The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-25
Whistles Blew and the Band Played
National Airs,
BRIGHT COLORS IN ABUNDANCE,
Naya: Officials Here to Witness Event
An Informal Luncheon rendered
the Launching Party ut the
JET crson on-Distinguishcd
People Here = Crowds
Cheer Heartily.

All manner of craft from the largest
sized schooner down to a small tug had
their moorilgs near the William f. Trisg
Coinpany's shiIyards yesterday, and
crowds of people gathered on them, as well
as on both sides Of the dock, to witness
The launching Of the United States torpedo
boat destroyer Dale, which took place
shortly after j o'clock,
Naval Constructor GroesbeelI Commo-
dore webster Mrs. Webster, Lieutenant
Field Lieutenant Piclrell. ard other dis
1inguished naval officials from Washing
ton. were here to witness the event.
superlnterdant ]. A Nelson directed
the work of getting the blocks out Of the
wey ana the halyards in shape for the
boat to glide off into the water. Mr.. j.
Taylor W. Curtis also assisted in the d.
rectlon Of this work. Mr.. =. 5. Robinson
issued passes To those whom he thought
were entitled to enter the yards
Mr.. L. T, Mrers. the vice-president OF
the William Il Trigg Company, had charge
of the launching party and ooheo dltci
1hcir pleasure
Rand ILAYED DIXIE.
Bright celors, pretty women, and SaylS-
bedecked craft could be seen in every
direction There was, however, dea1en-
ing noise created by the din of the nam
incrs OF the wcrlmen in getting the boat
ready to be launched. 1t seemed as II all
the people in Richmond, who could do SO,
had turned out To witness the event
When the signal MAS given. Miss VIII
son broke the bottle of kline over The boat,
and Il giided beautifully into the water,
III colors attached 20 it floating III the
breezeR-
Wine the spectators were waiting 1or
The launching To take place, lardela s
band enltyened the occasion by renierlhs
several patriotic airs.
The Dale will make about . miles an
hour when she is gotten ready Tor hei
trial trips The boat costs the Govern
ment S2GOOgl without the fighting fixtures.
tax,e.l,- 1T l:2a o'clock all the VIII stiles
in the vicinity of the William r. Triss
.,ernr3any's ship-yards began blowing and
only stonDed after the boat had buried
her hull about seven feet in the water
beneath
People cheered. flags. haRdllerch.efs and
rarasols waved ana lhe band played the
star Srangled Banner, when Miss Mary
TIaseu wilson of Philadelphia the fair
sponsor. broke the bottle OF vine over The
sharpest po nj of the Prov Of the boat,
WAS HALF-HOLIDAY.
Streamers of patriotic colors, American
from one end of the boat to the other. On
the three-nasted schooner Mary Curtis,
just opposite, were strung the flags of all
nations principally among them being the
American flag 1T the man masthead of
the boat The vessel was crowded with
spectators, as was also lot of tug-boats
and other craft. The scenes on both sides
Of the dock We're those Of crowded people,
cheering The Dale ana the young lady who
Z IL -fr~ Tan Ep,sr a
boat. Il was haIf-hol:5j:ly with all the
employees at the shipyard, ana those Of
the worlmen who have been working on
The Dale for the Inst eight months gave
vent IL their feelings by cheering and
throwing their hats and caps In the air.
There was 4 slight delay in the launch
ing OF The Dale, owing 10 some difficulty
in getting the blocks from underneath the
boat When these obstacles We're remoV-
cd the boat slid from her ways as
smoothly and quickly as possible
Fully five thousand people altogether
Witnessed the event from either side of
The dock, housetops railroad cars, tres
ties, bridges, carriages and wagons. EV-
cry available space was fully occupied
by the eager spectators.
KOIGAIS IN EVIDENCE.
The weather was as delightful as could
be expected, there being d slight breeze
almost ali the time
Many of the spectators carried kodaks,
Rnd took snapshots Of the Srand-stand,
and The Dale. Some tried to get a picture
pI Miss Wilson. II is not known whether
they did not.
Those who occupied the grandstand
We're Miss Wilson. Mr. Wilson. Mr.. and
Mrs. Marie, Capt. Webster. Mrs Web
ster. McssrS. Mcdowell, Johnston. Mel
son. Groesbecl, OF Washington: Duyal.
Rutherford. Preston. L. 7. ID. Myers, Jr.,
Atkisson. OF New York; Newton. Bosher,
and BOYD; Mrs. w. l.. Royal Mr.. Sam
Stern. Alr- William r. Trigg, Mr. /. 7.
Myers, MI Curtis and Mr.. Robinson.
The siiVer-covered bottle of wine was
strung from the upper part of the boat
with a little chain ana was covered with
red white ana hlue ribbons
large bouquet OF roses, the gift OF the
William Il TrigS Company to Miss Will
son, adorned he erand-stand.
Miss Wilson WAS the most striking figure
on the gramd-stand, and every one point
cd 10 her as the fair sponsor as soon as
she was seen 10 ascend the steps.
The Dale was towed up The dock
and placed by The side OF the Thornton,
where the work on il viii be completed
The city and State officials We're there
il numbers Many Richmonders who
have been away TO the summer resorts
came TO the city for The express purpose
OF witnessing the event
When Miss Wilson broke the bottle of
wine over the PROV of the boat the en-
thusiasm of the cheering mul1itudes ran
The highest The Dale caused a rise In
The water. which was splashea- over many
of the spectators as The boat somewhat
stcadied Itself in the middle OF the dock.
The launching was sdewise.
Miss Wilson MIS- handsomely attlred in
Partisan costume. Her gown was ecru
silk net in applique over lavender taffeta.
The bodice was over a white cream vest
of sh:rred chiffon. and was worn with
stock and tie Of lace. She wore a cream
silk belt and gold slide and buckle. Her
hat was an ecru Tuscan shape. with sttr-