The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-19
BATTLESHIP OHIO
 SLIPS INTO WATER
President Mckinley Was Present at the Launching and Deliyereda
 Feeling Address.

San Francisco. May 1s.-Miss Barber pressed the button, Miss Deshler smashed a bottle of California cham pagne and at 12:26 p. m. the big battle ship took her first dip into the sea.
 Forty thousand people cheered them selves hoarse; the big guns of the war ships boomed out a salute and every steam whistle in radius of five miles shrieked its loudest as the steel mon. ster slid into the water. The noise last ed for nearly half an hour and when it finally simmered down there lay the Ohio, peacefully floating in the little cove in front of the Union Iron works. Later she was lowed to the dock, where she will be tied for year or more, until finally completed.
 As the vessel slipped into the water stern foremost she created big wave that made even the biggest steamers near by bob uncomfortably up and down. As for the smaller craft. they nearly stood on end. Mrs. Mckinley was to have pressed the button that started the Ohio down the ways, but on account of her illness, her niece. Miss Barber acted in Mrs. Mckinley s place.
 The Ceremonies Simple.
 The ceremonies were simple but sig nificant. There was the formal ex- change of acceptances on the part of the government and then the tide hav- ing reached the flood, the word was given.
 The bottle of California champagne depended from the bow by ribbons of xxh fo nd hlrfa hrafdHd into A rOne. The port had come.
 At 12:26 sharp. Irving M. Scott gave Miss Barber the signal and she touch ed the magic electrical machine.
 The guillotinc shot downward like a flash and severed the cord. The dog shore toppled over its own weight and the cleveriy constructed system of props went down like a house of cards. The Ohio seemed to shiver slightly and in a twinkling she began to slide. And then rush, a bound, a cracking and creaking and grooming of the tim bers beneath and around her. she shot down the ways and took her dip Into the sea. /
 Dramatic and picturesque as was the sight of 14.o0o tons of steel sliding into the full breasted tide of San Francisco bay, 1t was not so splendid and mag nificent as the great naval pageant which accompanied 1t nor as profound. ly impressive as the greeting extended to the President by the 4.500 employees of the ship yard. With the threat of a great strike impending. the Presi- dents words to che working men today have an added significance and hts references to the expansion and other national questions make his speech, which is probably the last he will de- liver on his present tour, in every re speet 6 notable oiie.
 Every Craft Decorated. 5,. Every craft in the harbor was decked fn gayest attire and the city in the background was a perfect mound Of waving flags. Every wharf on the sea front swarmed with people. Up near the ship yards, the grim warships of the Pacific squadron were swinging at anchor with streams of signal flags extending fore and aft of the peaks from prov to taffrail.
 .As the Slocum, bearing the President. drew near the line of steel clad thun- deIers of the deep. with Jackies lining the rails, the marine guards up ana aft and officers in full uniform on the bridges. a puff of smoke burst from the mort quarter of the battleship Wiscon- ain Admiral Casey's flagship. It was the first gun from the ships. the first one of twenty-one. Each Of the war ships turned loose it's secondary bat 
 by. Every vessel in the harbor fol- lowed with a booming salute. Finally the Slocum reached the pier, up which A broad aisle of white muslin ran, crowds of workmen being packed on either side. Up this path, arched over with flags and banners, one Of them bearing the inscription, "The Oregon has made her record; watch the Ohio" the President aSd his party moved to a stand were representative of the 4,500 employees of the Union Iron Works, in a neat speech. in which he asked a heartfelt blessing upon the head of the President, and expressed tender sym paty for his suffring wife, gave the President, as a token of the esteem of the workmen. a gold plate engraved with a suitable inscription. The Pres idents response aroused much enthu- eiasm. His speech was as follows:
 MT. McKinley's Speech.
 "My fellow citizens-I am inexpress- ably thankful to the ruler of us all for His goodness and His mercy, which have made it possible for me to be with YOU here today. I have wanted to see the men of the Union Iron Works. l have known of their skill. have seen their genius displayed and their work manship. l have observed what your vnokesman has so we'll said, that suf- Sering under the disadvantages of fuel. !nHAed. thousands cf miles away from +he raw materials. which go to make . ship. you have yet persevered and triumphed and made as good ships as have ever sailed the seas. (Great ap- nlause) I am glad to be among these workingmen. have been glad to he in the city of San Francisco and while I have not been able to meet ali the people. I have been able to meet tens of thousands of them, have heard their cheers for our country, have seen their smiling faces and have observed that peace and contentment which has been everywhere manifest upon the faces of the people as we have taken our long journey from the At lantic to the Pacific. (Applause.) You have no idea how deeply touched l have been in the last three years and a half by the loyal patriotism of the people of San Francisco. My mind. my heart, have been here, for it was here We organized the first expedition to the Philippine islands. It was here under command of General Merritt that that great army was assembled and started out upon the ocean, noneiof us Eok,f han fO ik Ni1f