Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-05-24

the roar Of welcome that greeted the
president from the dense crowd OF
workmen gathered upon the pier.
Ashore. to the right. was q stand
covered with 4 crowd Of people and
beyond that hill alive with them.
Up the pier board aisle OF white
muslin ran through the workmen
/ packed on either side, Up this path.
archcd over with flags and banners.
| one Of them bearing the inscription:
The Oregon has made her record:
watch the Ohio" the president and his
party moved to stand. where the rep.
resentatiye Of the $500 employees OF
] the Union Iron works. In n neat
speech. In which he asked a heartfelt
pleasing upon the head Of the presI-
dent and expressed tender sympathy
for his suffering wife. presented the
president AZ token Of the esteem Of
the workmen with a gold plate en-
graycd with n suitable inscription.
| The presidents response aroused
much enthusiasm. He told his audi
ence OF his friendship for tho work
!ngmen during his entire public car
eer and touched the hearts OF the surg
ing crowd before him az he spoke elo-
guently of the patriotic response
| which California had made during the
Spanish war. MANY eyes were wet
and more than one of the workmen
made q suspicious movement with his
l al 60
uDbidden tear. When the president
spoke Of the contentment OF the work
Ing classes. there was one dlscordant
note. A big strapping fellow. perched
upon an adjacent scaiYo'ding, with HIS
mind full q! the threatened strike.
| shouted. How about next week %
A hundred Of his companions looked
up and motioned To him To cease.
| The Launching.
Then came the launching. A plat
form had been built around the Prov
OF the big monster, which lay In the
very slip In which the Oregon was
built and from which President Har.
risen launched the monitor Monterey
10 years ago. Gathered on the plat
form were the president and members
OF the cabinet. Governor Nash OF
Ohio; Miss peshler. his niece, was
chosen to christcn the ship: Miss Bar
Der. who was to act for Mrs. Mckin-
Icy, and many uniformed officers OF
the army aud navy. Immediately at
the left was red coated band. Below
workmen were knocking away the last
| tn hall
rested upon her cradle and only a
single beam, set like a trigger and
ready TO fall aside ut u blow. held her
In place. Miss Barber and the presI-
dent stood before the electric appli.
ance which controlled the gnillotine
that was to sever the rope which
would loose tho weight that was to
knock out this last beam. Miss Bar
Der. with her finger on the button.
was looking intently at the Indicator.
At 1922 1.2. two and half minutes
before the tide was at It's highest. the
time set for the launching. there sud.
denly shot into the face OF the indl.
Gator the word " Ready" Miss Barber
pressed the button. The last block
fell away. At the same time Miss
Deshler. a young lady Of H. In a light
gown. with her dark hair braided
down her back In schoolgirl fashion.
pended at the side OF the bow by a
red white and blue ribbon. and as II
crashed against tho side she uttered
the words: II chrIstcn thee Ohio"
Released from its bonds. the heavy
hull Of $4,000 tons OF steel went
Iploughlng through the thick grease of
Its cradle. Slowly Mt first then faster
and faster. she slid down the ways.
taking the flood majestically and pill
Ing up the water In great waves be-
fore her. The band crashed. whistles
blew and tho multitude shouted. No
ship ever given to the American navy
has taken her initial plunge Into the
sea under moro favorable auspices or
In the presence Of more distinguish
cd company
The trip back to the city was almost
repetition Of the journey To the yard
Description" OF Ohio.
The Ohio Is sister ship of the
Maine. now building at the works oil
the William Cramp n Sons Ship and
Engine Building company. and OF the
Missouri. building at the yards Of the
Newport News Shipbuldlng and Dry,
dock company.
Tho hull. which In divided like those
Of tho most recent battteships. IL bniil
Of steel and Ii unsheathed. 1t IL ssa
feet long on the load water line. Z
feet 2 i.e inches extreme breadth and
at mean draft OF 80 feet o inches dis
places t2.eao tons.
The hull Is protected abreast OF the
boilers and engines by side armor
belt extending three feet six inches
above the load water line and -four
feet below II. having u thickness OF II
inches for depth Of four feet ak
inches. tapering to seven and one hall
inches at the bottom OF the belt. and