Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-05-19
ANOTHER FIGHTING SHIP
SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED.
MRS. MckINLEY'S IMPROVED con-
DITION MADE THE PRESIDENTS
PRESENCE POSSIBLE.
A SPEECH TO THE WoRKMEN
THE TRIP To AND FROM THE
SHORE TO THE SHIPYARD A
CONTINUOUS NOISY
OVATION

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1s.-Fortu-
nately Mrs. McKinley's condition to-
day permitted President Mckinley to
attend the launching of the battleship
Ohio from the yards of the Union Iron
Works.
To witness the launching of this ship,
named in honor of his native State was
the real object Of the Presidents long
trip across the continent, and was the
event which has attracted to the Pacific
coast the governors of three States, the
Ohio Congressional delegation, several
United States Senators and many other
notable and distinguished people.
Dramatic and picturesque as was the
sight of IA 900 tons of steel sliding into
the full breasted tide of San Francisco
bay, it was not so splendid and magnifi-
cent as the great naval pageant which
accompanied, nor as profoundly impress
sive as to the greeting extended to the
President by the four thousand en-
ployes of the ship yard.
With the threat of great strike i'm
pending, the Presidents words to the
workingmen to-day have an added sig
pansion and other national questions
make his speech, probably the last he
will deliver on his present tour, in
every respect a notable one.
When the President left the sick
room of his wife this morning every
arrangement had been made to notify
him on the instant of any change for
the worse in her condition.
The Physicians Assured Him
that there was no indication of a set
back, but at his request Geographic
communications were made at the
wharf and at the ship yard and save
for the time he was on the water, he
was not minnie away from direct con-
nection with the Scott residence. He
was driven to the wharf in closed
carriage escorted by a squad of mount
ed police. The cabinet and other dis
tinguished guests were already aboard
the transport tug Slooum, which was
to convey the party to the Union Iron
Works, two miles UP the bay, when he
arrived.
The Presidents flag, an eagle and
shield, on blue field. was flying from
the main mast and the union jack was
at the bow as he stepped smilinglv upon
the gangway to the accompaniment OF
the cheers of the thousands who black
ened the neighboring pier heads.
Then began the sail over the shlning
waters of the bay. 1t proved to be
triumphal journey. the like o. which
has not been witnessed in this country
since Admiral Dewey on his return from
the Philippines, sailed up the Hudson
on the Olympia.
Every craft in the harbor was decked
out in gayest attire and the city in The
background was a perfect mound Of
waving flags.
Every wharf on the sea front swarm
ed with people Up near the ship yards
the grim warships of the Pacific squad
ron were swinging at anchor with
streams of signal flags extended fore
and aft of the peaks from prov to taft
rail-
Near Goat Island lay
The Transport sheridan.
travel stained from her long journey
across the Pacific. She had just arriv-
ed from the Philippines and still had
aboard the Forty-sixth United States
volunteer infantry, which had been
brought home The President saw her
at once and requested that the course
of the Slocum should be changed to al
low him to pass near her
AS the Slocum approached the big
transport there was scene OF almost
frenzied enthusiasm aboard. The SOL
diers. all in their service uniforms
rushed to the side and rent the air with
cheer upon cheer at sight Of the Presi-
dent of the United States come 20 wei
come them home.
The band on the after deck struck up
"The Star Spangled Banner" The SOL
diers lined the rails and rat lines and
almost drowned the music with their
shouts. They swung their has and
acted like mad men Several Of them
got ont their regimental flags and
waved them franticaIly to and fro from
the bridge The ensign at the stern
was dipped again and again The
salute was answered by the Slocum.
The President was plainly moved BY
the remarkable demonstration He
stood on the lower deck uncovered
bowling and smiling and waved his
handkerchief until the sound Of the
shouting died away in the distance
This welcome from the soldiers was
only the beginning
As the Slocum drew near the line OF
steel clad thunderers OF the deep. with
tackles Lining the Nails.