Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-05-22

ingmen during his entire public career
and touched the hearts Of the surg
ing crowd before him as he spoke elo'
Quently OF the patriotic response
which California had made during
the Spanish war. Many eyes were
wet and more thnn one workman
made a suspicious movement with
his coat sleeve as il To brush away n
tear.
When the president spoke Of the
contentment Of the working classes
there was one discOr1ant note. 4
big, strapping fellow. perched upon
an adjacent scaffolding, with his
mind full OF the threatened strike,
shouted: "How about next week."
A hundred of his companions looked
up and motioned to him TO cease.
Then came the launching. 4 plat
form had been built around the PROV
OF the big iron monster, which 10y in
the very slip in which the famous
Oregon was built, and from which
President Harrison launched the
Monterey ten years ago.
Gathered on the platform were the
president and members OF thecabinet,
Governor Nash of Ohio, Miss Deshler,
his niece, who was to chrlsten the
ship, Miss Barber, who was to act
for Mrs. Mckinley, and many uni.
formed officers Of the army and navy.
Immediately ut the right was red
coated band. Below workmen were
knocking away the last keel blocks
until the great steel hull rested upon
her cradle, and the only beam, set
like trigger and reudy to fall aside
at blow, held her In place.
Miss Barber and the president
stood before the electric appliance
which controlled the guillotin that
was to sever the rope which would
loose the weight that was To knock
out this last beam. Miss Barber,
with her finger on the button, was
looking intensely at the Indicator.
At l2:22b, two and half minutes be-
fore the tide was ut its highest, the
time set for the launching, there sud
denly shot into the face OF the indi-
Gator the word ready" Miss Bar
Der pressed the button. At last the
block fell away. AT the same time
Miss Deshlcr, young lady Of Il, In u
light gown, with her dark hair
braided down her back in school girl
fashion, let gotabottle OF champagne
suspended ut the side OF the boat,
decorated with white and blue rib
bon, and smashed it. As it crashed
against the side she uttered these
words: 81 christen thee Ohio" Re-
leased from its bonds, the heavy hull
Of 1900 tons of steel went plunging
through the thick grease ofits cradle.
Slowly at first, then faster and
faster she slid down the ways, taking
the flood maiestically and piling up
water In great waves before her.
The band crashed, the whistles blew
and the multitude shouted.
No ship ever given to the American
navy has taken its initial plungeinto
the sea Under moreiavorable auspices
or in the presence OF more distin-
guished company.
The plate presented to President
Mckinley by the workmen Is vi bur
nished gold jxj inches in dimensions
and surmounted by an eagle and the
American shield. The shield in the
center Is OF California gold-bearing
quartz and is ilanked on either side
by the American and California re-
public flags. At one corner OF the
plate is the seal OF California and on
the other the seal OF Ohio. In the
center Is a platinum miniature OF the
battleship Oregon and the following
inscription:
"Tocommemorate the launching of
the United States battleship Ohio.
Presented to Hon. William Mckinley,
president of the United States, by
employees OF the Union Iron works,
San Francisco, CAL"
The decorations around the border
OF the plate are Of oak leaves, inter-
twined with California p0ppies. I'm
medigtely after the launching pretty
ceremony was performed on the presi.