Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-04
THE ILtINoIs LAUNCHED.
Big Battle Ship Took Water Mt 12:B3
O'Clock Today.

NEWPORT NEWS. October 4-Newport
News is throneed with visitors from far
and near. who game to witness the launch
ing of the battle ship Illinois. Chicago and
Washington are represented by large dele
CATIONS of prominent men and women while
the nearby cities and villages have prac-
tlcally emptied themselves of their popu-
Iation In order to-assst the state of Illinois
in honoring the baptism of the great ship
which Is to bear the name of the prairie
state.
A conservative estimate places the crowd
of visitors at fully 10000 and it is believed
that fully 10000 persons witnessed the
ceremonies attendant upon the launching.
The weather is ideal
Prominent WashinStonians Present.
Among the prominent persons from the
national capital was Assistant Secretary of
the Navy Allen. who came from Ports
mouth, where he has been inspecting the
navy yard. He was on board the dispatch
boat Dolphin, and will also attend the
launching luncheon at the Chamberlin
Hotel this afternoon.
The steamer Newport News brought down
from Washington the following invited
guests: Commodore and Mrs. NJ. I. Endi-
colt, Capt. A S. Crowninshield. Paymaster
Gen. Edwin Stewart, Engineer-in-C Chief
George w. Melville, Surgeon Gen. w. X.
Van Reypen and wife, Chief Constructor
Philip Hichborn and wife, Capt. and Mrs
Samuel c. Lemly, judge advocate general;
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and daugh-
ter, Assistant Secretary of War John ID.
Meiklejohn, Martin Knapp and wife, j. ID.
Woman and wife.
Gov. Tanners party arrived at Old Point
at 10 o'clock last night. The preliminaries
began at 10 o'clock and the christening
party passed through the immense throng
gathered around the red hull of the Illinois
at 1920
Finally the saw was heard as it cut
through the sole pieces.
There was considerable delay in perfect
ing all the preliminary arrangements, but
the immense throng waited patiently until
the only remaining obstacle was the single
plank which held the vessel in position.
A hush fell over the crowd as the sharp
saw cut its way through the timber. When
poised the gaily decorated bottle of cham
payne in her right hand and, as the big
battle ship moved slowly toward the river,
cast it against the receding bow.
Phe bottle crashed into a thousand pieces
and the wine streamed down the side of
the nations new defender. AS the great
vessel moved down the ways cheer after
cheer went up, whose enthusiastic shouts
almost drowned the noisy welcome to the
newcomer sounded by the whistles in the
harbor. The Illinois struck the water with
a resounding splash and hoated majesti-
caly out into the stream.
The battle ship was soon picked up by
tugs, which we're in waiting, and lowed to
a pier whore she will receive her sollerS,
engines and ether machinery.
Immediately after the launching several
hundred guests of the Newport News Ship
building and Dry Dock Company boarded
the steamer Newport News for Old Point,
where they will be at launching banquet
at the Chamberih Hotel. Toasts will be
responded to by Gov. Tanner of Illinois,
Gov. Tyler of Virginia and other prominent
guests.
a launching hop will be given at the
Chamberiin Hptel this evening.