The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-26
LAUNCHING OF THE MAINE
Preparations for Tomorrow Event
at Philadelphia.
Those Invited 20 See the New Battle
ship Leave the ways Mt Cramps
YRrd-DiStiuLu ished Visitors From
Washington Expected to Attend

Washington Expected To Attend
PHILADELPHIA July 26--Except for
few touches of bunting. the battleShIp
Maine is ready for the launching to take
place tomorrow morning at high tide
Tonight, the young woman who is to
break the bottle of wine over the bows
Of the battIeshiP. Miss Mary Preble An
derson of Portland, viii arrive with
party from the Pine Tree State. that will
include also Mrs Hill. wife OF the Gov
ernor
While there will be present at the event
q good representation Of naval officers the
Washington party viii probably not be Of
more than thirty or forty. members Sec
rotary Long is not now expected Rear
Admiral Bowles Chief Of the Bureau Of
Naval Construction. and Rear Admiral
Melville Chief Engineer. viii both be
present, however Captain SiSsbee, who
commanded the first Maine at the time Of
her destruction il Havana Harbor. is ex-
pccted, and among others invited are AL-
miraI Dewey, Payu3aster General Kenny,
or the Navy. Rear Admiral HiChboTn,
retired. who was Chief Constructor when
the Maine was designed: Rear Admiral
Evans and Rear Admiral John G Walker
The list includes all the Maine Congress-
/ Naval Committee Count Cassiui, the
Russian Arnba ssador. and members Of the
/ Russian Board Of Construction. now sta
/ toned at Cramps Admiral Sumner. Com
1 mandant; Captain Clark Captain of the
! Yard. and other officers At League Island,
/ are expected TO be present and naval Of
| ticeTs generally stationed in the city have
/ been invited Governor. HUI Of Maine
/ and mis- party, about twenty in all, will
! arrive early tomorrow morning.
! The facilities fer viewing the launch Of
| the battieship are especially good at the
| present time. A few months ago, every
slip in the yard was occupied in the con
struCtiOn Of a vessel and except for the
favored few who occupied the viewing
stand on the occasion of q launch there
was little opportunity Of witnessing the
event Now, however. several Of the ships
that occupied the slips are in the water,
either in service or nearing completion
and north Of the Maine there Is q large
space where spectators can obtain an ex-
/ celleHt view. II is doubtful whether any
! important launching IN the yard in re-
cent years has been witnessed under bet
| ter conditions than those that viii attend
this event
The day for the launching Of the battle
/ ship and the question as to who should
/ have the distinction Of naming her have
| been subjects Of much Mcclure almost
{ since the first keel plates were laid. Nat
| uraIly there were several names suggest
Cd for the honor Of Christening the ship.
! The decision was left with Senator Hale
| OF Maine who in turn referred II 10 the
| Governor Of the State 1t was only ter
days ago that Miss Anderson, who IS a
member Of the iIlustrious PreBIe- family.
members Of which are famous in the ma
val history Of the country. was chosen.
As construction on the battIeshiD was
begun on the anniversary of TIE destruc-
don Of the first Maine in Havana Harbol
the idea NJ turally arose that it would BE-
appropriate TO have her launched on tbs
( that day was suggested. and when tbs
= big ship still continued to hold her plac,
on the ways July was spoken OF as al
/ appropriate day II was only -TecentE
I Company
When the Maine goes overheard sh,
= / viii be % Der cent toward completion
| and will weigh LOO tons. The genera
| structure Of her kull Is well completed
and there remains to be constructed aGt
installed her tuFFets and 10 put al
. her aTuOr. ag well as all machinery aut
/ electrical and other mechanical appli
ancss iHbOaTd. Her place on the slip VII
r / be taken Dy the projected cruiser Penn
: syIvania, which viii then &c forward sid
- by side with her sister snip, the-CclOradO
/ As the two cruisers are much longer thai
! the battleShiD, II VIII be necessary L
/ lengthen the slip inland to receive III
q The exact minute for the launching of tn
baUleship is uncertain. butt VIII not b
before 1929 o'clock. and probably not lat
j. y than Il o'clock.