New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25

came in for large share of admiration and
| there were animated discussions to the fight
| ing powers Of each OF the three ships.
Cheers heralded the approach of the launch
| Ing parties. and people struggled for favorable
! places from which they could see them. Head
! Ing the parties were President circuit and som
mers ~ Smith general superintendent of the
/ company They proceeded in the direction or
! the booths which had been erected at the bows
Of the two steel huls and tastefuy decorated
with red. white and blue. The KearsarSe hav-
! ing been selected to leave the ways first. the
party at once went TO the booth at the head of
No Is. as this ship has been known at the yard.
They assembled 10 the platform and awaited the
word from the skilled ship launchers engaged in
preparing the ways.
A CRITICAL MOMENT.
This is the critical moment in a launching.
Only those who have actually witnessed similar
affairs can realize the importance Of the task
and the intensity Of the suspense If the vessel
has not sufficient stability she may lose her
balance on the ways. career and sink The con
str1ctor in charge must foresee the danger and
make sure that his calculations correct.
Up to this time the ship rested entirely on the
keel blocks on which she built. and had
been held in upright position by other blocks
under her bullying sides Then followed the proc
blocks TO the ways that were to carry her into
the water Long wedges Of white oak were
placed between the Two ways throughout their
entire length at intervals Of about two feet.
At the word Of command from the supern-
tendent Of construction. II V Doughty, the
wedges were driven home till tho last one was
securely placed and the big mass of steel was
raised clear Of the keel blocks. In order 70 in
sure perfect success this work was done stimuli
taneousiy along the entire length + tho ship.
The sounds Of the hammers slowly died away.
and every ones near; throbhed with expectation.
The time for the five thousand tons Of shapely
constructed armor plate TO leave the ways was
drawing near, and every ego was strained on the
bow Of the ship. az which the guests If the oc-
casiOn were patiently awaiting III" supreme mo-
mont. Mrs Winsow was evidently striving 10
suppress her excitement Grouped around her.
the DISTINGUISHED men from the Nations capital
were passing the bottle lierallY-the tradl-
tiona! bottle Of champagne ncasod in a silken
net Of red. white and blue. and with vari-colored
ribbons flowing from IT'S neck at the end Of a
long rope which extended down from the lofty
deck e IN" ba'tle-ehip
CHAMPAGNE FOR TIE KEARsARGE.
Suddenly from tho depths below came tho
sound of saw. Instantly every voice was
huahcd. and every car was strained to catch
the progress Of the steel blade as Il pierced the
sole pieces All the preparations had been COM
ple;cd 70 tho satisfaction OF the constructor IN
charge and the s gnal had been given 70 sever
Tho large heavy oak pl1nk7 which were the only
bindin-, loft between the sliding ana The ground
was. As the bottle Of champagne was harded
to Mrs. Winslow the fall Of pin tho plat
form could have been heard 10y those in the I'M
mediate vicinity. sud-, nlv there we're II snap
a0G tho cracking Of timber and the big hull
quiro'cd for an instant on IT'S bed. Mr. Wins
low broke tho bottle against the reccdlng bow.
CYclaiming:
Il christen thee Kcarsarge"
The crackle Of broken glass and the odor OF
spilled champagne came almost simultaneously
to the eager guests on the PLATFORM the bottle
broken squarely on the great shps pom
derous Prov and the Kcarsarge. radiant in red
white and blue her tall military masts towering
ninety feet In the air sped down 10 meet the |
blue waters Of the James.
WELCOMED WITH A DEAFENING DIN.
Slowly at first the ship glidod down the
creased ways and rapidly gathering momen- !
tum struck The water with a rush Of at least !
twelve knots an hour buried her stern well !
above the water line aft. dipped gracefully
her bowling stem and was off the river be- |
tween the Ranking rows Of steamboats, tugs. |
pleasure craft and men-of-war. noisy with their |
shrinking whistles. cheering passengers ana |
booming cannon.
The party the platform proudly watched !
the course Of the kearsarge "a she sped away !
from her sponsor. The crowds around the WAYS |
gave vent 10 mighty cheers again ana again |
and many persons rushed 70 the river shore to !
watch the course Of the beautiful specimen OF /
ancy Of n duck out on the waters where three |
Of the crack gunbOats OF the Navy preceded her !
several months ago
The Kearsarge was taken In tow by Tugs OF /
the Chesapeake and Ohio fleet, and proudly cs-
cor,ed to the pier at the southern extremity OF
the shipyard. AS she slowly passed downstream
thousands Of eyes admired her graceful lines ana |
thousands n voices commented on the perfect
manner in which she rode the waves
general rush was then made for the ways on
which the Kentucky rested. The members OF