Evening star., 1902-02-25
THE METEOR'S LAUNCH
Kaiser's Yacht Set Ahoat
With Great Success.
PLANS WERE PERFECT
BAD WEATHER THE ONLY MAR
TO THE EVENT.
Miss Roosevelt Carried Out Her Part
Of the Program With
Great Eclat.
PLANS WERE PERFECT

capnon, the German emperor's new
schooner yacht Meteor was launched from
Shooters Island today.
Unlike the weather, the arrangements
were perfect. 0nd untoward incident
marred the occasion. The President, Mrs.
and Miss Roosevelt, Prince Henry and the
distinguished party accompanying them
were enthusa stically cheered arriving
at the platform built just back of the bow
of the Meteor. Without delay. after greet
ings had been exchanged. Miss Roosevelt
stepped forward. and, taken hold of a sill
ver-covered bottle containing German cham
pagne. broke it on the side of the vessel.
Immediately she seized a silver and
severed the rope which released the weights
holding the Meteor The essel went grace
fully into the water, the American flag
breaking out at the staff rail. American
and German national airs were played and
from the scores of craft containing eNcur-
sionists came enthusiastic cheering.
Arrival of the President.
The special train bearing President Roose-
welt from Washington to the launching
reached Jersey City at $40 am
The President remained on board until
the arrival of the princes train, a few
moments after o'clock.
A cylinder head on the engine of Prince
Henry's special ulew out and the train was
more than an hour late in reaching Jersey
City. The accident occurred shortly after
leaving Baltimore. The stalled train was
pushed into Magnolia, Md, by passenger
train and got a new engine. There were
some minor delays route, occasioned by
the change of schedule
Soon after o'clock the President and
the prince and their suites embarked on a
boat for Shooters Island, where the
launching was to take place.
The Philadelphia had time to spare on
the run down 10 Shooters Island, and it
was decided to swing around the special
squadron at anchor off Staten Island. The
squadron hred tWenty-one guns and manned
sides In honor of the President. The flag
ship Illinois and the Cincinnati fired first
and then the Olympia and San Francisco
offered their tribute of powder President
Roosevelt and Prince Henry were photo
graphed together and then took a brisk
walk together through the cabin of the
ferryboat. 1t was damp and chilly on the
bay and exercise was welcome.
Cold Rain Falling.
The weather was most inauspicious.
fine cold rain was falling and the harbor
was covered with mist. The boat proceed
ed direct to Shooters Island, where a guard
OF police and naval militia had been on
duty since early morning
When the prince alighted from the train,
and, accompanied by his suite passed
through the station to the boat, there was
the usual great crowd of commuters who
cheered him heartily. The ovation was re-
peated when few moments later Presi-
dent Roosevelt traversed the same route
The ferry boat Philadelphia had been
tt,,rr H.
the prince since 7 o'clock. She lay in the
northern slip of the PENNSYLVANIA station.
From her tall midship flagstaff futtered the
stars and stripes. Forward was hoisted a
flag with a white maltese cross on a yellow
Background. On round disc In the CEN
ter was the Prussian eagle in black, while
the royal emblem of Prussia and the i'm
perial crown of Germany were scattered
all over the yellow field OF the flag Aft
was hosted the blue flag of the President
OF the United States. The presidential
party breakfasted on the train while
waiting for the prince. When President
Roosevelt appeared he was accompanied by
Mrs. Roosevelt and Miss Alice Roosevelt.
He touched his hat time and again to the
cheering multitude.
Guard of Secret Service Men.
Root and Mrs Root and Miss Root and
both the other members of the party De-
tectives and secret service men brought up
front and rear.
On board the ferry boat the President at
once Joined the prince forward on the upper
deck, where they remained for some time
In view of the cheering passengers or the
crowded ferry boats in other slips
The President and Prince Henry arrived
AT Shooters Island at 9::So am. They were
received with cheers by those present and
the presidential and royal saIutes. twenty
one guns each. were fired.
Shooters Island. in anticipation of the
arrival of the distinguished visitors pre-
sont'd the appearance this morning of a
military encamplnent rather than the scene
of an event of international comfy. Two
battalions of naval militia reached the
island at o clock and were post ed at vari-
Gus points between the landing stage and
the scene of the launching. They We're sup
plemented later by a squad of petty officers
and sailors from the Hohenzoilern, who
though not under arms, presented a mill
tary aspect. Police swarmed everywhere
over the little island. and the snow-covered
hills of Mariners harbor, across the Kill,
were manned by 30 policemen. Out in the
bay revenue cutters, naval tugs and police
patrol boats manned by naval militia and
bluecoats, darted about to keep the excur-
sion fleet back of an imaginary line.
The party proceeded directly from the
ferryboat TO the stand, which had been
erected at the inshore end of the ways on
which the Meteor rested. The President
and prince. with Mrs. and Miss Roosevelt,
arrived on the platform at 1922. The prince
conducted Miss Roosevelt to the small plat
form Immediately und the bow Of the
boat. On this platform at the time of the
iaunching were President Roosevelt, Prince
Henry. Mrs Roosevelt, Miss Roosevelt, the
mayor of New York and Ambassador Won
Holleben. While waiting the prince and
Miss Roosevelt chatted. The entire as
semblage taking it's cue from the prince
an. the President 3 daughter, was In merry
mood. Exactly at 1v:33 Miss Roosevelt