The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-21
LAUNCHING OF BATTLE SHIP

San Francisco, May 1S.-~Fortunate-
ly, Mrs. McKinley's condition today
permitted President Mckinley to at.
tend the launching of the b%attleship
Ohio from the yards of the Union
Iron works.
To witness the launching of this
snip, named in honor Of his native
state, was the real objective of the
presidents western trip across the
continent, and was the event which
has attracted to the Pacific coast the
governors Of three states, the Ohio
congressional delegation, several Unit
ed States senators and many other
notable and distinguished people.
Dramatic as was the sight of IA, 900
tons of steel sliding into the full
breasted tide Of San Francisco bay,
it was not so splendid and magnifi-
cent as the great naval pageant
which accompanied it, nor so pro.
foundly impressive as the greeting ex-
tended to the president by the people
of the shipyard. With the threat of
a great strike impending, the presi-
dents words to the workingmen to.
day have an added significance, hay
ing had reference to expansion and
other national questions, and made
his speech, probably the last he will
deliver on his present trip, in every
respect a notable one.
When the president left the sick
room of his wife this morning early,
arrangement had been made to mott.
~ him on the instant of any change
for the worse in ner condition. The
physicians assured him that there was
no indication of a setback, but at his
ranllnSf fn1nopoV bio oo--~-~-- .-.-
made at the wharf and at the ship
yard and save for the time he was on
the water, was not a minute away
from direct communication with the
Scott residence. He was driven tc
the Wharf in a closed carriage, es.
corted by a squad of mounted police.
The cabinet and other distinguished
guests were already aboard the trans.
port Tom Slccum, which was to con
vey the party to the Union Iron Works
two miles up the bay, when he ar
rived. The presidents flag, an eagle
and shield on a blue field, was fly.
ing from the main truck, and the
union jack was at the bow. He stepped
smlllngly upon the gangway to the
accompaniment of the cheers of the
thousands who blackened the neigh.
boring pierhead. Then began the sail
on the shining waters of the BAY. It
proved to be a triumphal journey, the
ike OF which has not been witnessed
IN this country since Admiral Dewey
upon his return from the Philippines,
sailed up the Hudson on the Olympia.
Every craft in the narbor was decked
out in gayest attire and the city in the
background was a perfect mountain
OF waving flags. Every wharf on the
sea front swarmed win people. Up
neal the shipyards the grim warships
OF the Pacific squadron were swing.
ing at anchor with streams of flags
uniting fore and aft OF the peaks
from PROV to taffrail.
Near Goat island lay the transport
Sheridan, travelstained from her long
journey across the Pacific. She had
just arrived from the Philippines and
still had aboard the F~orty-second and
the Forty-sixth United States volun-
teer infantry. The president saw her
at once and requested that The course
OF the Slocum SHOULD be changed to
allow him to pass a ner. AS the
Slocum approached the big transport
there was a scene of almost frenzied
enthusiasm aboard The soldiers in
their service uniforms, rushed to the
side and rent the air with cheer upon
cheer at the. sight of the president of
the Un..ed States come to welcome
them home. The band on the after.
deck struck up "The Star Spangled
Banner. The soldiers lined the rail.
ing 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 waived them
frartically to and fro from the bridge.
The ensign at the stern was dipped
again and again. The salute was