Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-26
METEOR LAUNCHED.
Christened by Miss Roosevelt,
Presidents Daughter.
Drilling Rain and InexcusabIe Actions
Of Soldiers Other Features.
Prince Henry Cables Kaiser Of the
Successful Launching.

|
| tant event in the itinerary of Prince
Henry of Prussia, today, was the
launching of the schooner yacht Me-
teor built at Shooters Island for the
princes brother, the German Emperor.
| The christening ceremony was per-
| formed by Miss Alice Roosevelt, daugh-
| ter of the President of the United
States. in the presence of the President,
the prince. German Ambassador Won
Holieben and brilliant assemblage.
The Meteor moved down the ways at
1879 A. NJ, amid scene of great en-
thuSiasm. The launching proper was
without mishap and presented grace
| full and beautiful picture, though it was
accomplished in drizzling rain and
other inauspicious atmospheric condi-
items.
The special train bearing President
Roosevelt from Washington to the
launching reached Jersey City at $40
| A. NJ. The President remained on board
| until the arrival of the princes train
| an hour later. Soon after o'clock the
President and the prince and their
suites embarked on a boat for Shoot
er's Island. The party proceeded di-
|
! 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 enthusi-
| astically. The President and prince
| with Mrs and Miss Roosevelt, arrived
on the platform at 1922 The prince
conducted Miss Roosevelt TO the small
platform Immediately under the bow of
| the boat.
During the preliminaries on the stand
a photographer from the Hohenzollern
stood by 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
levelled at the party.
| With TIE President and Mrs. and Miss
Roosevelt were the following party:
Secretary Root, Mrs. Root Miss Root.
Secretary Hitchcock. Major General
Henry g. Corbin, Mrs. Corbin, Rear
Admiral Evans, Miss Evans. Senator
Henry c. Lodge Senator Spooner. Con-
gresham Littauer, Admiral Bowles,
Commander William Cowles. Mrs.
| Cowles. Assistant Secretary of State
David j. Hill. Col. Theodore Bingham,
Mrs. Bingham, Mr.. and Mrs. George
w. Boyd and William Loeb, Jr., assist
ant private secretary to the President.
In drizzling rain, amid the roar of
cannon. great cheering and waving of
flags, the Meteor was launched. The
scene was one of animation and good
huElor. the cue for the latter spirit be-
ing taken from Prince henry and Miss
Il ~r,x
form near the Meteor. engaged in lively
conversation, laughing and joking with
democratic unceremony.
| Precisely at 1923, Miss Roosevelt
raised the bottle of champagne. which
had been encased in beautiful silver
filigree and which was suspended by a
35-foot silver chain. Dashing the bot
| tie against the side Of the vessel with
vigorous and effective hand, the wine
breaking into spray, Miss Roosevelt
said in English: "In the name of the
| German Emperor 1 christen thee Me-
! teor." Her voice was loud and clear
and could be distinctly heard on all the
surrounding platform. Then she raised
a silver axe and severed the rope hold
| ing the weight which kept the ship in
the ways and the vessel went grace
| fully into the water.
simultaneously cannon doomed and
| the noise of the guns was lost in that
| resulting from the roar of human
| voices. aided by the royal German
band. the naval militia band and sew
eral bands on board the various vessels
surrounding the island. where occu-
pants were not privileged to land Ev-
n iced har,
cheer after cheer for the President, the
prince and Miss Roosevelt
After the launching the President
presented several persons to the prince.
President Roosevelt, leaning over the
railing, shook hands with many of the
guests. who were old acquaintance.
While this scene was going on the
crowd remained continually cheering
and occasionally calling Cheers for
the Prince" Cheers for the President
or Cheers for Miss Roosevelt" The
latter mad to repeatedly bow her ac-
Acknowledgements.
The prince Immediately after the
launching sent the following cable
gram in German: ITO the German En-
perOr. Berlin: Yacht just launched I'M
der brilliant auspices. Christened by
Miss Roosevelt's hand. Beautiful
craft. Great enthusiasm. I congratu-
late you with all my heart. (Signed)
Heinrich"
Soon after the launching the Presi-
Idential party and the prince proceeded
to the hall where luncheon had been
prepared. The health of the prince
was drunk and then Prince Henry
said: ION this occasion / wish to call
for three hearty cheers for the Presi-
dent of the United States. Mr.. Roose-
welt. Hip, Hip, Hoorah."
AS the prince spoke he waved his
arms as signal and the building
shook with responsive cheers. Then
President Roosevelt raised his right
hand and when there was a silence.
said: Il ask three cheers for the guest
who has already won our hearts, Hen
ry Of Prussia. Now, good one"
President Roosevelts Hip, Hip Hoo
rah" was drowned in the roar of APP
plause that greeted the call for cheers.
Then the prince and President shook
hands warmly and as the party started
Continued on page ~ !.