Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-25

Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress from many States of the Union,
men We airing the uniforms of officer.
in the army and navy, and others whose
nam=s are familiar to the good people
of TIE Old Dominion. Mrs. Winslow,
becomingly attired for the occasion,
was at her post some time Ire FIRE the
hour set for the launching Of the kear-
sarge. AS she stood on the little pat
form ready to grasp the prettily .adoln-
ed bottle which swung gently in the.
breeze, scores of adnliring eyes Were
fixed upon her. Around We're gathered
many we'll known people with whom
she chatted pleasantly until the quick,
sharp taps of the workmen under the
ship as they drove the Eight wedges
undeS' the bow to their PLACES. gave
warning that the time. was near at hand
for the kearSarge to leave the ways. II
WIS at this time that the band struck
up the odd kentucky Home and
brought forth from the otter end OF the
platform cheer that the passing breeze
caught up and bore away toward the
bNle water of the sea, in which. it may
be. some day. the ship to which Mrs.
Winslow gave q name, may become as
famous as her old time predecessor in
defense of the flag. The pounding Of
the wedges was followed by the swish
ing of the saws as they were sent back
and forth by the arms of four sturdy
Morkmen. 4 slight snap, shout, the
rat5ie OF orn ahs as ea n q lh e mnsie
iii1i:-. -aa,a, hard above al, the clear and
distinct words Of woman crying, II
christen thee kearsargc.' and the state
ly ship, her tell Ynasts barely qu.ver!ng
as she raced down. the ways With hun
dreds Of men and women looking like
midgets vn her decks, had been bap-
tized.
1t IS doubtful + such scene as that
49,. t.,
ways has ever before been witnessed on
Il launching occasion. Congressman in
tall hats. army and navy men' laid aside
their dignity. defed the damp north
east air and expressed Their delight N
prolonged hurrahs. And az il this wea.
not enough they waved sh.r hats high
above Their bare heads and stamped
with their polished bits the floor
of the platform. and ceased not until
the kearslrge lloat=d out be5ind tile
Kentucky and was hid from view.
Women mounted chairs with thv.r
handkerchiefs tlutterins IN the breeze
and their faces the picture of supreme
satisfaction. When all this ended
youth. named Joseph Macdonald, clad
in the garb of a workman, with
sd. approached Mrs. Wtns.ow and
announced that he appeared before her
us the spokesman OF the employees OF
the Newport News Shipbuildng and
DrS DOCK l-tWIlltHS. dllI lAtl IjiS HIS
sion was to present 10 her as token
of esteem, on behalf of his fellow work
men, a beautiful floral K|arsarge.
Then with his little hands he paced
the present in those of the lady. who
responded happily and appropriately to
his speech. Mrs. Winslow was the re
cpient of many pretty bouquets. and
was heartily congratulated upon the
manner in which she had carried out
her part OF the program.
An hour and thirty minutes e.apsed
before the Kentucky started for the wa
ter. The people on the platform, how
ever bore the delay patiently. There
--ould. Mr.. Doughty's busy WoIkmen
We're pounding the wedges under the
monster man-o'-war and making her
snug in the cradle in which she was TO
take her first rock in the deep. To make
things worse the chilling breeze that
had blown al. morning from the coast.
began TO caper along a. much ltveEe.
rate, forcing men and womsn to draw
their coats and wraps closer about them
and seek shelter for their little ones in
places where the wind could not rv ach.
The crowd on the Kentucky end OF the
Platform was larger- than that which
gathered at the bow OF the Kearsarge.
BUt the d.Heu'ence was easily accounted
for. Miss Bradley had decidedly the
advantage OF Mrs. Winslow in the mat
ter of colonies. The Governors daugh-
ter, attended 'by several menlbs rs OF the
gubeTna toral staff and a number 0!
distinguished ladies from the Blue Grass
State. assembled the steps OF THE p!as form
and stationed herself within easy reach
Of the bottle OF spring water A few mo-
ments after the Krarsarge SID off the
ways. Miss Bradleys father stood nSar
her and among the ladies' who made up
the company We're Misses Castleman,
Bronson. Stege. Gatewocd and Ballard.
noted not oily in Kentucky, hut in
many other States of the Union
for their beauty. They attracted
much attention, and those who knew
them weie kept husy pointing them
out to inquiirers. Notwithstanding
the discomforts incident to the situa-
ton. they passed the time plea san tly.
There seemed to be an immense bou-
quet in the hands OF almost every man
and woman on, the .ittle platform built
for Miss Bradley. giving it TIE appear
anre Of an immense floral uGTl IN which
youth and beauty We're about to en-
gage in q contest with nature for. hon
Org. Surrounding Miss Bradley We're
n good full score of Kentuckians, with
the purpose fixed I'M their minds that
a ship to be named after their
State should be baptized with some
thing stronger than even the water
from the spring from which Abraham
Lincoln drank. Accordingly each was
provided with tiny glass. bottle, made
in exact imitation of the larger ones
those that are put to practicap use in
Kentucky. Each bore neatly printed
label. conspicuous upon. which were the
words 'tOld Kentucky Pepper" A Jolly
Pro,p, ) ba arf1h 1p.aat corner Of tbs