The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-02-28
LAUNCHING A SUCCESS
SCENES OF GREAT ENTHUsiAsM
AT CHRISTENING OF GERMAN
EMPERoR's YACHT.
NAMED BY MISS ROOSEVELT

Meteor Moved Down the Ways With.
out MIshap and Presented a Grace
full and Beautiful Pieture-Presldent
Roosevelt, Prince Henry and Bril-
liant AssembIase Viewed the cere-
mony.
New York, Feb. 26.-The all-impor-
tant event in the itinerary of Prince
Henry of Prussia was the launching
Sf the schooner yacht Meteor, built at
Shooters islands for the princes broth
er, the German emperor. The christ
ening ceremony was performed by
Miss Alice Roosevelt, daughter of the
president of the United States, in the
presence of the president, the prince,
German Ambassador Won Holleben,
and brilliant assemblage.
The Meteor moved down the ways
at 1899 a. M. amid a scene of great
enthusiasm. The launching proper
was without mishap. and presented
graceful and beautiful picture, al
though 1t was accomplished in driz-
cling rain and other inauspicious at
mospheric conditions.
The special train bearing President
Roosevelt from Washington to the
scene of the launching reached Jersey
City at $40 a. m. The president re-
NAMED on board until the arrival Of
the princes train, few moments aft
er 8 o'clock. A cylinder head of the
engine of Prince Henry's special blew
out and the train was more than an
hour late in reaching the city.
The accident occurred shortly after
leaving Baltimore. The stalled train
was pushed into Magnolia, by pas
senger train and there got a new en-
CINE.
Soon after 8 o'clock the president
and the prince and their suites en-
barked on a boat for Shooters Island.
The party proceeded directly from
the ferry boat to the stand, which had
been erected at the in-shore end Of
the ways, on which the Meteor rested,
the guns meanwhile booming salutes
and the crowd cheering enthusiast
Gcally.
The president and prince, with Mrs.
buu Miss pOOSSfOlIp O11AFOu SA SA0
platform at 1922. The
Prince Conducted Miss Roosevelt
to the small platform Immediately uH.
der the bow of the boat.
During the preliminaries on the
stand, photographer from the Hohen-
Zollern stood by with a camera and
took numerous snap shots. The
prince looked at him occasionally and
smiled. Two moving picture machines
were trained on the scene, and there
were scores Of cameras leveled at the
party.
In a drizzling rain, amid the roar
of cannon, great cheering and the wav-
ing of flags the Meteor was launched.
The scene was one of animation and
good humor, the cue for the latter spirit
being taken from Prince Henry and
Miss Roosevelt, who, standing on the
platform near the Meteor, engaged in
lively conversation, laughing and jok-
ing with democratic unceremony.
Precisely at 1888 Miss Roosevelt
raised the bottle of champagne which
had been encased in beautiful silver
filigree and which was suspended by
q 35-foot silver chain. Dashing the
bottle against the side Of the vessel
with vigorous and effective hand, the
wine breaking into a spray, Miss
Roosevelt said in English: I'm the
name of the German emperor, I christ
en- thee Meteor"
Her voice was loud and clear and
could be distinctly heard on all the
surrounding platforms. Then she
raised a silver axe and severed the
rope holding the weight which kept
the ship in the ways and the vessel
went gracefully into the water.
Simultaneously cannon doomed ano
the noise of the gun was lost In that
resulting from the
Roar of Human Voices,
aided by the Royal German band, the
naval militia band and the severa
bands on board the various vessels
surrounding the island where occu
pants were not privileged to land
Every hat was raised, and then there
was cheer after cheer for the presi
dent, the prince and Miss Roosevelt.
After the launching the president
presented several persons to thu
prince. While this scene was going
on the crowd remained, continual!
cheering and occasionally calling
"Cheers for the prince" Cheers fol
the president" or Cheers for Mis-!
Roosevelt"
The latter had to repeatedly bow he
acknowledgements. The prince imme
following cablegram in German:
ITO the German Emperor, Berlin
Yacht just launched under brillian
Nhv.f cfn hry Miss pnncn
velt's hand. Beautiful craft. Grea
enthusiasm. I congratulate you witt
all my heart"
Soon after the launching the presi
Dental party and the prince proceed
ed to the hall, where luncheon ha'
been prepared. The health OF tn
prince was drunk, and then Prince
Henry said:
for three hearty cheers for the presi
welt, hip, hip, hoorah."
AS the prince spoke, he waved hi
arms as signal and the building
shook with responding cheers. The
President Roosevelt raised his RICH
hand, and when there was silence
said:
81 ask three cheers for the CUES
who has already won our hearts, Hen
~ of Prussia. Now good one"
President Roosevelt's hip. hip, hoe
rah was drowned in the roar of ar
plause that greeted the call for cheers
Then the
Prince and President Shook Hand
warmly, and as the party started t.
leave the hall, some one among the in
vited guests shouted:
"Mr. President, I offer three cheer
Tor the young lady who has had The
honor Of launching the Meteor"
The cheers were given. The presi
Dental party and the prince and hi!
| suite then left for the Hohenzo1lerI