Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-05-28

At San Francisco, amid the booming OF
the big guns of the warships, the shrek
of thousands of steam whistles and the
cheers of $4,000 people, the battleshlp
Ohio at 1926 Saturday afternoon took
its first dip into the sea. Miss Barber,
a niece of Mrs. Mckinley, pressed the
button that released the big hull and
Miss Helen Deshler of Ohio broke the
bottle of champagne and gave to the new
fighting machine its name.
Fortunately Mrs. Mckinley's condition
permitted President Mckinley TO attend
the launching from the yards of the
Union iron works. To witness the launch
ing of this ship, named in honor OF his
native State, was the real object of the
Presidents long trip across the CONT
nent, and was the event which has at
tracted to the Pacific coast the Governors
of three States, the Ohio congressional
delegation, several United States Sena-
tors and many other notable and distin-
guished people.
Dramatic and picturesque as was the
sight of $4,000 tons of steel sliding into
the full-breasted tide of San Francisco
bay, it was not so splendid and magniti-
cent as the great naval pageant which
accompanied, nor as profoundly impress
i've as the greeting extended to the Presi-
dent by the 1850 employees of the ship
yard.
President Welcomes Soldiers.
The transport Sheridan arrived from
Manila during the day, with large num-
Der of soldiers on board, and as it steam
ed into the harbor the presidential party,
on the Slocum, steamed out to and
around the transport. 1t was but a few
seconds before the soldiers, crowding on
the rails of the transport, recognized the
President, and their enthusiasm at the
unexpected welcoming by their President
knew no bounds.
The President drove rapidly through
the streets and was cheered enthusiast
tically and in response repeatedly lifted
his hat. Arrived at the transport dock,
he boarded the government tug SlOcum,
which was to carry the presidential par
ty and congressional delegation and 9th
er favored guests to the scene of the
launching at the Union iron works. Be
sides the cabinet members and the la
dies, there were on board the little vessel
Gov. Nash of Ohio and his staff, Miss
Barber, niece of Mrs. Mckinley, and
Miss Deshler and her sister.
a great fleet of craft of every possible
description had preceded the President
out into the blue waters of the bay, all
loaded down to the waters edge with
masses of humanity anxious to do the
President honor. 1t was a glorious sight.
Flags and bunting Streamed from their
fastenings in the cool breeze, flags fut-
tered and streamers of national colors
trailed in the wind. Bands played pOpu-
lar airs and there was an incessant cheer
ing. Added to the noise which issued
from the smaller craft in the bay was
the boom of the cannon from several
warships anchored in the harbor. All
along the water front the fleet of boats
were given oyatons and returning cheers
and salutes were echoed all down the
bay.
The Ohio party boarded the steamer
ResOlute and the United States steamer
Mcdowell conveyed Gen. Shafter and
his officers OF the post and the women
of their party TO the scene of the festivi-
ties. Barges without number, loaded to
their utmost capacity, were towed down
the bay by powerful tugs and in and
out Of the procession steamed the gov
eminent tugs Governor Markham and
Governor Irwin. bearing Gov. Gage and
his staff and other State officers.
President Mckinley arrived at the
Union iron works shortly after 10 o'clock.
There he found the 5000 employees as
sembled in the big yard. The President
was greeted with a cheer and was pre-
sented a gold plate in memory of the oc-
casiOn. He spoke briefly to the men.
thanking them for the gift and compl-
menting them on their skill as wOrkmen.
Big shin Goes Into the Sc,
The ceremonies were simple, but signif-
cant. There was the formal exchange
of acceptance on the part of the govern
ment and then, the tide having reached
its flood, the word was given. The bot
tie of California champagne depended
from the bow by ribbons of red, white
and blue braided into a rope.
At 1926 sharp Irving NJ Scott gave
Miss Barber the signal and she touched
the magic electrical machine. The gull
lotine shot downward like a flash and
severed the cord. The dog shore toppled
over of its own weight and the cleverly
constructed system of props caved in like
a house of cards.
i As soon as the launching was over
President Mckinley boarded the Slocum
and FASTENED back to the dock. He was
impatient to be once more at the bedside
of his sick wife. Without waiting for
the gang plank to be run out he stepped
over the rail to the pier, hurried to a
carriage in waiting and was driven rap
idly to the Scott residence