The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-10
LAUNCHING CUSTOMS.
CEREMONIES USED by NATIONS ~
.BAPTIZING SHIPS.

Vnring Npt Yet Christencd-specta c-
ulnr Ribbon and Pigeon Ccrcm o.
niles Used in Jnpan--The Kentucky
StyIe--A Bride Remembered.
From the New York Mail and Express.
This ship" said an officer of the Rus
sian cruiser Variag to a reporter the other
day, "has not been formally christened,
although she is named and launched" The
Varag is The man-of-war which the
Cramps have just finished a Philadelphia,
and which the Czar need not accept unless
she shows the remarkable speed OF twenty
three knots or nearly twenty-six land
miles an hour for we've consecutive Lours
The launching of vessel according 10
custom in my country" continued the
officer, lis most impressive affair, and,
as the ceremony could not be properly per-
| formed here when she was launched, the
christening has been deferred until she
gets home"
Several American naval officers who had
gone to Cramps to look at what promises
to be among the fastest war vessels in
the world were much interested in the
conversation. and one asked in wonder:
do you mean that the Variag has not
been baptized?"
Not according to Russian custom It
is The first instance of a christening SO
long delayed after the launching There
was an informal ceremony when the ship
was first put overhead but nothing like
what Is to come. You see. the launching
of ship al home is religious in form The
priests Of the Greek church bless all The
warships of my country. which ceremony
is most impressive. The priests who are
attended by acolytes burn incense and
precede a choir that marches an over the
vessel As rule the pro ess!on Includes
some members Of the imperial family. Both
the Gar and Czarina have participated
in many Of the ceremonies attending the
launching of warships
The Final salute.
''The priests sprinkle holy water around
the ship and over II, pronouucing their
blessing as they proceed. All of his takes
place before the craft leaves the ways.
AZ It's completion all return to the launch
ing stage the name Of the ship is announc-
ca, the national flag + raised and ma
tional salute Of thlrty-one guns fired"
Few countries deviate from the system
OF launching a vessel. war merchant ma
rlne or yacht with the proverbial bottle
Of cha mpagne. Long established practice
a
bottle on the PROV aud the 81 christen
thee Mary Ann Mccain" as being al hat
is necessary IN sending a boat to her nat
ural element. When the launch day Of
the new battleship Kentucky was near ar
hand and the blue tlbbon society wanted
spring water for the baptism and the coll
onels and majors demanded straight blue
grass on the ground that the ship was
one that would never take warer." il
looked for time as IL The wine habit
would have 70 80 10 the wall That affair
was compromised The Official bottle was
of spring water, but The "co.onels" fairly
soaked The ship with whisky as she STA
into the waves under a bombardment of
dasks OF Kentucky rye and bourbon
The Japanese Custom.
Japan, which has one Of the prcttlest
customs IN the world for The launching 81
its warships. uses sherry instead of cham
payne. a special Staging n erected around
the bows OF the new ship and soc Hators
immediately concerned in the success Of
the launch are accommodated In a small
pavilion close under the bows The CEN
tral figure of the ceremony. generally. q
married woman. takes place at a table
10 which Is attached a single slken rib
! bon. This ribbon controls the launching
| machinery" The Japanese flag ra-