The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20
THE SIBERIA
TAKES A PLUNGE
Largest Ocean Liner Ever
Built in America.
MISS TYLER SPONSOR.
Christened Mammoth Boat Vita
Ease and Grace.
IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT.
The Launch Was In Every Way Success s
The Richmond Party and Other Guests
Handsomely Enter,aiced at
Luncheon at the Warwick
Hotel Description
Of the Ship.
IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT.
es...s.l n..c..eI, to The Times


NEWPORT NEWS, VA. October "a
man liner here to-day was grand
ana stlrrlns event The big yard OF this
newport News Shipbutldins and Dry
ooch company quickly filed with an en-
2eilus1astlc crowd as soon as the big gatea
opened at noon and 2O,ogo people w,t-
messed the first dip OF the biggest shta
ever built IN America.
ihefe was hardly city in the east tta.
was not represented by score or moro
OF its cltlzens. prominent among them be-
ins parties from New York, Philadelphia,
6aItlnore and Washington
One thing that made the coca sion pa,r
tfcularly interesting to ykgtaiaus was ths
TACT that the great vessel was christ ened
s oy Miss Belle Norwood Tyler. daughter
on 6overnor Tyler, who was present. OF
course. with his staff and a brilliant COM
pary from the State Capital
THE SPONSOR
y le" minutes to O'Clock thA
sponsor. MISS Belle Norwood TYLER. at
tended by her sponsor. Governor ana ,rrs
J. Hose Tyler, and the Governors star
reached the yard from the Warwick IIote,
and took their places on the stand huiit
for the occasion under the Trcy of the
great ship.
prominent in the party We're the spon-
sors sisters, Misses Susie and Lily TYLER
the members of the Governor S star-Coh
10 Lane Stern. Col J. C. Campbell, c. ".
harrington James Mann. William Came
ron, and w w. Sale, Mr. and Mrs. John
o. Potts. Miss Maude Battle and Mr. W.
L. Battle, Jr., of Washington: Miss Mary
Ashley Bell, of F.luranna, and Mrs. C. ".
Darlington.
AIR OF EXPECTANCY.
On the launching stand there was; an air
of expectancy. Miss Tyler stood in the
centre of her small retinue, and in her
hard was the bottle of wine to be used
in the ceremony. The bottle was encased
in silk net. depended from a cord cas-
tened to the ships rail. From It's neck
flowed streamers of red white and blue
RIBBON. While slightly nervous. as might
be expected, the charming sponsor smiled
radiantly, and the eyes of all in the party
were turned to the great ship that looked
UP before them The tide was at the
highest of the flood at 1 o'clock.
AS the moment of the launching APP
preached, the suppressed excitement
among the spectators became evident.
The workmen were busily- engaged in re-s
moving the retaining beams and props
from beneath the ship. and the sound OF
the hammers and saws was audible above
the din made by the merry laughter and
conversation of the crowd.
At last all was in readiness. A slender
thread of timber was all that kept tnsS big
ship from an involuntary plunge. There
was q moment OF breatlGless stiffness, and
then the sponsor advanced to the edge of
the stand and raised aloft gracefully tha.
beautiful symbol of Invocation TO Nep-
tune. the god of the sea.
THE CHRISTENING.
The saw parted the last splinter, thd
los r,Iiy an mo
Miss Tyler dashed the bottle against the
ships Prov. exclaiming in voice sweetiJ
musical: 81 christen thee Siberiat'
Slowly, and almost imperceptibly at
first. the big ship started toward the wa
ter. Then. gathering velocity with her
weight, she glided gracefully down the
ways. and proudly plunged into her ma
tive element
The impressive silence of the multitude
was broken by cheers, and the din of q
score of steam whistles welcomed the
newborn craft to the waters of the his
toric James. Siberia drifted listiessly out
into the river at the mercy of the tide,
until a pignly tug picked her UP and
towed her back to the piers, where she
will be completed
Miss Tyler is one of the most charming
sponsors that has graced a launching at
the local yard. She is a decidedly pretty
brunette. She Wore q handsome gown OF
color being supplied by encrustations of
Persian embroidery. To complete the
toilet, she wore a. large black Ciainsbof-
ough hat with long black piumes.
THE LUNCHEON.
At 2 o'clock luncheon was served at tina
Casino to the launching party and others.
who had received invitations TO the
launching stand. Among these were:
| Governor Hoge Tyler and party, consist
Z iy,~r <,f -. ~
Tyler, Mrs. Tyler, Misses Sue and Lily
| Tyler, Maud Battle, of Washington: Mary
Ashley Bell, Mrs. C. V. Darlington. Mrs.
j. d. Potts, and Colonel 10 Lane Stern,
Colonel w. w. Sale. DR.. c.. V. Darlington.
William Cameron. j. D. Potts. James
Mann w. Il. Battle, Jr., and many naval
officers and distinguished guests.
THE VESSEL
Costing s., Coo Geo each when corspletesl
nearly eco feet in length and witt. a dis
placement OF nearly 1900 tons, the pa
cific Mail leviatEans Siberia and Korea
will easily be the largest, costliest. hand
soonest and speediest vessels on the Pa
| cific ocean. They will ply between San
Francisco and Hong Kong, with Homo
lulu. Yokohama and Nagasaki as ports of
call. The two vessels are exact d,,pit-
Gates and the description which applies
to ore applies also to the other Uncle
Sam is building eostlier warships, but rot
even the five powerful battieshtps OF taa
Virginia class Will APPROACH the dimen-
sions of the monster Pacific Mall Liners
Each, when completed. will have q dis
p.acement of $3.50 tons more than tha
batrlastip Virginia, which Is building hare
The Finest eputpmen, is provided for both
| Tho only American-bnilt ships which
| approach the Siberia In slza or naasnisi-s
eencs OF interior finish are the 4Anaeri-s
can Line STEAMSHIPS St. 1.oufs and ST.
! paul. OF thaNew York Scat thanp ton rentes
r.heir dimensions are: Length. 5aa5.5 feet.s