The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25
CHAMPAGNE, WATER, WHISKY
SPLASHED OVER THE BOWS AND
SIDES OF THE BATTLE SHIPS.
Old Bourbon Wasted by Kentuckians
Who Did Not Want Their Beverage
IgnOred--BradIey's Speech.

ing, dt the immense pant OF the Newport
News Ship-buildng and Dry-dock Company.
and at 1926 O'Clock, az little more than an
hour later, a second ship, the exact coun-
terpart of the first one, except in name, fol-
lowed They were christened, respectively,
the Kearsarge and the Kentucky, proud and
historic names. that have just representa-
tives in the splendid fighting machines put
afloat to-day. DIV
THE ship of the Nation was launched
first, and long before the hour announced
for the ceremony fullye1s,C00 people were
pushing and jostling around the powerful
steel hull of No. Is, as the Kearsarge was
known in the ship yard, each person en-
deavoring to set the best view obtainable
of the interesting ceremony about to take
place Just before the preliminary prep
arations Were finished the christening party
arrived and was conducted through the vast
throng to the gayly decorated stage at the
bow of the Kearsarge. The party was COM
posed of Calvin B. Orcutt president of the
Newport News Ship-building Company;
Mrs. Herbert Winslow, sponsor for the
Kearsarge. and her maid of honor, Miss
Margaret Eastman, of washington; Miss
Christine Bradley. sponsor for the Ken
lucky, and her maids of honor, Misses Mary
Gatewood Lillian Siege Sallie Bronston,
Abbie Ballard and Alice Castleman, all of
the Bluegrass State; Miss Anna Webb, of
Paducah, KY; Mrs. William o. Bradley,
Governor Tyler, of Virginia, and staff and
a number of state officials of Kentucky;
Lieutenant Commander Herbert Winslow
U. 5. ~, the only surviving son of the cap
tain who commanded the famous old Kear-
sarge in her fight with the Alabama; mem
bers of the House and Senate committees
on naval affairs and other distinguished Wis.,
itors from Washington. zee
All preparations being arranged and the
fair sponsor of the Kearsarge in her sta
ton, saw severed the sole pieces that held
the Kearsarge in place, and the splendid
hull started on her Journey to the water
AS it started Mrs. Wihslew broke a bottle
of champagne over it's bow and exclaimed.
clearly and distinctly:t o%I chrfsten thee
hearsarge. AS the vessel iglided smoothly
into the river it seemed as if bedlam had
broken loose. Cheer after cheer went up in
the crowd, and the shrilI whistles of the
steamers in the harbor welcomed the new
haVal champion to its Qatural element The
cruiser brooklyn and monitor Puritan
the Representatives Of the navy present.
The christening party FtF7eh proceeded to
tne bow of the Kentucky, which vessel was
an exact counterpart Of the former, except
tnat when the critical moment arrived Miss
christine 1atn Bradley broke "a cut-glass bottle
OF water from the spring on the old Lin
coin farm. and said: Il ehristen thee Ken
LUCKY. Then, as the vessel started down
\ the ways, several bottlesl1of old I o lrbon
WHISKY We're hurled against her sides by
kentuckians who were opposed to the water
christening. Water from stfIe spring on the
Jen Davis farm, in 3Kentucky, was also
smashed on the vessel s. sides.
Both Iaunchings were successful in every
particular. The invited eguests and distin-
guished visitors then. boarded the steamer
newport News and proceeded to Old Point
where the ship-yard officials rendered a
magnificent banquet. Covers were laid for
SIX hundred persons. 1T was entirely infor-
GOVERNOR BRADLEY'S SPEECH.
Among the toasts responded to were
Kentucky" by Governor Bradley. and
Virginia" by Governor Tyler Governor
Bradley said: aiia.1
Which Kentucky? is it the Kentucky
whose people with one acclaim return
thanks to the distinguished secretary of the
navy for the splendid compliment maid them
today. and to the builders of the ship for
pitality? 80 ''itN nus
Ten inqenply upon every chapter of the Ma
tions history, since her admission into the
ssterhood of States? ~ -. -'i'O INC
IS 1t the Kentucky whose brave bold
pioneers rescued wilderness from the saw
age and made it blossom as the rose?
is it the Kentucky, the eloquence of
Breckenridge shook the halls of. Congress
ana hIla stirred the hearts of the people on the
rs it the Kentucky of waving bluegrass.
OF crystal stream, blended mountain top and
SKY, OF chlvalrous men and beautiful
rs it the Kentucky whose gallant SOL
diers have ever been found in the forefront
OF pattie, whose seamen have won fame
upon the ocean and christened heather
lands with their precious blood?
1T is the Kentucky whose generous peo-
pie sympathize with the oppressed and
downtrodden Of every land and who ear
nestly desire that the Nation shall inter-
vene to prevent further, atrocities on the
suffering people of Cuba sand, if the investi-
gat ION sh ain Justify to avenge the death
indemnity in money, but an indemnity in
"Of this Kentucky cannot fttingly sneak
in the short time allotted But it is the other
Kentucky that calls for speech, and poetry
enc! en- song, that Kentucky which to-day gave
ship; there could be no better name When
FULLY manned and equipped, she starts on
her mission, We viii all excIaim: God bless
Kentucky on the land. Godspeed and pro-
tect Kentucky on the sea-
No ship has ever been christened as it
mas been; Not according to the custom of
pirate Vikings, clad with the skins of wild
beasts but with sparkling water from the
spring which quenched the infant thirst of
MIN VINO gave freedom TO q race ana saved
our country from destruction. And when
the great ship majest eally4 moves to the
glorious destiny which is in store for it, it
will be sanctified by the prayers of more
Christian women than all others that have
ever moved on the face of the waters.
Whether under calm and coudless skies,
or struggling with tempest and wave
whether in peace or war. there shall hover
over 1t. not the spirit of alcohol, which has
destroyed so many lives, desolated so many
homes and caused the shedding of so much
blood and so manv tears, but the spirit on
Kentucky's noblest son, the grandest man
in all the tide of time symbolized by God S
gift to man. that which causes the earth to
yield its fruits and harvest, which cleanSes
and purlfies, which quenches the thirst OF
the living and relieves the parched lips of
the wounded and dying. Purity and patriot
ism have to-day been blended in the chris
tening of the ship, which, / predict, will win
more fame, gather more laurels and accom-
plish more good than any that has ever
swept the seas. And in parting with the
majestic vessel, Kentuckians. with one
voice, exclaim.
" In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite Of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea;
Our hearts. our hopes are all with thee;
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our
tears,
Our faith triumphant DER our fears.
Are all with thee-are all with thee
&--
EVnATIyG NORTHUMBERLAND