Evening journal., 1898-02-19
HAIL, NIAGARA I
CONTINUED From First Page ]

provided Not a few went over the
yacht before she left the ways.
In Mr.. Gould's party were: Miss
Clemmons, Mr.. and Mrs. e. w. Fells,
Mr.. and Mrs. j. II. Kimball Y. M. Kirk
patrick, A. III. Kellar, M. f. Shett, Guy
Phillips, Alexander AIcNeill. DR.. Ar
thur Bosburgh, Edward c. CoclSey and
Captain II. Patterson.
wEDGING HER UP.
After all the invited guests from out
of town and in town had presented
their cards and obtained admission to
the yards through the main office, the
gates were thrown open and the gen
eral public rushed in, over the sodden
ground and took possession Of every
desirable position not already occu-
pied by the invited guests Boards
and planks, with rows of curious per-
sons upon them, were to be seen
everywhere and there was "a perfect
sea of umbrellas with faces peering out
from under them.
About 10 o'clock the real work of
wedg1ng up the great steel hull began.
There was an inspiriting sound in the
cltck-clank OF the great hammers upon
the wedges, as the blows fell at ir-
regular intervals and in quick success
sion.
At 11.2O o'clock Mr.. Gould. Miss
| ClemmOns and as many OF the COM
pany's officials and invited guests as
the stand would accommodate. ascend
ed the steps to the platform and faced
the starboard bow of the Niagara. The
bottle of wine, beautifully decorated.
hung from silken cord. The sound
OF the hammers ceased, there was an
expectant hush as the cross-cut saws
made their way Through the last ties
which bound the Niagara to Mother
Earth The large hull shivered. and
slowly moved towards the water.
NOV, was the word spoken to Miss
ClemmOns by Mr.. Gould.
She raised the bottle and shivered IL
against the steel plates of the bow.
Il christen thee Niagarai" said the
beautiful young actress and prospective
bride Of Mr.. Gould. Her voice was
strong, but slightly tremulous with
suppressed excitement.
1t was the signal for a great cheer
The hull increased its speed, each
fraction Of a section added TO the mo-
mentum, until finally. with a great
splash it left the ways and found a
safe and natural resting place upon
the bosom of the Christiana. the cost
lest pleasure craft which ever rested
thereon.
The cheers from the yard wer,
echoed from Market street bridge ant
from the opposite side of the stream
where large crowds had congregated L
see the plunge at long range.
The Niagara made her way towards
the bridge above. Soon the hawser
began to tighten and splash upon thi
surface of the river. then they grew
rigid with the immense strain upoI
them, and finally the speed Of the Graf
was stopped.
Then the putting tugs
Then the putting tugs, Tauru
and iarra b. steamed III
aud made fast 20 the whar
and moored there ready for the finish
ing touches, and the launch was over
Miss Clemmons wore a handsom
gown OF dark blue cloth, trimmed wit
white and gold buttons, and militar
cloak lined with white, and ais
! adorned with gold buttons. She wore
7 fetching tOque to match.
BANQUET THIS AFTERNOON.
AT 1.30 this afternoon all of the in
vited guests from this and other ciie
= repaired to the Wilmington Clul
on King street above Tenth, and wer
: dined by the company. Speeches q
. congratulatioD and goodwill wer
? made by several persons, and tn
unanimous opinion was that It was on
: of the most successful of the man
. launches which have taken place /
this city.
LARGEST CONSTRUCTED Il
! AMERICA.
The Niagara will be as safe and sea
! worthy as it Is possible to build he.
Nothing has been left to guessworl
, Everything from keel to finishin
touches Of her general constructio
has been carefully considered. whi'
: tho innidantaI ~, ~. u a..i.1. - a