The Grit-advocate., 1902-06-27
CHRISTENED DENVER
GRAND NEW CRUISER LAUNCHED
Large Crowd of Colorado People
Watch the Cruiser Denver Glide
Into the Delaware River-Speeches
by Representative coIoradans.

al nouf or more III the Neallc " Levy
ship yards watching the ship carpen-
ters working like pygmics under the
colossal hull of the Denver. removing
blocks. strengthening stays and pul.
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.
bcrta the ships sponsor. stood on the
platform built ut 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 downpour 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
Il christen thee Denver" before the
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 river cur.
rent and pushed well out into the
stream. Two tugs then made fast and
pulled her to mornings near by.
Miss Wrights 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 pco-
pie on the stand.
When the Denver was well aflolt a
banquet was given by her builders in
the moulding loft of the works to the
noisy music Of the rain on the roof
-Four hundred and fifty guests We're
seated. AT the head table were 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 were $50
Colorado guests and at others We're EN-
ployes of the yards and friends of the
shipbuilding firm.
The Colorado guests wore handsome
oNidzcd silver badges. the gift of
Thomas Il. Walsh. and over the tables
of the Denver city seal. entwincd with
the national colors. The menu cards
We're engraved with a handsome pic
turc of the cruiser Denver on the front
page and on the reverse ii half tone of
Miss Wright. the national colors and
the Denver city seal.
President Seddinger. as toastmaster,
presented Miss Wright with magnti-
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 we'll In re-
sponsc Miss Wright said:
Il thank you for the most delightful
time | have ever had. l have antici-
pated this event for many months and
my happiest hopes concerning it are
| realized"
Mayor Ashbridge said he 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. Wempe and Mrs. Frazer
and several other ladies of Mayor
| Wrights party were 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 tho 100 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 II