The Springfield herald., 1902-06-27
CHRISTENED DENVER
GRAND NEW CRUISER LAUNCHED
Large Crowd Of Colorado People
Watch the Cruiser Denver Glide
Into the Delaware River-Speeche es
by Representatiye Coloradans,

by Representative Coioradans.
Philadelphia. June -. Yesterday
afternoon. in the midst of pouring
rain, several hundred people stood for
an hour or more in the Neafie X Levy
ship yards watching the ship carpen-
ters working like pygmies under the
colossal hull of the Denver. removing
blocks, strengthening stays and put
ting ways in shape to have the vessel
glide without hindrance into the Della
ware. and for nearly an hour Mayor
Wright and his daughter, Miss Ro-
berta, the ships sponsor. stood ON the
platform built at the vessels bow
ready to perform the ceremony of
christening in the customary and ira
ditional manner. There was long wait
Ing In the fierce downpo'ir of rain for
Mrs. Wright and other ladies in the
mayors immediate party and they
were finally given up and the word was
given to cut the last block holding the
ship on the ways
\ carpenter sawed through the block,
and as the timber parted with sharp
crash, Miss Wright struck the steel
keel of the ship Il resounding blow
with the christening bottle of cham
pagne. She had barely time to say
bow was sliding swiftly down the in
cline into the waters of the Delaware
river.
When the Denver struck the water
she turned slightly with the i'i;cr cur.
rent and pushed well out into the
stream. Two tugs then made fast and
pulled her to moorings near by.
Miss NNright's part of the ceremony
was well performed. Mayor Wash
bridge was prompt to congratulate Ter
upon her success and he was followed
by Mayor Wright. Senators Patterson
and Teller and all of the Colorado peo-
pie on the stand.
When the Denver was well atioat n
banquet was given by her builders in
the moulding loft of the works 10 the
noisy music of the rain ON the roof.
-Four hundred and fifty guests We're
seated. At the head table We're Presi-
dent Seddinger. toastmaster Miss RO-
berta NJ. Wright. Mayor Wright. Mayor
Ashbridge, Congressman Burke of
Philadelphia. Senators Teller and Pat
terson. Representatives Shafroth and
Bell, and Rev. Mr.. Wood of Philadel-
phia. At adjoining tables We're $50
Colorado guests and ut others We're em-
ployes of the yards and friends of the
shipbuilding firm.
The Colorado guests wore handsome
oNidized silver badges. the gift of
Thomas Il. Walsh. and over the tables
at which they sat were large facsimiles
of the Denver city seal. entwned with
the national colors. The menu cards
Were engraved with n handsome pic
ture of the cruiser Denver on the front
page and on the reverse Il half tone of
Miss Wright. the national colors and
the Denver city seal.
President Seddinger. as tOastmaster,
presented Miss Wright with Il magnifi-
cent memorial medal set in jewels. and
with big bouquet of American Beau
ty roses. He told her she had done her
days work nobly and well. In re-
sponse Miss Wright said:
Il thank you for the most delightful
time l have ever had. l have antici-
pated this event for many months and
my happiest hopes concerning it are
realized
Mayor Ashbridge said lie was not
present officially. but simply to pay his
respects to the people of Denver and
Colorado. He called attention rather
sharply TO the slip in the arrangements
whereby Mrs. Wright and her daugh-
ters, Mrs. Wemple and Mrs. Frazer
and several other ladies of Mayor
Wrights party We're left at their hotel
and missed being present at the
launching.
Had the city of Philadelphia had
charge of the arrangements this would
not have occurred was his comment.
Mayor Wright thanked the $50 Colo
RADIO people present for their loyalty to
Colorado interests in attending the
launching. He told of the present
Denver proposes giving the cruiser
a silver bell weighing 400 pounds and
$4,000 punch bowl 10 hold half bar
rel.
Mayor Wright tried to soften Mayor
Ashbridge's sharp criticism by thank
ing President Seddinger for courtesies
shown the Colorado party.
Senator Patterson said the new
cruiser is said to be noted for speed
and fighting ability; these are qualities
which distinguish the city for which
the cruiser is named. Denver is the
sN'iftest and most pugnacious city of
the country. He hoped the Denver
would never have to fire hostile shot,
but if war should come he knew the
Denver will be in the forefront of bat
tle
Representative Shafroth said Colo
RADIO had always stood up for an eff
cient navy and had always voted in
congress for building more and the
best ships. They We're repaid last week
when Pennsylvania and other eastern
states voted for the irrigation bill.
Senator Teller said: I'VE don't build
ships in Colorado. but we know their
value" He hoped to be present when
the Colorado, now building ut Cramps,