Bismarck daily tribune., 1903-04-17
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
20 Croton, Conn.,, to Witness the
svent-kiss Clara Hill, Daughter Of
President Hill of the Steamship
Company, Christens the Vessel.
Company, Christens the Vessel.

New London. Conn.,, April 17.-In
tators, including many visitors from
New York, Boston and other cities, the
steamship Minnesota, the largest ves-
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 j. J. 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 snip to its place on the ways was
severed Miss Hill broke bottle OF
wine over the steel bow and named
the craft the Minnesota. With a glid-
ing movement. barely perceptible al
first, the vast mass of steel. weighing
thousands of tons, started down the
ways, and, gathering speed rapidly,
plunged into the water with a wave
under her stem that seriously threat
ened the safety of the hundreds Of
small craft in the harbor. Although
her momentum seemed Sutfi cient 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 a standstill within a
mile of the Croton shore. Tugs then
hnr in, to- nd ch hn
a dock, where she will be fitted up for
service
After the launching luncheon was
served to the guests of the shlpDulia-
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
Snipbuilding 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 the
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
wich, 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-
sirabe. 1t was estimated that there
were fully 10000 visitors in town dur
ing the morning.
The steam yacht Wacouta. bearing
President James j. Hill Of the Great
Northern Steamship company and
party, arrived early in the day after a
tempestuous 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
of the morning there.
The Minnesota is of the intermediate
cargo and passenger type. and built
under Lloyd's survey. She is $50 feet
long, 73 feet inches wide, 56 feet
high to upper deck, SS feet high t.
captains bridge, III feet high to tor
of mast, and has five continuous decks
all plated with steel.