Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-25
TWIN BATTLESH|PS.
Kearsarge and Kentucky Are
Launched at Newport News.
Champagne Christens Former and Pure
Spring Water the Latter.
Distinguished Guests Prescnt-D escriptions Of
Monster Warships.

Newport News, Va. March "a
TIE first great hattieship ever launched
from private yard in the South. Gid
cdintu the James river at 1902 o'clock
this morning at the plant of the New
polt News Ship Building d Dry Dock
company, and was followed at 11.35
o'clock by a second ship the exact
counterpart Of the first one, except in
name. They We're chrstened respect
lively the kcarsargc and the Kentucky.
proud and historic names that have
just rcprese natives in the splendid
lighting machines put atioat today.
The ship of the nation" was launch
ed first, and long before the hour an
nounccd for the ceremony fully 10000
people We're croWding around the
powerful steel hull. of number IS, as
the kearsarge was known in the ship
yard. each person endeayoring to get
the BEST view obtainable Of the in
tcreSting ceremony about to take place.
just before the preliminary prepare
lions were finished the christening
party arrived and was conducted -
the &aily decorated stand at the bow
of the Kearsarge. The party was COM
posed OF Nh. Calvin b. circuit, prcsi
dent Of the Newport News Ship Build
ms CO.; Mrs. Herbert Winslow. sponsor
7 h KeaI sarge; Miss Christine Brad
ley. sponsor for the Kentucky; Mrs. w.
p. Bradley. mother Of the fair sponsor;
Gov. Bradley of Kentucky and staff;
Governor Tyler of Virginia and staff,
and a number of state officials of Ken
lucky: Lieut.. Commander Herbert
WINSTON. L. s N. the only surviving
son of The captain who commanded the
famous old Kearsaree in her fight with
the Alabama members of the House
ana Senate committee on naval affairs
and other distinguished visitors from
Washington.
All preparations being arranged and
the far sponsor af the Kearsarge in her
station a saw severed the last pieces
that hcli the Kearsarge in place and
tEt splendid hull started on her jour
uey To the water. AS ii started Mrs.
WinsloW broke the bottle of cham
paene over its bow and exclaimed. dis
tinctly: II christen thee kearsarge."
The christening party then proceeded
To the bow Of the kentucky. This
ceremony was a counterpart of the
former. except that when the critical
moment arrived Miss Christine Brad
ley broke a cut glass bottle of water
from the spring on the old Lincoln
farm. ana said: Il christen thee Ken
lucky"
Then as the vessel started down the
ways several bottles of old bourbon
Whskey We're hurled against her sides
by Kcntuckians who were opposed TO
the water christening. Water from the
spring On jefferson Davis farm in Ken
lucky was also smashed on the vessels
side. Both launchingS were successful
in every particular
The invited guests and distinguished
visitors then boarded the steamer New
port News and proceeded to Old Point.
where the ship yard officials rendered
a magnificent banquet. Covers were
la!d fer COO people. 1t was informal.
Among the toasts responded to We're
" Kentucky" by Gov Bradley and Viz
Ginia," hy GOV. Tyler.
Governor Bradley said:
(Which Kentucky? Is it the Kentucky
whose people with one acclaim return
thanks u the distinguished secretary of
tine navy for the splendid compliment
paid them today and to the builders of
the ship for their kind and generous
courtesy ana hospitality?
rs it the Kentucky whose name is
written indelibly upon every chapter of
he nations history. since her admission
into the oisterhood of states?
rs ii the Kentucky whose brave. bold
pioneers rescued a wilderness from the
savage ana made it blossom as the rose?
rs il the Kentucky. the eloquence Of
whose Clay. Crittenden, Marshall and
breckenridge shook the halls of Congress
ana stirred the hearts of the people on
he hastings?