The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-05-23
LAUNCHING Of THE Ohio
AN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
Large Number Ut Ohioans Present to
See the Battleship Sent to the
water-President Was There-Was
s Given a Present.

San Francesca May 20.-Fortunately
4 Mrs. McKinley's condition permitted
I The president to attend the launching
~ the Battleship Ohio from the yards
- the Union Iron works. To witness
the launching Of this ship, named in
honor Of his native state, was the
real object Of the presidents trip
across the continent, and the event
which has attracted to the Pacific
coast the governors OF three states.
the Ohio congressional delegation,
several United States senators and
many other notable and distinguished
people.
Dramatic and picturesque a. was
I the sight OF $4,000 tons Of steel slid
q Ing into the full crested tide Of San
Francisco bay. 1t was not a. splendid
Ind magnificent a. the great naval
pageant which accompanied It, nor a.
profoundly impressive % the greeting
Oxtended to the president by the $500
0inployes Of the shipyards. With the
\ threat OF great strike impending the
presidents words to the workingmen
have added significance. and his ref
Srence TO expansion and other ma
HlonAl questions makes his speech,
probably the last he will deliver on
hi present tour. In every respect .
notable one. When the president left
The sick room Of his wife every ar.
arrangement had been made to notify
MIN On the instant Of any change for
The morse IN her condition. The phys
acisAs assured him there was no indi-
xsatiOn Of set back. but Ct his request
1ele8raphtc connections were made ct
the wharf and Ct tho ship yard. and
we FOR the time he was on the
Mater he was not for : minute away
From direct communication with the
&cp&t residence.
He was driven to the wharf In
Glosed carriage escorted by squad
10 mounted police. The cabinet and
other distinguished guests were a.
ready aboard the transport tug Slo-
Cum. which was to convey the party
- the Union Iron works two miles UP
The bay, when he arrived. The presi-
Gents nag, IN eagle and shield ON
blue field. was flying from the main
and the union Jack ct the bow a. he
stepped smiling up the gangway to
the accompaniment Of cheers OF thOus-
Ands who blackened the neighboring
pler heads. Then began the sail over
tho shining waters Of the bay. It
proved to be triumphal journey, the
nike Of which has not been witnessed
i IN this country since Admiral Dewey
npon his return from the Philippines
sailed UP the Hudson on the Olympia.
Every craft In the harbor was decked
n gayest attire and the city In the
background was perfect mound OF
waving hags. Every wharf on the sea-
front swarmel with people. Up near
the shipyards the grim warships OF
the Pacific squadron were swinging
at anchc-, with streams OF signal flags
fore and aft over the peaks from PROV
to tAffrail.
on near Goat island lay the trans
port Sheridan. travel stained from
her long journey across the Pacific.
She had just arrived from the Philip.
pines and still had aboard the Forty.
SECOND ard Forty-sixth United States
Volunteer infantry which she had
brought home. The president saw her
ut once and requested that the course
ct the Slccum should be changed to
allow him TO pass near her. Az the
Slocum approached the big transport
there was q scene OF almost frenzied
enthusiasm aboard. The soldiers, all
II their service uniforms. rushed to
the side and rent the air with cheer
on cheer at the sight OF the president
OF the United States come to vel.
come them home. The band ON the
after deck struck up 1.-THE Star Span
gled Banner" The soldiers climbed
the rails and ratlines and almost
drowned the music with their shouts.
They swung their hats and acted like
mad men. Several Of them got out
their regimental flags and waved
them frantically to and fro from the
bridge. The ensign at the stern was
dipped again and again. The salute
was answered by the Slocunl. The
president was plainly moved by the
remarkable demonstration. He stood
on the lower deck. uncovered. bowling
and smiling and waving his handker
chief until the sound OF shouting died
away in the distance.
This welcome from the soldiers was
only the beginning. AS the Slocum
drew near the line of steel clad thur
derers of the deep. with jackies lining
the rails the marine guards drawn up
aft and officers in full uniform ON the
bridges. pun Of smoke burst like a
white balloon from the port quarter
q the battleship Wisconsin. Admiral