Morris tribune., 1903-04-18
LARGEST CARGO CARRYING YES.
Sci IN THE WORLD GIVEN
HER INITIAL DIP.
IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT
Estimated That Ten Thousand People
From Nearby States Make the Trip
to croton, Conn, to Witness the
Event-Miss Clara Hill, Daughter of
President Hill of the Steamship
Company, christens the Vessel.
Company, christens the Vessel.

Company, Christens the Vessel.
New London, Conn.,, April 17.-In
the presence of thousands of spec
tators, including many visitors from
New York, Boston and other cities, the
steamship Minnesota, the largest YES
sci ever built in this country and the
greatest cargo carrier in the world
was launched during the day at the
yards of the Eastern Shipbuilding
company at Croton. The sponsor OF
the mammoth ship was Miss Clara
Hill, daughter of ]. ]. Hill, president
of the Great Northern Steamship com
pany, for whom the vessel was built,
to become a part of the company'S
Pacific and Oriental carrying service.
AS the last restraining link that held
the ship to it's place on the ways was
severed Miss Hill broke a bottle OF
wine over the steel bow and named
the craft the Minnesota. With Gid
ing movement, barely perceptible at
first, the vast mass of steel weighing
thousands of tons, started down the
ways, and, gathering speed rapidly,
plunged into the water with wave
under her stern that seriously threat
ened the safety of the hundreds of
small craft in the harbor. Although
her momentum seemed sufficient to
carry her far over to the other side of
the wide harbor, the precautions taken
to slacken her speed were sufficient
to bring her to standstill within
mile of the Croton shore. Tugs then
took her in tow and she was guided to
dock, where she will be fitted up for
service.
After the launching luncheon was
served to the guests of the shipbuild-
ing company in the mold left of the
yard.
Preparations for the Launching.
Final preparations for the launch.
ing of the Minnesota were begun early
in the day at the yard of the Eastern
Shipbuilding company in Croton, the
entire force being busy in knocking
away the heavy blocking and getting
every last detail in readiness for the
initial plunge of the big ship into thu
water While the preliminary work
was going on thousands of people
from various vantage points watched
the labors of the men and viewed the
immense proportions of the Minnesota
and her sister vessel, the Dakota
which is to be launched few months
hence. Every trolley car from Nor
witch, vehicles from the suburban dis
tricts and special trains on the New
York, New Haven and Hartford road
brought loads of spectators and by II
o'clock the streets bore the appear
ance of university boat race day. The |
weather was cloudy A stiff northeast |
gale was blowing and the air was
chilly enough to make heavy coats de- |
sirable. 1t was estimated that there |
were fully 10000 visitors in town dur
ing the morning.
The steam yacht Wacouta, bearing |
President James ]. Hill of the Great
Northern Steamship company and
party, arrived early in the day after
sound trip from New
York Miss Clara Hill, daughter of
President Hill, was one of the party |
President Hills party were taken to
the sbipyard and passed a large part
IF the morning there.
The Minnesota is of the intermediate
cargo and passenger type, and built
under Lloyds survey. She is $50 feet
ong, 73 feet 6 inches wide, Sc feet
nigh to upper deck, SO feet high to
captains bridge, 1T feet high to top
Of mast, and has five continuous decks,
LII plated with steel.