Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-04-09
BattIeshlp Virginia Launched

Beneath ideal April skies and the
brightest of spring sunshine, ana ID
the presence of throng variously
estimated at from thirty-five to nifty
thousand persons, ninety-hve to ntty
per cent. of whom were Virginlans,
the gigantic battleship Virginia
glided gracefully from her cradle In
the wards of the Newport News snip
building and Dry Dock Company into
the welcoming waters Of the James
at six minutes after o'clock, Tues
day. :,
The greatest launching in the his
tory of this greatest of the Worlds
shipbuilding plants, an event perfect
In every detail, was an accomplished
fact sixty seconds after little Miss
Matilda Cav Montague, eloest
daughter of Governor Andrew Jack
son Montague, had sent the bottle OF
Virginia wine crashing against the
steel bow of the leviathan. The auspi
cious event in the history of the
United states navy and of the State
| of Virginia was hailed with noisy
acclaim. in which we're mingled the
cheers of enthusiastic thousands and
the strident shrieks of many steam
whistles.
Following the launching of the
future pride of the navy, fully one
thousand persons embracing many
Iof the most distinguished men and
| beautiful women in this State, with
q liberal sprinkling OF ofnclal ana
cosmopolitan Washington, boarded
the splendid steamer Newport news
as the guests of the shipbuilding ana
ldry dock company, and were con-
viewed to Old Point. where, in the
spacious and beautifully decorated
BANQUET hall of the Chamberlin, they
were entertained at an elegant
luncheon. The banquet was followed
nv toasts, to which Governor
Montague, Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy Darling. Hon. Robert It. Blck'
ford, General Superintent Walter a:
| Post. Rear Admiral Harrington and
Mr.. George W. Stevens, president
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
made eloquent and enthusiastically
received responses. The response
of Governor Montague to the toas'
of the occasion, Virginia, was partl
cularly eloquent and felicitous one
and aroused unbounded enthusiasm
Thus ended a day which will Of
memorable in the history OF I'M
commonwealth, a new chapter II
that history, enacted within lev
rods of the spot where the prototyp'
of the battleship launched Tuesda.
forty years ago spread CONSERVATION
among the vessels of the old navy
land revolutionized naval warfare
1t was eminently fitting that I'M
? greatest of the worlds lronclau'
+ should first kiss the waves almost a
the very spot where the Confederat
ram Virginia destroyed the frlgate
. Congress and Cumberland, and late
I fought her famous indecisive engage
s ment with Ericsson's ironclad, tn
Monitor. Appropriate, too. was !
. that the vessel should be built b
q Virginia labor and skill in ship var
e which has contributed so conspiC
: uously and so numerously to IN
worlds navies and to the merchan
marine of this county. All Virgin
}, testified her pride in the honor G
f having this great fifteen thousan
ton battleship, the greatest vessel o
her class, named for State that ma
8 contributed so glorlously to nation
d greatness and the worlds glory
}, Pride in great country no less ina
. in the prestige of grand Common
y, wealth echoed in every cheer an
thrilled every heart in that glgantl
e throDg.-Times Dispatch.