Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-16
NEWLO LONDON'SDAY
Thousands of People Crowded
 Into the City. -s,
|To SEE BOAT LAUNCHING.

Miss Hill, Who Is Sponsor for the New
 Boat, the Minnesota, Arrived from
 New York Early To-day-The Usual
 Squad of Pickpoekets Made Things
 Lively for the Police.
 New London. April 16.-From early this morning the crowds began to ar rive here to view the launching ot the steamship Minnesota. Every trolley car from Norwich, vehicles from the suburban districts, and special trains on the Consolidated railroad from the east and the west, and on the Central Vermont railway, brought large crowds, and by 10 o'clock the streets bore somewhat the appearance of race day.
 As early as o'clock people com menced to pour through the gates of the two ferryboats and by 10 o'clock s the roadway opposite the entrance of the Eastern Shipbuilding Co.'S plant was black with people, waiting for the opening of the gates at 11:45. Some brought step ladders to place against the fence, thus obtaining a grand stand view of all that was going on Lunch stands were doing an immense busl- ness
 The weather is cloudy and cold. A stiff northeast gale is blowing and there is a chill in the air which be- hooved everyone to take along their heavy coats and wraps. By Il o'clock there was a congestion of people at the Union station. Two big steamers. the Rhode Island and Block Island. began receiving their crowds at that time and the two ferrys opposite the depot forced the crowd to that point.
 Pickpockets began plying their call ing early and the police force, aug mented for the occasion. was busy talk ing them in.
 The railroad companies have every crossing guarded by extra fagmen to prevent accidents.
 Tn the hotels an animated crowd jostled each other good naturedly all the morning.
 Flags and bunting is layishly dis played.
 A safe estimate of the strangers Ill town is 10000.
 The special trains from New York and Boston. bearing the shipbuildine company's guests. were run direct te Poquonnock, and there switched to the spur track. leading directly into the yard of the company. There were three trains in all, bearing notaDles from, all oTer.sthes country;,
 James !. Hill and party arrived dur. ing the night on the steam yacht Wa conta. after tempestuous passage OF the Sound from New York.
 The party bestirred themselves early and Miss Hill, who is sponsor or the Minnesota. obtained her first view o1 inc big ship from the yachts deck aS she swung in the stream.
 The launching was set for l2:2U but it was 2:15 before the Minnesota took her first dip into the water
 Thousands of visitors from New York
 Boston and other cities watched th'
 boat glide into the water. She wa the largest steamship ever built il
 this country and the greatest carg
 carrier in the world. The launch
 ing took place from the yards of tn
 Eastern Shipbuilding Go ini Groton
 The sponsor of tue mammoth sh11
 was Miss Clara Hill. daughter of ;.
 T. Hill. president of the Great NortE
 ern Steamship Go. for whom the yes
 sel was built. She will soon becom
 part of the company's Pacific an
 Oriental carrying service. Afte
 the launching luncheon was served t
 the guests of the company in the mol
 loft in the yards.