused the
surging crowd to press closer around
the vessel while a silence as stili as /
death held sway.
ON the christening stand Mrs. Winslow,
dauehter-in-law of the man who com
manded the old Kearsarge in It's Famous
hattie with the Alabama, held the ira
ditional bottle Of champagne in her hand
ready to perform the function OF sponsor
SHE GLIDEs INTO THE WATER.
As the saw cut through the stout oak
plank, there was sharp crack, anu
perceptible shiver shot through the large
80 frame Exactly at 1902 o'clock
the Kearsarge slowly started down the
wavs. Mrs. Winslow dashed the bottle
against the bow of the receding vessel
and in a voice which rang out clear
and distinct. exclaimed
"I christen thee Kearsarge!
steadily and majestically the Kearsarge
reversed the ways, the flags and banners
ewung from every available point above
the steel decks, futtering proudly IN the
breeze. ,s che
AS her stern struck the water ana she
glided off into the channel with the puoy- e'y
va GRACE of a skiff, cheer after
oboo. vent ND from the mighty throng'
ubge sbrieking whistles, tinkling bells.
and waving flags welcomed the new naVdI
to her natural element.
,rhen followed a scene hard to describe.
Thousands strained TO get more periec'