The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-27
Launched
by Miss
Gage.
Alone, She Cuts
the Gordian
Hnot.


o'clock yesterday morning slip
No. Of the Union Iron Works
gave birth to the new and latest
terror of the American navy.
Amid the thunder of barking guns and
the piercing shrieks Of thousands Of
steam whistles. amid the shouts Of a
loyal populace and with a wealth of
the national colors fluttering on the
crisp morning breeze, the Wisconsin,
the fairest of Uncle Sans proud
daughters, made her debut 10 the ma
tions Of the world-and was at home to
her sister ships on the blue waters OF
San Francisco Bay.
a beautiful woman stood sponsor for
the mountain frame Of warlike iron and
steel a little golden-haired, rosy
checked, laughing child placed her
chubby fingers on a small, white but
ton. Then in answer to the electric
current the Wisconsin accepted her
mission of life. her duty Of war or
peace, and started down the incline like
some frightened deer. Slowly at first,
until her fair sponsor cast against her
steel breast the christening wine, say
ing: Il name thee Wisconsin" Realiz-
Ing her freedom was her own, and as If
IN acknowledgment Of the proud feel
Ing, the battleship leaped forward to
the water, the joyous waves came surg
ing up to meet and welcome her, and
out into the glorious wealth Of sun
shine, out onto the breast Of the
fathomless deep the armored terror
pIunRed-and the coast line battIeship
u-fsoenssa had been successfully
launched from the yards Of the Union
Iron Works
At the first signs Of approaching day
the Potrero began to awaken. Yester-
day was great day in the Potrero, for
the men who gave 70 our navy the his
tory-making Oregon were to send forth
from the same slip on which was built
that historic battIeship another mon
ster creation Of their Drawn and
muscle. For nineteen months and ff-
teen days the smoke begrimed, work
hardened toilcrs Of the Union Iron
Works had been patiently building the
new battleship. Slowly they had seen
the latest object of their pride and
alteration grow from a mass Of iron
ribs and frames into definite shape and
form. From its conception on Febru-
any II, 1897, the eyes of the Potrero had
rested fondly, lovingly on the Wiscon-
sin. The hopes and prayers of the Po-
trero had gone daily into the very body
Of the ship and had been built into
her from keel to top deck. Yesterday
was the day when the Wisconsin was
10 say goOd-by TO those who had given
her life and existence, and while feel
ing OF sadness oppressed the heart of
the PotrerO at the thought of the part
ing, yet the Potrero TO a single man
and for that matter TO it's Oldest gaffer
and youngest child, was determined
that the Wisconsins natal day should
be a success.
At o'clock the busy sounds of prep
aration disturbed the morning stiffness.
An army of men began the work of
saving and cutting away the blocks
from underneath the ship, while others
hurried around her decks to see that
all was right and in order.
president Irving NJ. Scott proud
happy and smiling, was himself early
on the scene. He hurried here and
there. He seemed to be everywhere at
once, giving orders and directions His
personal supervision was lent to the
smallest detail. Before the gates were
opened Captain Spillane and Lieuten-
ants Anderson and Hanna arrived with |
small army Of police. From begin |
ming to end they kept perfect order and |
handled the 1000 people that were ad- |
mitted within the shipyards in a most !
tnofough and efficient manner Be
sides the thousands that came by in |
Vltauon there was a host Of curious |
humanity along the waters edge, while |
the roof Of every house in the Potrero |
was covered with people. Every point |