The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-06
BIG STEAMSHIP
LEAVES THE WAYS
The Dakota, for Oriental Service,
Is Launched at New
Haven.
Miss Pennington of Glendale
Christens Her, Using
Champagne.
Weather Was Unpropitious, but
the Launching Occurs With
out a Hitch.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal
New London, Conn, Feb. 6. The
Dakota, the second steel steamship for
James J. Hills Great Northern line
from Seattle to the orient, was
launched from the Eastern Shipbuild-
ing Companys yard in this city to-
day, mid din of whistles from harbor
craft, factories and railway locomo-
tives, without a hitch. This twenty
five thousand tons of steel, shaped into
an immense hull $50 feet long, IA
feet broad and Sc feet high, slid gently
into the water, as smoothly as plank
showed from a beach, scarcely rip
pling the surface.
The launching was watched by
10000 persons from the wharves, the
heights across the river and the para
pets of Forts GrisWold and Trumbull.
The weather was disappointing, but
it did not interfere with the event.
The 400 special guests occupied the
deck of large steel car float, build
Ing for the Consolidated railway, and
on the ways adjoining the Dakota.
Hill's Special Arrives.
The James ]. Hill special train of
eleven cars rolled into the shipyards
at 1880 this morning. bearing ESQ
persons specially hidden to the cere-
mony. Mr.. Hill was in high spirits
and the center of a merry coterie, who
piled him with marine terms and
asked questions upon shipbuilding
topics. Miss Clara Hill accompanied
her father, and, with Miss May Belle
Pennington of Glendale, N. D., spon-
sor for the Dakota, was followed by
a train of interested friends who
passed a half-hour under the sides
of the ship watching the work upon
the wedges.
az he
christening and under the guidance of
President Charles r. Hanscom Of the
ship building company, Miss Fleming
ton went thru the ceremony from the
staging on a level with the 15-foot
watermark Of the vessel. -..u.-.
The Ship Is Launched.
Half an hour before the appointed
time the final inspection Of the launch
Ing ways was made by Mr.. Hanscom
and Mr.. Hill and then the guests were
hidden to the launching stand and
Miss Pennington took her position on
the little stand at the ships Prov with
Miss Hill, Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Hanscom
THE word was given the wedge drivers
and sawyers and they began their work
The last two or three blocks stuck
obstinately and had" to be split tc
fragments therefore liberating the
immense weight resting upon them
Finally there was a rending, cracking
sound, as the ship tore away the re
manning bond and started, the Grove
as one person shouting There sht
goes! The movement was slow a
first, but the ship steadily gathered
momentum and receded about fifteer
feet a second. The friction scorchet
the ways and raised a curtain O.
smoke. ILL.,. ......
She Used Champagne.
With a slight show Of nervousness
Miss Pennington broke the bottle o
champagne against the cutWater, say
ing: ST christen thee Dakota, tn
guests cheering her vociferously.
The Dakota began to slacken t
the resistance Of the water when hal
over and rose to an even keel an
hoated in a mass Of blocks and planks
the remains Of the sliding ways. He
anchors held a few hundred feet from
the shore The launching had bee1
q complete success.
The guests. numbering $50, gathere
in the loft of the shipyard, which ha
been converted into q pretty banque
hal. decorated with flags, buntin
and flowers. President Hanscom Q
the shipbuilding company presided
and the orator was John Mckinley Q
New London. Mr.. Hill made a brie
address The health Of Miss Hill, Mis-
Flemington and Mr.. Hill were drum
standing, and the toasts to the Dakot
and her sister ship, the Minnesota
we're finished in salvos OF cheers. .