The record-union., 1898-03-25

Successfully Launched al the Newport News
Ship Yard Yesterday.
Are Both Formidable Battleships,
Embodying in Their Design and
Construction the Highest DeveI-
opment Up to Date in Offensive
and Defensive Warfare

opment Up to Date in Offensive
and Defensive Warfare.
| NEWPORT NEWS Vt). March "a
| The first great battleship launched from
a private yard III the South kissed the
water in the James River at 1902 to-
day at the immense plant of the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company. At 11:3J second ship, the
exact counterpart of the first one ex-
cept in name, followed. They were
christened respectively the Kearsarge
and the Kentucky, broad and historic
names that have just representatives in
the splendid fighting machines put
affOat to-day.
THE ship of the nation" was launched
first, and long before the hour an
nounced for the ceremony $4,000 people
were pushing and jostling around the
powerful hull Of No. IS, as the kear-
sarge was known in the shipyard.
Just before the preliminary prepara-
lions were finished the christening party
arrived, and was conducted through the
vast thrOng to the gaily decorated stage
at the bow of the Kearsarge. The party
was composed of Calvin B. circuit,
President of the Newport News Ship
building Company, Mrs. Herbert Win
slow, sponsor for the KearSarge, and
her maid of honor, Miss Margaret East
man of Washington; Miss Christine
Bradley, sponsor for the Kentucky, and
her maids of honor Misses Mary Gate
wood, Lillian Siege, Sallie BrOnstOn.
Abbie Ballard and Alice Castleman, all
of the Blue Grass State; Miss Anna
Webb of Paducah, Ky, Mrs. William Q.
Bradley, Governor Tyler of Virginia and
staff, and number of State officials of
kentucky; Lieutenant Commander
Herbert Winslow, U. S. N, the only sur
viVing son of the Captain who COM
manded the famous old Kearsarge in her
fight with the Alabama; members of the
House and Senate Committee on Naval
Affairs, and other distinguished visitors
from Washington.
THE CHRISTENINGS.
A saw severed the pieces that held
the Kearsarge in place, and the splendid
hull started on her journey to the water.
AS it started Mrs. Winslow broke a bot
tie of champagne over its bow and ex-
claimed clearly and distinctly Il
chriSten thee KearSarge." AS the vessel
glided smoothly into the river cheer after
cheer went up from the crowd and the
shrill whistles of the steamers in the
harbor welcomed the new naval cham
pion to it's natural element. The cruiser
Brooklyn and monitor Puritan, lying out
in the stream, were the representatives
of the navy present.
The christening party then proceeded
to the bow of the Kentucky. This cere-
mOny was an exact counterpart of the
former except that Miss Christine
Bradley broke a cut glass bottle of water
from the spring on the old Lincoln farm,
and said Il christen thee, Kentucky"
Then, as the vessel started down the
ways several bottles of Old Bourbon
whisky were hurled agaisnt her sides
by Kentuckians who We're opposed to
the water christening. Water from the
spring on the Jefferson Davis farm in
Kentucky was also smashed on the YES
sells sides.
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 shipyard officials rendered a
for 600 persons. 1t was entirely in
formal. Among the toasts responded to
We're Kentucky" by Governor Brad
ley, and Virginia. by Governor Tyler.
In his speech Governor Bradley de-
clared that the people of Kentucky
earnestly desire that the nation shall
intervene to prevent further atrocities
upon the suffering people of Cuba: and,
-t11
avenge the death of our sailors. not
only by demanding an indemnity in
money. but an indemnity in blood
OF the ship Kentucky he said mo
ship has ever been christened as it has
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 thirst of him who gave freedom to
a race and saved our country from
destruction. Purity and patriotism
have to-day been blended in the chris
tening of the ship which I predict will
win more fame gather more laurels
and accomplish more good than any
that have ever swept the seas"
FORMIDABLE WARSHIPs.
There are larger battleships affoat on
the ocean than the twin sisters Kear-
sarge and Kentucky; there are even
larger armored cruisers in the British
navy, such as the splendid Powerful
and Terrible, yet it is doubtful whether
any prudent naval commander. even
leaving out of his calculations that
great factor represented by the superb
fighting qualities Of the American
sailor, would care to venture hos
tile meeting with one Of these steel
bulldogs of the seas; for the new AM
erican battleships embody in their de-
sign and construction the highest de-
velopment up to this date in offensive
and defensive warfare as the preat
game Of naval strife would he nIaved
on the coast line Of the United states
Into their broad hulls are packed all
of the engine power. the arn1or and tbe
ordnance that the highest scientific
ability is able to concentrate in float
ing structure that is able to seek base
OF operations. a supply of fuel and am
munition and an opportunity to hea-
wounds received In battle. Tarear
ships. those of deeper draft necessarily
may not enter or attack our ports at
fighting range, and this consideration
was always kept inmind by Chief Con-
structor Hichborn when the Kearsarge
and the Kentucky We're planned That
is the explanation Of the fac+-a new