The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-27
The Battleship Wisconsin Sue
ceesfully Launched.
SPEECHES AND CHEERS


ed to the already large feet OF Pacific
built war vessels. The vessel which
slid from the ways his morning was
the battleship Wisconsin, IN largest
OF the vessels built for the United
States government by the Union Iron
Works. The launching of the big ves-
sci was enected without a hitch, and
n now rests calmly on the waters OF
the bay.
All the morning long the street ears
let down their loads of people at the
shipyards and all the available boats
on the bay were pressed into service by
people anxious to see the baptism of the
great vessel. Thousands Of people saw
the plunge from different points OF
view. and h stand erected for the in
vited guests especially was crowded
to Its full capacity. The wisconsin del
egation OF 'christeners." which Jour
neyed all the way from the Badger
state to witness the event. were given
the places OF honor upon h platform
with the representatives Of the state.
the city and the great iron works re-
sponsible for the safe delivery of the
craft to the government.
For an hour before the plunge a large
force OF workmen tore away chock
after chock. which supported the ves-
sci. and they finished their task almost
TO the minute OF the prescribed time
for the launching. leaving only one
chock to restrain the monster. and this
was the support that little Miss Lucille
Gage. daughter Of the g~overnor-elect OF
the state. had been assigned to emove
by e of q guillotine and the newt
able electric button. At a given signal
the little miss pressed the button and
the crash OF breaking timbers an
nounced to the thousands of anxious
spectators that the vessel was about to
leave the ways.
Slowly the iron monster moved to-
wards the bay and all Eyes turned TO
watch Miss Elizabeth Stephenson break
the bottle of champagne on the bow of
iron and steel touched the water the
fair christener raised the ribbon be-
decked bottle and let II split on the
nose OF the vessel. The roar OF APP
plause which greeted this final act was
almost d~eafening. but II is safe to say
tie OF California wine upon the bow of
the vessel instead OF a bottle of i'm
ported French wine that the noise
would hav been much greater, for the
people of the state feel deeply the slight
put upon one OF its staple products. In
fact the incident OF the wine was the
only disagreeabie feature connected
The steamer gathered momentum as
h proceeded toward the water and
after leaving the ways foated calmly
along until brought TO a stop in the
basin where the work OF completing
her will go on. An amusing feature OF
the launching was the wetting of a
number OF people who were standing
on the adjoining beach. The rush OF
water following h baptism was so
great that the people on the beach
could not escape IL. and many of them
were thoroughly wetted. A number of
boats barely escaped capsizing.
Prior to the launching a gigantic
flag OF the union. measuring % feet
long and IL feet wide. was presented in
honor OF the Wisconsin. The flag was
the result of the combined efforts Of 800
children Of the Irving NJ. Scott public
school. who at the suggestion of their
teachers commenced work upon the flag
on Oct. rs of this yea
When the vessel slid down the ways
at 9.22 the warships In the harbor fired
salutes and there was a terrific din
from h steam whistles.
The controversy over the kind of
wine to be used in the christening was
settled this morning by the use of two
bottles of champagne. one of French
tening committee. and another of Cali
fornia champagne provided by the
Union Iron Works.
The management OF the Union Iron
Works entertained 200 distinguished
guests at a banquet held In a private
dining room this evening OF the Palace
hotel. Speeches were made by Irving
NJ. Scott. general MANAGER OF the Union
Iron Works: Governor Budd: Governor
elect Gage. the latter a resident of
wisconsin: Lieutenant Governor
Bkensch of Wisconsin; United States
senator Mitchell OF Wisconsin and
others.
Lieutenant Governor Baensch OF WIS.,
consin said In part:
The people of Wisconsin hail with
delight the launching of a namesake
which Is to be part and parcel OF the
brightest. bravest. most efficient navy
in the world. Half way across the COR
tinent they have sent this delegation
to escort one of wisconsin's daughters
fair. that she might christen the ship
with all due form and ceremony. while
from a million hearts comes the sincere
cheer OF good luck coupled with an
and power of this modern engine OF war
will make II a preserver and guarantee
OF universal peace"
United States Senator Mitchell of
Wisconsin aid in part:
once ranged with our warships. the
Wisconsin will have to look lively
to keep abreast of her mates. for the
american navy. man 10 man, - SUPER
Tor to any navy In the world. as recent
events have shown. The American ma
Wy Is the most efic.ent. not because of
the ships and their armament. hut be-
cause its Officers are selected with O
care and more thoroughly trained thai
those OF any other nation.
w hesra good deal ebout the man
behind the gun But the officer behind
the man behind the gun Is who does the
business. They are taken. not from the
aristocracy-because we have none not
from n favored class. but from the peo-
ple-the robust people OF the whole land.
During their ava training they are
subjected to highe tests. physical. mem
tai. moral. than are required by any 9TH
er country. Those who come out OF the
ordeal successfully have no fear. When
you say Cavite: when you say Santiago.
you say Annapolis.
There n another reason for our supe-
riority. Our discipline. while strict TO a
nicely. n more humane han that Of any