The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13
MARYLAND STUCK ON WAYS.
FAILURE 70 LAUNCH CRUISER
AT NEH PORT NEWS.
Vessel Slides Partly Into the Water. but
the Bow Does Not Leave the Ways
Tugs and steamers Fail to Bulge
Her-TalIow May Have Melted Away.


NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Sept. 12.-The
launching Of the armored cruiser Maryland
here to-day was married by an unexpected
accident. As the ship slid down the ways
into the water at high rate Of speed she
was brought to a sudden stop while her
bow still rested upon the end Of the ways.
Although five tugs pulled and hauled
at the vessel for three hours she stuck
fast and UP to late hour tonight remained
in the same position.
The last timber holding the cruiser to
the land was severed at l28 o'clock, and at
once the ship began to move. Miss Jennie
Scott Waters. the sponsor, tossed the bottle
of wine against the PROV Of the vessel
1t did not break. As the bottle swung
back toward the christening stand. Calvin
b. circuit, president of the shipbuild-
ing company, grabbed it and passed it
quickly back to Miss Waters.
This time Miss Waters was more success
full, for che smashed the bottle, the cham
payne trickling down the side of the vessel
as she murmured. Il name thee Mary
land" The bottle incident was regarded
as a sign of i'll omen by those on the plat
form, but they were little prepared for
what followed.
The cruiser moved swiftly down the ways
and the air was rent with the din Of hun
dreds Of steam whistles and the noise OF
thousands of voices. The stern OF the
ship took to the water with splash and the
vessel Slid easily into the river until only
her bow remained on the ways.
The vessel came to a halt with sudden
ness that Jared every one on board. and
did not move further.
As rule, launched vessels are carried
by their own momentum far out into the
middle Of the James River, where they
are laid hold of by waiting tugs and towed
to one Of the shipyard piers.
The Maryland stuck just at the foot OF
the ways on which she was built, her bow
elevated several feet above the stern,
which appeared to be afoat. There WAS
a wild scramble for the shore on the part
Of the spectators.
No one knew what had happened. The
three tugs which were lying in wait for
the ship in the middle Of the stream moved
hurriedly in and attached their hawsers
to the ST ern OF the ship. For fifteen minutes
they rugged in vain and they were then
Tt enforced by two more tugs and two
steamboats,.
The seven steamers tugged and hauled
at the ship, but they did not succeed in NOV
ing her. Men were sent down into the
cruisers hold to ascertain IL any damage
had bsen done. So far as could he seen
from the interior everything was intact.
After pulling for several minutes the
steamers gave up the task and steamed
away. but the tugs continued. Several
hawsers were snapped during the after
noon, but up to nishtfall the ship had not
been moved an inch.
Tonight several other tugs were sent to
help pull the Maryland of ard it ia hoped
to get her into deep water at high tide at
o'clock tomorrow morning. 1t is not be-
lieved that the ship is aground, as water at
that PORT is thirty feet deep.
One of the naval officers stationed here
said this evening that he believed the ex-
treme heat had melted the tallow ON the
ways and caused 1t to run of, making the
vessel stick. Divers will be sent down
Tomorrow morning to examine the ships
bottom and to ascertain the real cause Of
the accident
The launching was attended by Gov.
Smith Of Maryland, Assistant Secretary Of
the Navy Darling Gov. Montague OF Vir-
gnia, Senator Martin and a distinguished
gathering. After the launch failure the
shipbuilding company entertained the
guests at a collation. at the Chamberln
Hotel and tonight a grand ball was given.