The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-05
A DISTINGUISHED PARTY WITNESS
Es THE INITIAL PLUNGE OF
THE POWERFUL SHIP.
FORTY THOUSAND PRESENT.
MISS MAMIE LETTER OF CHICAGO
CHRIsTENs The MAN-OF-wAR.
Gov. Tanner, stan and Many Promi-
nent Hlinoisnns Present at the
CeremOny-Lnunch "a Bril-
liant Success-Dimen=
sions of the Ship.

Newport News, Va, Oct 4-ABid tha
enthusiastic plaudts of nearly $4,000 In
tently interested people, the shrin saIuta-
ton of steam whistles from many boats
and tugs and the strains of "The Star
Spangled Banner" the hrst-class battle-
ship Illinois was launched to-day
The launch was a brilliant success I'm
every particular, the mechanical prepara-
tions being perfect, the assemblage Of
spectators unprecedented in the history OF
the Newport News shipbullding and Dry
Dock Company, and distinguished In per-
sonnet
The sponsor of the vessel Miss Mamie
Letter of Chicago, accompanied by Gov.
Tanner OF Illinois, his staff In full uniform
and a crowd of distinguished ChIcagoans
came up from Old Point early this morn
ing by steamer.
The steamer Newport News brought the
| distinguished guests of the shlpyard from
Washington, and all the steamboat and
railway lines poured people into the port
up TO the very hour Of launching.
Notable among the vessels in the harbor
was the Presidents dispatch boat Dolphin.
having on board Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy Allen and a party of Washing
tonians.
As the hour for the christening of the
powerful addition to the country's fight
ing navy drew near. the immense crowd
sought points of vantage around the pom
derous painted steel hun, lying helplessly
upon the ways, from which its initial
plunge into the water could be viewed.
sun as burning as midsummer poured its
searching rays upon the crowd, which was
constantly being augmented up to the very
moment Of the vessels plunge.
The approach of the christening party
was heralded by cheers. and as Miss Letter
and her cortege ascended the gally decor
ated platform alongside the PROV OF the
vessel, all eyes were turned thither. The
hull lay upon the inclined sliding platform
with her bow pointed inland, as Is usual
when vessels are to be launched. While
the crowd expectantly waited, the keel
blocks on which the hull rested and the
shores along her sides were carefully re-
moved until the weight rested upon the
sliding ways. The vessel was held then
only by the oaken planks between the
sliding and the ground ways. As these
were being severed by the saw, all eyes
were concentrated on the bow and the re-
viewing stand where the sponsor stood
waiting TO perform her conspicuous part
In the ceremony. Suddenly the painted
mass of steel quivered then slowly and
more rapidly began sliding toward the
water
Just as the motion fairly began Miss
Letter, who had been standing with the
christening bottle poised In the air, let it
swing sharply against the bow, simultane-
ously uttering the words II christen thee
Illinois," then amid deafen,ng applause.
the waving of banners and the din IT
steam whistles, the gaiy decorated hun,
with more than a hundred persons aboard,
gided gracefully into the James river, ana
as her bows cleared the ways, slowly float
ed out into the stream.
Among the distinguished spectators wero
Gov. John r. Tanner of Illinois, Gov. j.
Hoge Tyler of Virginia, Mayor Carter Har-
rison of Chicago, Judge II. u. Hamlin OF
Shelbyville, Ind; Assistant Secretary oE
the Navy Alien, Mrs. John A. Logan,
Judge Advocate General and Mrs Lemly,
Naval Constructor Phillip Hichborn, de-
signer of the vessel; Surgean General and
Mrs. Van Reypen. Paymaster General and
Mrs. Stuart, Speaker Ryan of the Vir-
glnia House of Delegates. Senator Mason
and Mrs. and the Misses Mason, Secretary
tinney private secretary to the Secretary
OF the Navy, and tho Misses Finney, In
AtISAdAH COiDHlGfCt kOflllAsSlOHGTS hHdDpp
Ycoman and Thomas, accompanied by
their wives; Passed Assistant Constructors
Evans and Zabem, Congressman Foss of
Illinois. Assistant Secretary of War Meik-
lejohn, Commander and Mrs. Hawley, In
terstate Commerce Commissioner u. A.
Mosely, Capt. Padgett, British naval at
tache; Gen. Mestrango, Russian
naval attache; Mr. Kennedy, Italian
naval attache; M. Boeuffe, French naval
attache; Mr.. sicard, SON Of Admiral ST.
card, and wife; Public Printer Frank
Palmer, Mr.. and Mrs. j. p. Miller of the
Associated Press; Mr.. and Mrs. Canaga,
chiefs of bureau, and Mrs. Fawcett and
Dupour, Dr. and Mrs Green, Gen. Du-
mont and son, Mr. and Mrs. r.. Patterson,
Mr.. and Mrs. Hood Mr.. and Mrs. Stoever,
formerly OF Newport News; Chief of Bu-
reau and Mrs. Dashel, MIR. and Mrs. Deer
ing, Mr.. and Mrs. Whitaker, bureau OF
construction, MIR. and Mrs. Rouser, Prof.
Alger and Lieut. Seymour, Lieut.. Dem
field. Lieut.. and Mrs. Jacob and many
others.
In the Chicago party, besides the Gov
ernor and sponsor were: Mr. and Mrs. A.
Letter, Mr.. Joseph Letter Miss Daisy
Letter, Gen. j. N. Reece, James Il. Smith,
II. q. Maxwell, f. L. Smith, c. Fitz-
simons, J. r. Beggs, Il. r. Bliss Fred II.
Smith, Benjamin Shaffner. 9. Counselman,
J. Donnerberger. T. c. Macmillan, l.. B.
Ray, A. c. Mathews, f. M. Blount Will
liam johnson, \. A. Reynolds, c. III.
Gillespie, A. M. Rothschild, W. l.. Fay,
p. o. Stensland, Charles 70. Bleyer G. L.
Pittenger, S. Mcknight and others.
At 4 o'clock a grand banquet was spread
to the distinguished guests In the beauti-
fully decorated hall room Of the Cham
berlin Hotel. Covers were laid for COO per-
sons and the assemblage was a brilliant
and distinguished one. including, besides
the notables at the launching, many army
and naval officers.
President c. b. Orcutt OF the Newport