The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-30

and there you are. The Naval Board OF
Superstition will have to settle It,.
An ancient Irish ship carpenter removed
She'll be q great fighter, sure. She's
the only vessel ever christened by an Irish
boy!'
About the time, when. at the official
luncheon, the Secretary, Of the Navy was
in order to make her feel better about It,
Frank Ryan, who is only 10, was lodging
out Of the navy yard by back way to avoid
the reporters
Il don't want me picture In the papers. =
he said
Ryan was born up the State. Of Irish
parents He rejected yesterday enough
drinks to float the Connecticut.
GREAT CROWD WATCHED LAUNCHING.
The vanguard OF the crowd began to ar
rive at the navy yard as early as O'Clock,
and from that hour until q few minutes
before the laun ching O continuous stream
OF people poured into the grounds through
each OF the three entrances fully O,OO0
persons, 1t Is estimated, were In the yard
almost three times that number witnessed
the event from other vantage points-from
craft in the river, from the Brooklyn Bridge
and from the roofs OF buildings on the
Manhattan shore.
The crowd at. the navy yard was made
Drays filled with mechanics and laborers.
many of whom had been employed in the
work of constructing the Connecticut,
followed stylish carriages and other con-
veyances containing navy and army ofhcers
with heavily braided uniforms, and men
with her multi-colored hat and gorgeous
veil Of generous length, was there, leaning,
usually, on the arm Of O clean cut Lieu
tenant or ensign from one Of the warships
anchored of the yard.
-. With the college girls, jostling her way,
crowded avenues Of the yard. was the shop
girl as well as mothers and sisters and
sweethearts Of the blue jeaned jackies and
marines, and women Of Ratronly dimen-
sions with many children, The wives Of the
men who entered the yard in drays. 1t
full Of patriotism and anxious only to use
its lungs to their fullest capacity when it
came time to shout.
More than rs, 900 tickets had been dis
tributed by the officers at the yard and
the results showed that they had been
circulated wisely.
Little difficulty was experienced by the
visitors, either In getting TO the yard or In
finding their way around after they arrived.
The trolley. lines had provided extra facili-
ties, and the three companies of marines
stationed at the yard were practically put
walking directories, although they were ex-
pected to do patrol duty In Q perfunctory
way. Considering the fact that they were
on dress parade, wearing stiff necked COL
lars, and that they were asked a lot Of silly
questions which they couldn't answer,
help from them came away with the opinion
that they did nobly.
ALL SOUGHT THE CONNECTICUT.
. ~ 1~n.-
where the big vessel was. BY 10 o'clock, an
hour before the time set for the launching,
most Of tho best vantage points had been
taken, and when the whistle sounded the
final signal almost every available bit Of
space in the yard that commanded view
Of the Connecticut was occupied.
The appearance OF the crowd on the land,
striking as it was, did not compare, though,
with the view in the river. Its surface was
dotted with hundreds Of small craft, many
Of them patrol boats from the navy yard
clear, with the exception of narrow chan
mel close up to the Manhattan side. Some
of the boats were large excursion boats
which had been run out for the event and
were loaded with people. Each OF the pa
troll boats displayed a danger flag OF bright
Manhattan shore, were dressed gayly.
In the navy yard basin. on either side OF
the place left open for the descent Of tho
new ironolad, the scene was even more
impressive than further in the river. On
the starboard OF the Connecticut, close up
sarge, dressed up for the occasion. her deck
covered with jackies and their friends and
her turrets and yard arms bearing big loads
Of human freight. On the port side OF the
red hulled Connecticut, anchored safely
out Of the path of the launching, were the
tpipu ahtn HancoCk the Utlnh0Qt Hat
the battleshlp Kentucky, the cruiser Chat
the battleship Texas, the battle
ship Indiana and the despatch boat DOL
phfn, each crowded with jaokies, marines
and their friends and gay with hags' On
in undergoing repairs. were
many girls, who let their feet hang down
and yelled and waved their hands cutely
every time there was big noise or any
thing else worth making demonstration
over.
The Cob Dock, opposite the place where
the Connecticut was lying, had been re-
served for the enlisted men of the navy
and 1t was lined thick. The view from
there was one OF the best that could be
had, as 1t gave chance not only to STE the
to follow her far out into the river.
The promenades on the Brooklyn and
bridges were lined with what
looked from the navy yard like rows OF
black ants, and many people could be seen
On the buildings on the Manhattan shore.
LUNCHEON FOR PREFERRED QUESTS.
The launching over and the vessel tied
up at the dock, all the Brooklyn navy yard
took half holiday. The preferred guests
went over to the official luncheon In build
ing 1877, transformed by bunting and flags
from a storeroom into banquet hill
On the upper floor about forty guests sat
down at a horseshoe table with the Secre-
tary of the Navy, and about 100 more
lunched from the buffet. On the lower
floor $50 more guests had luncheon from
a buffet. Secretary Morton made speech
complimenting the navy yard, Admiral
Rodgers and Miss Welles.
aThe man who commands modern
he said, must not only be
a soldier not only sailor but mechanic
an electrician, an ordnance expert and a
master of men. We are fortunate in hav-
ing at Annapolis an academy which trains
such men,
In congratulating Admiral Rodgers. who
is about to go on the retired list, he said:
1T is fortunate that we will still have
his services, for with his retirement he enters
a position where he will be useful to the
for many years
The position referred to is head OF the
board on navy yards. Admiral Rodgers
steps out next week. and his last official
act in active service was the order to launch
the Connecticut.
Gov. Chamberlain spoke oomplimenting
the navy on the launching. Every one
told Miss Welles that ii wasn't her fault;
there was too much wrapping on the bottle.