Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-12
Successful Launching Of
BattIeship Georgia.
Shipping City Of Bath Arrayed
In Gay Dress.
Champagne Thrown on Prov Of The
New Ship.

the twin screw. first class buttleshjn
Georgia was launched from the nlapt
IF the Eath IRON Works, shortly after
noon today. AS she started from RI.
ways she was christened with cham
palgn ny Miss Stella Tate, who is a
daughte" of the lat" Major William
Tate, Il sister of Congressman F. Cartar
Tate and a direct Gesccndent of H..
famous Byrd family of Georgia. Tho
big battIeship was gaily decorated with
rags ana bunting as were also the Of
fee and yard buildings iii honor of the
occasion. The launching was attend
ed by eXcursionists from all sections
of Maina. and the launching party en-
tcrtain"d by the officials of the concern
included naval officers and officials Of
the federal and State governments.
Governor John F. Hill of Maine. and
Mrs. Hill sent regrets 1T their inability
70 attend. The guests of honor, sta
toned on a tall launching platform
erected a: the Prov of the ship. includ-
ed Governor Joseph NJ. Terrill Of
Georgia. Mrs. Terril, Judge and Mr.
Hamilton McWhartcr. Miss Camelil
McWho' ter, Congressman r. Carter
Tate, Mrs. Tate. Miss stella Tate ana
Congressman {. Adamson, all of
Georgia.
Miss Tate was escorted to the launch
ing platform by Vice President John :.
Hyde anG instructed in her duties SIS
sponsor. Mr.. Hyde also had personal
supervision of the launching y methnl
somewhat different from the usual on
Of releasing the hull by severing L
small cord was employed, today. First,
the after blocks and Crob work were
removed and replaced by tumbling
shores after which oak wedges We're
driven to take the weight from the keel
blocks. When all was ready MI. Hyde
was notified and sawyers standing be-
shore pieces with crosscut saws manu-
featured especially fer the occasion.
AS the battleship began to move,
Miss Tate broke pint bottle Of cham
paign acrnss the low. naming the
craft in honor Of her own Southern
state and bidding it q long and effect
i've career in upholding the name of the
United States. The bottle was encaSed
in a handsomely worked silver frame
With long ribbons flowing from it's neck
and was attached 10 the bow so as to
be kept ny Miss Tate as Il souvenir.
As the stearn parted the surface of
the Kennebec the Georgia was saluted
by numerous craft and manufacturing
plants along the shore. all of which
were acknowledged by her siren and
l. ;,.t1. ~
with steam up. When she WAS allOat
this gave her more the appearance of
ii finished battleship than any previ-
Dusty launched. Both military masts
also being in position. as well as the
coming tower and three smoke fun
nels, a good idea of the powerful fight
ing craft was offered. today. Several
tugs We're at her service and she was
locked during the middle Of the after
noon.
Following the launching a luncheon
was served in the draughting rooms
hich had been Hastily decorated with
long streamers of bunting and numer-
Gus naval flags. The tables were dec
GRATED at intervals with bouquets of
roses and other cut flowers. Many
during .the hour.
Among the guests who arrived, to-
day. were Commander James H. Perry. |
L. s. N. of Washington: Hon. William
=. Frye, President of the United States !
Senate: congressman Amos l.. Allen. |
and Charles E. Littlefeld of Maine; !
Judge Clarence Hale of the United
States district court for Maine. Gen. !
Joshua l.. Chamberlain, surveyor of
the port of Portland, and President
William Dewitt Hyde of Bowdoin
College. '
Expressions of regret were received
frcm Secretary Morton and Assistant
Secretary Darling of the navy depart
ment. Miss Tate was presented by
Vice President Hyde with large bou-
o,uet of American Beauty roses held
bv a ribbon of bright red, as she
reached the launching platform.
Little work had been done in the way
Of decorations at II o'clock owing to
a dazzling lain. and the flags and
bun,ing were not displayed until near
" the hour set for the launching.
which was 10 P. NJ. 1t was an
nounced that the launching would oc-
cur Mt that time regardless OF the
unfavorable weather.
The Georgia is one of the three bat
tleships authorized under an act of
congress approved March 8, 1899. and
Is also duplicate of the two author
ized and approved June Z. 1900. Bids
for these five battleships We're opened
~ the Navy Department. Nov. Is. 1900.
nd in February. 1901. the Bath Iron
works was awarded the contract for
..e building Of the Georgia, a sister
.hip of the Virginia. Rhode Island,
Znw Jersey and Nebraska, at a con-
.ract price of ss,5so,oOO.
The Georgia belongs to the most
,owerful type of battleship afioat and
,,so IN the largest class She has a
,.;a, displacement of $4,000 tons and Is
OK faet long. rs feet 10 inches beam.
md under trial conditions will draw "a
CONTINUED on page a.