The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-20
MARINES WATCH
THE CONNECTICUT
Keep0ff VandaIs and Those
Bent on Mischief.
WINE FOR THE LAUNCHING
The Naval Constructor, William H.
Baxter, Has Charge of Work.
Vast Responsibility.

NEW YORK. Sept. 2O-As a precau-
uonary measure against accident or van
dallsm, two squads OF marines were
placed last night on guard around the
new battleship Connecticut. at the navy
yard. and the vessel will be Illuminated
every night until the launching on Sep
tcmber 70.
The big ship rests on the ways. which
have been creased. and the upsetting Of
single block Of wood might send her
p.unging into the basin unchristened and
uncheered.
In the fear that some malicious OF mis-
chievous person might creep into The
yard and send the ship splashing into
the water ahead Of time the construc-
ton department Of the navy yard has
asked TO have her guarded.
Wine Dealers Disappointed.
Rear Admiral Frederick Rodgers,
commandant Of the navy yard. disap-
pointed the agent Of every wine house
in the city by refusing all offers Of a
bottle Of wine to be used at the christen-
Ing Of the battlcshiD.
Wine will be used at the launching
and the bottle has been bought. but the
label has been washed OF. and only a
Few officers ever viii know what brand
viii be used.
" Ltl Il was duluDIlLdLlEely announced
that wine would be- used at the launch
iHE there was a deluEe Of offers from
the wine agents 10 have their particular
brand used. Some OF the agents offered
10 furnish free all the wine that would
be served al the collation., which or
dinarily follows a launching. Rear Ad-
m!ral Rodgers refused all Of these Of
| fers and decided that there would be no
wine served at the launching.
Ten Anxious Days.
Naval Constructor William J. Baxter.
who is in chaIge OF the launching. will
never spend zen more anxious days
/ until the next affair oF the kind-than
/ the ten just passed. There - always
more or less of Il chance that something
Will go wrong, and he has put in his
spare time drilling the men who will
work around the Dattleship today.
/ Naval Constructor Baxter Is the only
man in the construction department al
the local yard who has had any eX-
per!enCe with the launching Of large
! men-Of-wdr and the Connecticut will
/ be one Of the largest two battleshipa
afOat. her sister snip. the louisiana,
having been launched at the Newport
Z News yard last month. For this reason
! Naval Constructor Baxter has had
/ launching, and he realizes that ne will
/ be held responsible for all mfshaps.
New Material Used
! Unlike the material used at the other
/ ship yards. all the work used at this
! launching IS new. il has been neces-
sary to construct new crib and sliding
] ways The latter are lu their place and
. between them and the permanent ways
has been spread 1900 pounds of launch.
ing grease. The crib has been built the
entire length OF the boat and oak wedge
are In place TO lift the great mass OF
steel from the supports on which she
has been resting since the day the kee
/ was laid.
| Naval Constructor Baxter bridge has
been erected at the bow OF the boat
az Z the stern Will be ia communication
. with him by telephone An the scat
( folding has been taken away.