New-York tribune., 1903-04-17
GIANT CARRIER AFLOAT.
MINNESOTA LAUNCHED.
Huge Steamship Takes the Water
EnreJoped IN a Cloud of Smoke.


nearly two hours delay. successfully
launched here to-day. a few minutes after
o'clock The launch was in several respects
unique
The trippers parted with report like that OF
= small cannon without the usual preTnonttory
cracking Of the parting fibre Of the wood. and
before they were sawed two-thirds through.
The tremendous mass seemed TO consume nearly
half minute in moving the first six inches,
then gathered velocity with great rapidity. a
third OF the distance down the ways blue smoke
generated by the great friction began curling
from beneath the bow, and before the leviathan
was warerborne. her bow and quarters were en-
rfrelv enveioped in the dense cloud. A similar
scene was never before witnessed, IL is said, at
8 launching in this country.
As the great mass began to move workman
mounted the front end OF the cradle and swing
ing his arms and shouting, was borne down
with the ship. Halfway down. when the speed
attained had become highly dangerous. he
leaned to the creased ways. fell at full length.
and was picked up by other workmen, groan-
ing with pain. Il said later that his in
fUries we're confined TO severe bruises.
The delay in the launch was caused by such
heavy pressure the midship blocks on the
port side that they could be removed only by
choppins them away.
There were thousands Of spectators. including
ms n.
oities. when the Minnesota. the largest vessel
ever built in this country. and the greatest cargo
carrier IN the world, was launched at the yards
OF the Eastern Shipbuilding Company, across
the Thames River from this city. The sponsor
of the mammoth ship was Miss Clara Hill.
daughter Of J. ]. Hill. president Of the Great
Northern Steamship Company, for whom the
vessel was built, TO become part of the COM
pany's Pacific and Oriental carrying service.
AS the last restraining link that held the ship
10 its place on the ways was severed, Miss Hill
broke a bottle of Mumul's champagne over the
steel bow and named the craft the Minnesota
With gliding 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 a
wave under her stern that seriously threatened
the safety Of the hundreds Of small craft in the
harhor. Although her momentum seemed sufi-
cient 10 carry her far over to the other side OF
ne wide harbor the precautions taken TO
slscken her speed were sufficient TO bring her 10
: standstiII within half a mile Of the Groton
shore Five tugs gathering quickly about her,
-ool The big craft in tow. and, after some OF
the lumber beneath her had been cleared away.
she vas guided 20 a dock. where she Will be
fitted I'D for service.
L was estimated that there we're fully ten
thousand visitors IN town during the morning
S-H7
rfu and party. arrived in the harbor early IN
-. dax after tempestuous Sound trip from
New-York Miss Clara Hill was one Of the
MARTY she was astir early. and obtained from
The Yachts deck her first view Of the big ship
of which she was to be the sponsor President
Hills party was taken in launches 10 the ship
ward. ard passed & large part Of the morning
there.
After the launching luncheon was served 10
the
mould loft Of the yard Mr.. Hill was received
with enthusiastic cheering when he arose to
speak,
In railway transportation We lead the world,
said he In the United Kingdom it costs 81 30
TO snip a ton Of freight one hundred miles in
Germany. s.: in France, 81 10; in Russia. 81 30;
whereas the average for the United States is
onlv - cents l hope may in some manner
have contributed TO this result But IN steam
ship TRANSFORMATION are children To-Day
any cd tramp steamer or any na1loh, lnat sIIeS
an American vessel putting into harbor Win
bundle OF freight VIII shout; Drop IhaL puLule
and Immediately the bundle drops win that
great vessel out there riding at anchor Qoh
,s-snr 10 be told TO drop any bundle Moreover,
I now give notice TO all corners that 1 VIII NOT
6-or i once the American merchant marine
was the envy Of nations; and with progressive
and liberal treatment at the hands of the gov
eminent our flag shall again be supreme on the
high seas
merger agitation. Mr- Hill. after thanking an
present for cooperation n ILe SdCOS9o Va III
In order to develop our commerce with the
Orient and meet the competition OF nations
there must exist power Of control that can
ro ec- and forward II. But now we are told
thar such power is a crime and that he VINO
exercises IL is a criminal now mere pIeau
guilty 70 that crime. whatever the penalty that
may ne imposed"
Charles p Eanscom. general manager or the
,le---I.ondon shipyard. here introduced Judge
Burke Of Seattle. who declared tnat MI. mn
with his three raflroads and his shipping had
done more for Puget Sound and the Far North
vast than al other developing forces combined
Governor Chamberlain Of Connecticut paid a
tribute 10 the builders and TO Mr- Hill Cor
zreSsrnan Rrandegee. Ex-Governor Waller. John
Y Gates and Lewis Nixon also spoke
Among others present were senator Clark OF
Montana Charles NJ Sc1wab. Controller w T.
seelev. O H P Belmont, Mason Chase. OF the
Crescent Shfpbuiiding Company; John r Car
roll and ex-9fayor Robert A Van "yck' OF
N-er-Ycrk
The New-York guests on the excursion tram
advertised 10 leave the Grand Central Station
81 : o'clock in the morning and to return at
: O'clock IN the evening did not return home
until a.22 at night. The special train lett New
London at $50 instead of 3:45, and was aban-
doned AT New-Haven after half hours wait
The excursionists were then packed into an al
readv crowded express train. which came lhto
the Grand Central Station twenty-five minutes
late Those on board roundly berated the ran
road MANAGEMENT for its breach Of faith Iae
special train Of parlor cars bearing lle 4auhcH-
ing party arrived in New-Hork ABOUT an noun
esriier than those on the abandoned section
CONGRATULATE MR. HILL.