The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-27
PRICE One CENT.
THE new MAINE LAUNCHED
Battleship Leaves the Ways at the
Cramps Philadelphia Yard.
She Enters the Delaware ia the
Presence of a distinguished As
sembIaEc--Christen by Hfss Mary
PrebIc Andcrson-Csoy. Hiii Present

Presence of DAstinEu As
sembIaEc--Sbriste by Hiss Mary
PrcbIc Anderson-Goy. Hiii Present
PHILADELPHIA, July z7.-The new
battlesbip Maine was launched a.
Cramps shipyard at 1874 O'Clock this
morning y great crowd saw the vessel
take her maiden plunge in the waters o.
the Delaware The big hull was let 90
just as the tide sIackened and slid down
the ways without hitch.
The sponsor, robed IN white, with up
raised hand tightly cIaspins a saiiy be-
decE>ed bottle OF wine, stood upon plat
form right under the bow OF a greaS red
hull, which lowered above her ike a vast
mountain. the sound Of five score ham
mers striking upon wood smote the air,
there was q moments hush, then four
men with doubIe-handled saws cut al
most through the. heavy oaken shoe on
the ways: then 1000 persons banked on
q platform behind and on the ground TO
the right and left Of the woman watched
in silence. A slight. grey-bearded man
stood at the w0man's side and scanned
with quick eye the movements Of the
sawmen below him. Suddenly, he turned
TO the woman and said quickly, Nov"
The woman stepped forward. swung the
beribboued bottle against the steel hull,
and cried:
i christen thee Maine"
Just for an instant the great red mass
trenbIed and then with rush and a roar
it slipped into the waiting river, slowly at
first but gathering momentum as it sped.
a cheer like the voice of an army went
US as the vessel struck the water, dipped
until her stern was almost awash. then
shook itself ike Il great living thing, and
rode the waves ike a bit OF foam
The guests were II their places on the
Christening stand before 10:50 O'Clock At
that hour the upper gates to the yard
were opened and the general
public was allowed chance
to get within good view
ing, distance Of the vessel As several Of
the slips north of the Maine were vacant,
there was an excellent opportunity for
the large crowd that was present 70 Wit
ness the event
Miss Mary PTeble Anderson. the young
woman on whom had been conferred the
honor CT standing Sponsor for the new
Maine, arrived from Portland last night
In the party We're also Mrs John F. HiH,
wife Of the Governor Of the Pine Tree
State; Mrs Harry Anderson, Of Port
land, Mrs. John 7 Richards, Col Fran
els keefc, and John Z. Eiggett, Of Angus
ia The Governor and his party arrived
early this morning. Miss Anderson is .
descendant cf Commodore PrebIe, one Of
the men famous in American naval his
tory.
The greatest care had been taken to
make the launch Of the successor to the
famous old Maine a complete success
Charles Il. Cramp, president Of the ship
building company, had given more OF his
personal attention to the preparations for
this launching than to any previous event
OF q similar kind
The list of distinguished guests Included
Senator'S Frye and Hale Of Maine, and
Governor Hill OF the same State; Rear
Admiral BowIes, Chief Of the Bureau OF
Naval Construction. and Rear Admiral
Hichborn, retired, who was Chief Con
structor when the Maine was designed;
Rear admiral Evans. and Rear Admiral
John c. Walker
The date Of the act authorizing the
building OF the new Maine was May 4.
1855. The contract was signed on October
I, Of the same year and the first keel
plates were laid on February Is, 1853 Un-
der the contract she was TO have been
completed on June /. of this year, but the
controversy over arTnor plate delayed her
construction and an extension Of time
was granted
/ The Maine represents another step IN
/ the development Of the battleship- In her
/ construction the omission Of wood has
I been carried TO Il greater extent than in
( the older ship Whatever wood Is used
/ is nrsproof except the Georgia pine
| pIanks on the weather deck.
! The Names boilers are already built
and her engines are far advanced once
/ afoat it viii not take long to place all
/ OF her pouderous machinery in the hull
/ The placing of the armor plate and the
! setting up Of the battery viii take more
| time Unless, however, Unforeseen delays
! should occur. next summer will see the