The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-21

Newport News, Va, April 1S.-With
a military and tremendous demonstra-
ton the United States armored cruiser
West Virginia was successfully launch
in the presence Of a throng of $4,000
people. A street pageant in which mill
tary companies from several Virginia
cities, an artillery battalion from Fort
Monroe, and the officers marines and
sailors of the German cruiser Gazelle,
participated, preceded the launching
ceremonies.
Miss Katherine Vaughan White, eldest
daughter of Governor Albert B. White,
of West Virginia, was the fair sponsor
of the occasion and christened the war
ship with a bottle of champagne as the
cruiser slipped down the ways into the
placid waters of the James river. On
the platform beside the new warship
was a distinguished assemblage, includ-
ing Governor White, of West Virginia.;
Governor Montague, of Virginia, his
secretary and staff, Senator and Mrs.
Martin, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Darling, Congressman Alton B.
Dayton, Rear Admiral O'Neill, chief Of
the bureau Of ordnance; Rear Admiral
Bradford, head of the bureau of equip
ment and supplies; Rear Admiral Tay-
lor, head of the navigation bureau;
D. A Green, chief in the bureau Of con-
struction and repairs; w. J. Hughes,
of the department of justice: Captain
S. c. Lemly, Judge Advocate General
of the Navy; M. D. O'Connor, solicitor
of the treasury department; Hon. j. A.
Hull, of Iowa, chairman Of the house
committee on military affairs, and these
members of congress; j. G. Cannon, Of
Illinois; Hon. B. B. Dovener, of West
Virginia; ex-senator Charles J. Faux
ner. of West Virginia.; State Senator c..
w. Swisher, of West Virginia.
A pleasant incident of the day was
the friendly feeling and the exchange
Of courtesies between the United States
officers and the officers and men of the
German WarShip.
Calvin B. Orcutt, president of the
Newport News Shipbuilding Company,
escorted to the christening platform
Miss Katharine Vaughan White, eldest
daughter of Governor Albert B. White,
of West Virginia. who was officially in
vited by the navy department to be
sponsor for the West Virginia. Miss
White was attended by three maids OF
honor. her sisters. Miss Grace White
and Miss Ethel White and Miss Ashton
Wilson, daughter of Ex-Governor Will
son. In the christening party were also
the governor and Mrs. White.
AS soon as the ceremonies were over
President Orcutt conducted the guests
numbering some five hundred persons,
to the steamboat "Newport News
aboard which the party went to Old
Point Comfort, where they were tender
ed a banquet by Newport News Ship
building and Dry Dock Company ir
the dining room of the Hotel Chamber
lain. Among the distinguished guests
present were Governor White, of West
Virginia, and Military staff, Governor
Montague, of Virginia, and the mem.
bers of his staff; officers Of the army
and navy, and prominent citizens Of
the TWO NlTSlQldS. IItSluSIIh olCut
was toast master.
Others who accepted invitations to the
banquet were Senators Elkins anC
Scott, of West Virginia and Representa-.
tives Dovoner, Gaines, woodward
Hughes and Dayton, Of the same state
| Hon Henry G. Davis, George w. Stew
| ems, Decatur Axtell, T. F. Sullivan, Jos
Bryan, H. T. Wyckham, E. D. Hotch
| kiss, c. E. Doyle, Major E. T. Meyers
John Shelton Williams, c. D. Land
| horne, Virginius Newton and Arthur
B. Clark.
| The West Virginia, which is a sister
| ship to the California and Pennsylva
| MIA, is an armored cruiser of IL, 900 ton!
| displacement. The hull is of steel anC
| measures on load water line 502 feet
extreme beam 50 feet 1-2 inches. Th'
vessel has a normal displacement o
1856 tons, with all ammunition anC
stores on board, of 1904 tons. Th,
| designed indicated horsepower of tn
cruiser is $4,000 to produce q speed o
| % knots. With a complement Of 4
officers and 7S3 seamen and marines
the vessel will be the floating home o
| $50 men.
| Five feet below and four above nor
NAL load line from stem to stern tn
J cruiser will have an armor belt 81,