Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1901-05-24
VERY DRAMATIC
And PICTURESQUE
Was the Christening Of the Big Bat.
tleship Ohio.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESIDENTS TRIP
Misc RurbeS the Niece Of Mrs. Mckinley, Per-
forms tie Function that Had Been ASS Sneo
to the Presidents Wife'.She Presses the
Button, and Miss Desher, Of Ohio, Breaks
the Bottle Of Champagne Upon the Vessel.

San Francisco, Cal. Especially For
tunately, Mrs. McKinleys condition
permitted President Mckinley to attend
tive launching of the battlcshlp ONO
from the yards of the Union Iron
Works. TO witness the launching OF this
ship, named Ohio. his native state. was
the real objective of the Presidents long
trip across the continent and was tll'
event which has attracted TO the Paci1c
Coast the governors Of three states, the
Ohio congressional delegation, several
United States senator's and many other
notable and distinguished people.
Dramatic and picturesque as was the
sight of I4,ooo tons of steel sliding mo
the fullbreasted tide of San Francisco
Bay. it was not so splendid and magnl-
hcent as the great naval pageant which
accompanied, nor as profoundly impress
sive as the greeting extended to the
President by the 1000 employees OF the
shipyard.
When the President left the sick room
of his wife every arrangement had been
made to notify him on the instant OF any
change for the worse in her condition.
He was driven to the wharf in a closed
carriage, escorted by a squad of mount
ed police. The Cabinet and other dis
tinguished guests were already aboard
the transport tug Slocum, which was to
convey the party to the Union Iron
Works.
The Presidents flag, an eagle and
shield on a blue field, was flying from
the main mast, and the Union Jack was
at the bow as he stepped smilingly upon
the gangway to the accompaniment OF
the cheers Of thousands. Then began the
sail over the shining waters of the bay.
1t proved to be triumphal journey the
like of which has not been witnessed In
this country since Admiral Dewey upon
his return from the Philippines sailed
up the Hudson on the Olympia.
Near Goat Island lay the transport
Sheridan, travel stained from her long
journey across the Pacific. She had just
arrived from the Philippines, and still
had aboard the Forty second and Forty
sixth United States Volunteer Infantry.
AS the Slocum approached the big
transport there was a scene OF frenzied
enthusiasm aboard The soldiers, all in
their service uniforms, rushed to the side
and rent the air with cheer upon cheer
at sight OF the President of the United
States come to welcome them home.
Then came the launching. A platform
had been built around the PROV of the
big iron monster, which lay in the very
slip in which the famous Oregon was
built, and from which President Harrl-
son launched the monitor Monterey 10
years ago. Gathered on the platform
were the President and members of the
Cabinet; Governor Nash, OF Ohio; Miss
Deshler, his niece, who was to christen
the ship; Miss Barber, who was to act
for Mrs. Mckinley, and many uniformed
officers of the Army and Navy.
Miss Barber and the President stood
before the electric appliance which con-
trollcd the guillotine that was to sever
the rope which would loosen the weight
that was to knock out this last beam.
Miss Barber, with her finger on the but
ton, was looking intently at the indica
tor. At I2.22H, two and a half. minutes
before the tide was at its highest, the
time set for the launching, there sudden
ly shot into the face of the indicator the
word Ready"
Miss Barber pressed the button. The
last block fell away AT the same time
Miss Deshler let go of the bottle of
champagne suspended at the side of the
bow by red, white and blue ribbon,
and. as it crashed against the side, she
uttered the words Il christen thee
Ohio"
Released from its bonds, the heavy
hull of I4.ooo tons of steel went plough
ing through the thick grease of its era
die, slowly at first, then faster and faster
she slid down the ways, taking the food
majestically, and piling up the water in
great waves before her. The band
crashed, whistles blew and the multitude
shouted
The trip back to the city was almost
repetition of the journey to the yard.
When the Slocum came alongside her
wharf the President did not wait for the
gangway to be run out He stepped over
the rail to the pier and almost ran to the
carriage which was waiting for him.
The door slammed. and he was off at
gallon for the bedside of his wife.