Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-05-19

S4N~sAAP TfAoNohoAfkr ASaoSS
flagship. Boom" came the report. 1t
was the first gun from the ships, the
first of p. Each of the warships, the
big, savage battleship Iowa, the long
lean cruisers Philadelphia and Adams.
the little torpedo boat Farragut and the
revenue cutter McCulloch, which was
with Dewey at Manila, turned loose their
secondary batteries as the Slocum
steamed slowly by Opposite the Nc
Culloch the President witnessed a smart
exhibition of jack tar's skill. A flag
at her peak fouled and in a twinkling.
nimble sailor ran aloft and looSed it,
Beyond the warships the little tug
threaded her way through the holiday
fleet of steamers, yachts, tugs, barges
and every variety of water craft jam
med about the front of the ship yard.
Each was black with cheering people
and there was hardly one of them which
did not have a saluting gun of some
sort to add its voice to the roar of well
come that greeted the President from
the dense crowd of workmen gathered
upon the pier.
Ashore, to the right was a stand COW
cred with acres of people and beyond
that hill alive with them. Up the pier
broad aisle of white muslin ran
through the workman packed on either
side. Up this path, arched over with
flags and banners, one of them bearing
Ae inscription. The Oregon has made
ner record watch the Ohio" the Presi-
dent and his party move to stand
where the representatives of the 1850
employees of the Union Iron Works, in
neat speech, in which he asked a
heartfelt blessing upon the head of the
President and expressed tender sym
pathy for his suffering wife, presented
the President. as a token of the esteem
of the workmen. with a gold plate en-
graved with a suitable inscription.
The Presidents Response
audience of his friendship for the work
ingmen during his entire public career.
and touched the hearts of the surging
crowd before him as he spoke eloquently
of the patriotic response which California
had made during the Spanish war. Many
eyes were wet and more than one of the
workmen made a suspicious movement
with his coat sleeve, as If TO brush away
an unbidden tear.
When the President spoke Of the con-
tentment of the working classes, there
was one discordant note. A big, strappiDg
fellow, perched upon an adjacent scanold-
ing with his mind fun Of the threatened
strike, shouted:
How about next week."
A hundred of his companions looked up
and nlotioned him to cease
Theh came the launching. A platform
had been built around the PROV Of the big
iron monster which lay in the very slip
in which the famous Oregon was built,
and from which President Harrison
launched the monitor Monterey ten years
ago Gathered on the platform were the
President and members Of his cabinet,
Governor Nash of Ohio; Miss Deshler, his
niece, who was to christen the snip Miss
Barber who was to act for Mrs. McI{in-
ley, and many uniformed officers Of the
army and navy.
Immediately at the right was a red
coated band Below, workmen were
knocking away
The Last Keel Blocks
until the great steel hun rested upon her
cradle. and only single beam. set like
a trigger and ready TO fan aside at a blow.
held her in place.
Miss Barber and the President stood be-
fore the electric appliance which controli-
ed the guiiotne that was 10 sever the
rope which would loose the weight that
was to knock out the last beam Miss
Barber. with her finger on the button.
was looking intentiy at the Indicator. At
l2.221a two and half minutes before the
tide was at its highest. the time set for
the launching, there suddenly shot into
the face Of the indicator the word
Ready"
Miss Barber pressed the button. The
last block fell away. AT the same time
Miss DeshIer, a young lady OF II. IN a
light gown. with her dark hair braided
down her back In schoolgirl fashion. let go
Of the bottle Of champagne suspended at
the bow BY a. red, white and blue ribbon,
and as It crashed against the side she Ut
tered the words:
Il christen thee Ohio
Released from its bonds, the heavy huh
OF 1900 tons of steel went pioughing
through the thick grease Of its cradle.
Slowly at first. then faster and faster, she
slid down the ways. taking the food ma
jesticaliy. and piIing UP the water IN great
waves before her. The band crashed.
whistles blew and the multitude shouted.
No ship ever given 10 the American navy
has taken her initial plunge into the sea
under more favorable auspices. or in the
presence Of more distinguished com
pany.
The Trip Back to the city
was almost a repetition or the journey 10
the yard There was the same wild dem
oustration from sea and shore. But on the
way back the siocam passed IN formal
review before the Ea~ships. The President.
With Secretary Long at his side. stood 81
the wheel house during this parade As
each wsrship Was passed the JackIes ruacs.
a blue hedge about the ship n they stood
~ the rails shoulder 10 shoulder The
ma rine guard aft presented arms ana the
President got the four trumpet aoarizhes
and drum rFlfTlea to when Re II entitled