Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-16
A DOUBLE LAUNCHING
Two Big Morgan Liners Ride the
Waves.
Miss Orcutt, OF New York. Chrlstens
sho RI Sortc, and Miss PaIcn, of
Norfoik. rho Ell Sua-A Lrree
Crowd Present.

Between four and five thousand peo-
pie were present at the launching of
the two large Morgan Line freight
steamers. IL Norte and Ell Sud. at the
shipyard OF the Newport News Ship
building and Dry Dock Company yes
.erday afternoon. between 1880 and
1880 O'Clock.
There was not The slightest hitch In
the plans for the double launching. as
carefully prepared beforehand. The big
freighters moved gracefully OFF the
ways. which had been cleared and
creased, and dipped their sides into the
historic waters OF the James. just as
they received their formal christening
at the hands of The fair youn. ladies
who had been chosen to act III this ca
pac!ty.
The shipyard gates had been thrown
open at 1880, and the large crowd
which Lad already gathered on the out
side surged through and took position
to sec the double launching.
THE CHRISTENING PARTIES.
Miss Mary circuit. OF New York.
daughter of Mr.. Calvin Is. circuit pres
idcnt of the shipbuildng company. was
chosen by the Morgon Line officials to
christen FL Nortc. Mss Orcutt chrlsten-
OF the four Morgan Liners sold to the
Government at the outbreak of the
war.
President circuit himself had the Sc
lection of Il young lady TO chrsten I'll
sud- and he named Miss Jeanette Pa
len. CT Monticello. y. Y. who has been
visiting her brother, Mr. Il. Il. Palen. of
the Old Dominion Line. in Norfolk this
winter. Miss palen is n charming young
woman, and has become widely nc-
quainied ard very popular in Norfolk
during her stay here.
I'll NOGiTE LAUNCHED.
The IL Nortc was chosen to be-
launched first. and after the arrival of
the christening parties the buzzing of
the saw was heard, cutting the timbers
which joined the sliding and ground
ways.
simultaneously with the first move
ment of the hull. Miss Orcutt. who was
standing on the christening platform at
the bow OF the ship, holding in her
riSht hand the traditional bottle of
champagne encased in n beautiful silk
en- net. gracefully cast the bottle
against the rccedirG Prov at 1880
o'clock. oxclniming:
II christcn thee. IL Norte."
The breaking of the bottle of cham
pagnc against the steel bow was the
signal for great cheer from the spec
tat0rs surrounding the ways and they
cheered again and again as the hull
gaining momentum as it went, dashed
down the ways and struck the water
MISS FALLEN CHRISTENS Er, SUD
Tho crowd next turned it's attention
to I'll sud. end quickly surrounded the
ways on which she rested. The prelim-
inaries were similar to those of the first
launching. When the last restraining
plank was severed by the big saw. Miss
Fallen did the christening honors I'll
sud started with the same ease that lei
Ncrtc did. and almost the instant II
commencsI 10 ircedc in the direction
of the water Miss Palen threw the gaily
decorated bottle Of champagne against
and named the ship ut LIS o'clock in
these words:
II christen thee. FL Sud"
The sight of the foaminG champag ne
as it tricklcd down the steel bow
brought a tremendous cheer from, tho
spectators below. and the same enthu-
siasn followed this successful launch
81 was manifested on the occasion Of
the first one.
Notwithstanding the decis:na-ef tho
Morgan officials to have the launching
ceremony as informal as possible. there
were several distinguished guests
among them Assist mt Secretary of
War Me!klcjohn. and Assistant Secrc-
tary Of the Treasury Taylor. both of
whom arrived ut old Point yesterday on
NislrcSs OF an Official nature.
DINNER AT THE WARWICK.
'Jhe launching parties We're rendered
dinner at the Warwick. in Newport
-News. last night.
with Miss circuit were Mr.. Horace
see. consulting engineer of the Morgan
Line: Mrs. See and Miss Kate Marshall
Smith. all of New York
With Miss Palen were Messrs. r. r.
Palen, her brother, of the Old Dominion
Line. Norfolk: Miss Margaret Roper
Mss Florence Smith ana Mrs. Wester-
volt. all from Norfolk. and Mr.. Sidney
l.. Wood, of Newport News.