Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-05
SHE RIDES THE WAVES,
Another Big Fighter Launched at
Newport News
1HEILLINOIS IS NOW AFlOAT,
EIghty Crowd Of Spectators Witnesses
The Great Event.
MOST MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE
90 he vu.aA -
MOST MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.

The frst-rate sea-going coast-line bat
tcship Illinois. to be the most powerful
fghung machine in the world, was
launched at Newport News yesterday.
There seemed TO be absolute unison Of
everything possible to make the event
successful and enjoyable. The weather
wss perfect, the unreasonable heat being
tempered by the fresh breeze, the enthu-
sIasm of the thousands gathered to wit
ness the spectacle was inspiring TO a de-
gree: the spectacular features were every
one accumulated in manner not often
witnessed on such an occasion.
While the crowd was not so great as
that which saw the Kearsarge ana Ken
lucky take to the water last spring, yet
IL is estimated that from 1900 to 10000
American citizens saw the great battle
ship glide down the ways onto the broad
bosom Of the James. Virginia furnished
the largest share Of the crowd, of course,
but from all over the country came men
who wished 20 be present when the gigln-
tic fighter first rode the waves.
COME FROM EVERYWHERE.
Illinois sent her Chief Executive and
staff and nearly 800 Of her citizens, the
fair sex being represented nearly as fully
as the other. 4 large number of ladies
and gentlemen from New York and Phil
adelphia were present; Washington sent
down a large delegation Of national off,
cials: Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland,
North Carolina, and Georgia were repre-
sented: even far away California had
two delegates present, and on the plat
form were the representatives Of several
foreign governments. who had come down
from Washington TO see how their Amer
ican brothers execute an undertaking of
the magnitude Of those which are making
the great Virginia shipyard famous.
Before 10 o'clock In the forenoon the
crowd began to assemble. To the left Of
the giant hull Of the Illinois there were
arranged in the form Of a semi-amphi-
theatre seats for probably 5000 people
These were filled in little while. Then
the space intervening between the I'LL
nois and the seats was soon crowded, and
IL was not long until the roofs OF the
with sightseers.
Probably the greater portion of the
crowd was on the water. Every conceiVa-
BILE character of craft brought the people.
and every one was crowded 10 its utmost
capacity. Every one, too, showed the
red white, and blue from every point
from which bunting could be flown. 2nd
the new warship herself was bediZZened
with nuttering flags of nearly every color
q
spicuous. The band from the National
Soldiers Home. at Hampton, was station
ed over in the amphitheatre, and every
air calculated 10 inspire the patriotism
of Americans was played during the wait
FOR the infant TO be released
Governor Tanner and fourteen member
OF his staff and several hundred Hi
noisans. arrived from Old Point on tn
Newport News shortly after 10 O'Clock
The Governor and staff and large mum
Der Of the ladies and gentlemen who ac
companied them, including Miss Letter
who was TO christen the ship, went
once 10 the large platform at the steri
of the Illinois. Miss Letter, escorted b.
Governor Tanner, and accompanied D.
her father and mother Mr.. and Mrs. l.
y. Letter. and several ladies and gentle
men. soon ascended the smaller platform
20 the left Of the stern, ana the lal
fponsor took her position in easy reacl
OF the quart bottle of champagne "hic
swung within easy reach.
GOVERNOR TYLER'S ARRIVAL.
Governor Tyler and his stan dld no
roach the ship-yard until lO5 O'CLOCK
rbe train bearing the party left Rich
rnond AT $50 O'Clock. but there wer
npmerous delays owing 20 the poor TIM
made nv the train running immedlatei
ahead The trip was made in the pay
cor ~ The Chesapeake and Ohio, courte
onslv rendered by the company. IN
members of the staff who accompan.e
the Governor were Colonel I.
Cowardln. Colonel W. O. Skellon, Coioi,'
Brydon Tenant, Colonel tred, rIeasa,,,, tI's,ii,
ana Assistant Inspector General 10 Ian
etorn Major David j. Price, OF III
Third Regiment, and Mrs. Price com
n,eted the party. The train reacheu
-. opnosite the ship-yard az eNacti
n o'clock and the Governors car wa
deteched and pulled into the yard ~
Samuel W. Hobson, the surgeon % ~,
Newport News Ship-Building anu ~ ~
Dock Company. met the party az ~, 49,
train and escorted II to the y"'" "'''
the stand. - ,rasente
- covernor Tanner, and the TWO eN'
c,,,,,.s were given seats at the iron' :
lie.
the christening platform, Miss. Lei'ei ~
tween them. ,ha work {
THE walt was long one tne WI n,
cutting away the supports OF sedsone I's
pve oak being more formidable than we We
exnected. But the crowd was pst'en
end nnt in the time applauding the ~
triotlc selections rendered by the psno
DISTINGUISHED ASSEMBLY.
The assembly on the platform incluus s
many persons Of distinction. The seer
tary Of the Navy was not present, ps
MISUNDERSTANDING Allen was on han
10 represent the department. Near ni
were Fighting Bob Evans, OF the row
CAPTAIN Higglnson, OF the oattssh
Massachusetts; Commodore Farqunar,
the Norfolk navy-yard, and many supo
dinate officers Of the navy fresh from u
scenes OF the war In Cuban waters
Other distinguished spectators we'
Judge II. T.. Hara,in. OF Shelbyville. ino
Judge Advocate- General and Mrs. Lem.
Nayal-constructor Philip Hichborn. u
signer OF the vessel: Surgeon-Generai al
Mrs. Van Reypen: Paymaster-Genei'
aud Mrs Stuart; Speaker Ryan Of u