The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-29

, of Navy Long, Secretary of Interior
Hitchcock, Rear-Admiral Melville, Y. ;.
N; Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engine
Owing, Rear-Admiral O'Nell, U. S. N;
Chief of Ordnance Judge Advocate Lemly,
u. S. N; Lieutenant Governor ]. n. Lee,
of Missouri, acting for Governor Dockery;
Governor Tyler, Of Virginia; Corwiu ii.
Spencer, of St. Louis. representing the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company:
Congressman Rixey, representing the
House Committee on Naval Affairs; Sen
ator Cockrell, and a number of army and
navy officers.
Mrs. Roosevelt, wife of President Roose-
welt. came up from Old Point on the
United States dispatch boat. Dolphin,
with her guests, and viewed the launching
from the steamers deck.
THREE TIMES THREE.
When the big ship had glided off the
ways into the water. the crowd on the
guests platform gave three cheers for
Miss Cockrell, three for the army and
the navy, three for Secretary Long. then
three for the shipyard.
THE BANQUET
The post-launching banquet was given
in the spacious dining room of the Cham
berlin Hotel. Old Point Comfort, and was
quite the most elaborate function of the
sort this section has ever seen.
Mr. Z. IS. Orcutt, president OF the New
port News Shiphuilding and Dry Dock
Company, made an admira BILE toastmaster
introducing each speaker with witty and
graceful remarks, and in conclusion Gis-
missing the guests with a. touching refer
ehce 10 the late Coils Z. huntington
founder of the, shpyard here.
The response of Hon. John ID Long
secretary of the Navy, was really the
feature OF the banquet, marked, as it
was, by bold and comprehensive grasp
OF the subject, a striking presentation OF
the theory of a great navy. and sien,t-
cant utterances on the question of labor.
1t IS doubtful il re has talked so freely
and frankly about the navy since he en-
tered the Cabinet.
GOVERNOR TYLER.
Another notable feature of the banquet
was the address of Governor Tyler. Gov
ernor Tyler has attended every launching
in Newport News since his incumbency
In office and is an immense fayorite
here upon such occasions His response
to-day, the last that he will make to any
toast as Governor of Virginia, was in his
best and wittiest vein, and the warm wei
come accorded him must have touched
his heart
The Governor declared that. judging by
the samples brouSh- from Missouri Vir-
ginia did not have as much advantage in
the matter of feminine beauty as he had
been taught.
The launchings, continued lhe speake.,
have gotten to be almost nlonotonous-
daily occurrence. in fact. livery time
Mr.. Orcutt and Mr.. Trigg want to have
a little fun they get UP launching. Tne
Governor asserted that II all the launch
ing speeches he lad made We're gotten
together and shot from gun they woulc
drive the navies of the world from the
high seas.
Deprecating the fact that the launch
ing had not been put off a couple of days
SO Is to give his successor an opportun-
ity to make a speech, Governor Tyler
said that already the red tinge of glory
was upon the rising sun The speaker
humorously referred to his retirement
from Office and told some good stories IL
Illustrating the situation.
ELOQUENT TRIBUTE.
Taking up a more serious strain. tire
Governor paid an eloquent tribute to the
State of Missouri and compimented the
choice of the name missouri for the
zbattleship.
The speaker said he loved to tax or