The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-19
STE AMER BERKELEY
sAFE:L. Y LAUNCHED.
Glided Gracefully from Ways.
While Crowd cheered.
cHRIsTENED IN CHAMPAGNE.
hi.s Bcrtic Nol,irg, Of Richmond. Cracked
Bottle Against the vssse.'s Bow as 1t
Slipped into the Ratcr-Aulti-
tusc of People iresen,.
cHRIsTENED IN CHAMPAGNE

eI christcn thee Berkeley" said Miss
Ecrtie Noting. as the new steamship. built
by the William r. Trigg Company for
the Old Dominion Steamship Company.
TO lIy between Richmond and Norfolk.
g..ded from the ways yesterday after
moon into the new basin that has recently
been completed at the Trigg yards. Deco
rated with flags from stem to stern the
vessel TO the accompaniment OF music,
the cheers Of the assembled multitude
und the shrieks of whistles, glided grace
fully into the rurbcd waters that flow
from the mountains to the sea through
the valley of the James.
The event was scheduled TO take place
at i o'clock. hut by half-past twelve the
s crowd began to gather and when the
11our of was announced by The toounG
Of whistles the space around the launch
inE basin was black with humanity that
had faced the biting wind to witness the
launching. The weather was clear, out
cold, and tho pianks that Lad been placed
for the crowd to stand upon proved a
rodsend to them. The band played popular
airs while the crowd waited impatienty.
Shortly after o'clock the sound OF nam
mcrs eniivened the scene and the chris
4cnsng party was seen to mount the gaily
decorated stand that had been prepared
for them. The president OF the Oid DO
1niEion Steamship Company. several con-
E1essmen and officials from Washington,
The representatives of other shipping in
ferestss and large concourse OF Rlch-
snond citizens were there Mr.. IrigG, the
,,resjdent of the TrEg Company, was
absent and many expressions OF regret
that he was. on account of sickness I'M.
able to he present were heard
GRACEFUL DIP.
The sounds of many hammers were inc
signal to the crowd that the vessel was
aho,,t 10 begin her glide to the water
anu every one held his breath in expect
ancy as the supports were cut away and
fhe big vessel began to glide, Slowly at
first. but with increasing momentum, 10
tho awaiting waters. Miss Noting ralseo
The bottle of champagne Whlch- sdHy
decorated hung from the DOW OIL tle
vessel, and crashing it against the sue
of the new ship she pronounced the "o1us
that christened it the Berkeley. Inc
name is a historic one in Virginia ana re,
coils to all the staunch old royalist ana
ar;stocrat who hanged more men tnal
did Charles for the murder Oh ms
Z father and who thanked God there Were
mn free schools or newspapers IN ihe
realms Of Virginia
slowly the vessel moved at first, put
with gradually increasing momentum Shs
slid into the water. AS the BerketeS1
str,,ck the water she dipped till her ran
,yas almost awash, but quickly lishpeo
md after rocking for time or 'Wo'
,ode tho waters as gracefully as a swan.
cheer rent the air as the Nessel si
into fine water and a huge wave aivse
and washed to the other SIDE OF tiie
sin. its rushing being oroWlieu ny ~
noise of the crowd. S,1-e
The crowd now began TO oispei 90 - .,,e
,,,ont six hundred who repaired TO the
deyelopment hall at the yards. "hete
as the guests of the TrigG Company, tt1es
enjoyed ROYAL HOSPITALITY.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
Among those present at INC
,.,,-ohinr and the lunch were quite
a number of out-of-town FOL-
men. A few of them are nc ~.
1ow;nr: Mr.. w. T.. Gillaudeau, OF Nc"
wy president Of the Old Dominion
cte.mshin Company; Mr.. NJ. 3. Croweii'
~ NorfoiS. general agent of the Old DO
s,,,nion COMPANY; Captain c. A ERNEST,
~ Norfolk: Mr.. James NJ. Gllasher' OF
po+ersh,I7g: Mr.. l. NJ. Scott, of the Union
iron Works Of San Francisco: MI. V ~
Noore. Of New York, and DINERS. Mi.
Connolly Trigg was present WITH a palts
of Congressman and army oll l,,,aaa "a tra
washington. This party included 'ile
fo1Iowinr: Representatives RiSey, OF Va
Crnn,lev of Illinois; Tate, of Geor-
~. and Capron, of Rhode Island; Col.
Iohn b. Randolph from the office OF the
Senreta,v of War; Col. Charles J. Allen
and Col. A Mckenzie, of the Enslneer
Corps An effort was made TO get oe.a-
A., I.nn, and Senator Martin to attend,
INIT neither could get away.
1,hc berkeley is the second If the mer-
,bant marine vessel to be built at the
Frigg yards The Virginia, of the Ches-
snealSe and Ohio was the first She Is
me sister steamer OF the Brandon, punt
N the North. and both named for James
'1yer plantations. that were once famous,
and are now in possession OF descendants
iff anti Revolutionary owners.