The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-05-23
MRS. MKINLEY.

about the grounds and shown the camps
where thousands of volunteers going to
and coming from the Philippines have
been quartered as well as the camps of
the regulars.
The Improvement in Mrs. McKinley's
condition was so great Saturday that the
president decided to attend the launching
Of the battleship Ohio This event was
one Of the chief objects Of his visit to
California. At $3.50 o'clock Mr.. McKin.
ley left the Scott residence and was driv
en- to the wharf of the army transport
service. Here he was joined by the mem.
bers Of the cabinet and others of the
presidential party and boarded the tug
Slocum for sail around the harbor.
The course of the vessel was shaped SC
that the party passed within near view
of the army transport Sheridan. which
had just arrived from the Philippines.
Her decks were crowded with the men OF
the Torty-second and Forty-sixth volun.
teer infantry, who are on their way
home. The soldiers SWING their hats and
cheered continually as the Slocum passed
the president standing on her main deck
and waving both hat and handkerchief in
response to their welcome
A few minutes later the Slocum passed
near the battleships Iowa and Wisconsin
and the cruiser Philadelphia. These yes.
sells and all the shipping in the harboI
displayed hundreds of flags, and the ma,
tional salute Of 81 guns doomed forth
from the naval vessels and the army
transports A little before IL O'Clock the
presidential party arrived at one of the
docks of the Union works, and the hull
of the great new battleship loomed into
view. Along her dull red sides there were
strips of red, white and blue bunting.
The time of high tide was 1926 O'Clock
and that was the moment when the great
'battleship was TO slide down the ways
There was fully an hour to wait for the
launching, and Mr.. Mckinley, after max.
ing speech to the workmen. spent the
time in chatting with the various mem.
hers Of the party and in asking Mr.. Hen.
ry L. Scott quest ions about the construc.
tion OF the ship.
In other parts OF the shipyard immense
stands had been erected, and these were
filled with a crowd of Mt least 10000 per.
sons. The neighboring heights were also
thickly covered with eager men, women
and children.
When the hour arrived, the president
and the members of the official launching
party proceeded to the stand. Besides
Mr.. Mckinley there were the members OF
the cabinet ard the ladies of the cabinet.
Governor Gage of California. Governor
Nash of Ohio, several officials of the
Union Iron works and others. Suddenly
an electric bell sounded, and Miss Mary
Barber, the presidents niece, her distin.
guished uncle standing by her side, press.
ed a button, which by the use Of cleo
tricity started the ship down the ways.
AT the same moment Miss Deshler, the
sponsor, broke a bottle of wine over the
bow and cried:
II chrsten thee Ohiop
The vessel slid with slow statelines.
down the ways, and a great cheer broke
forth from the crowd. The president and
members of the cabinet waved their hats
and all the steam Whistles in the harboI
and in San Francisco blew for five min
utes.
Governor Nash of Ohio and his person.
al party, including Miss Helen Deshler.
were with the presidents party on the
Slocum.