Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1904-10-13
INTO DEEP WATER
THE NEBRASKA LAUNCHED WITH
SHOUTS AND BooM5.
CHRISTENED BY MISS MICKEY
Daughter OF Nebraskas Chief Execu-
tive Stands Sponsor for the Vessel
Ship Supports Weakened Too
Quickly and Boat Takes the Water.

SEATTLE-S Special to the Omaha
Bee: Impatient of restraint and eager
to rush into the arms of Old Ocean,
the Nebraska broke through the stays
that held it and at 2:O2 p. m. amid
the shouts of $4,000 people, the boom
ing of great guns of the monitor
Wyoming, the blare of bands and the
hoarse shrieks of all the whistles of
all the ships in the harbor, the great
hull glided down the ways and into
its natural element
Miss Mickey was not unaware, and
as the first tremor of the starting ship
was noted, she broke the brightly
decked bottle of champagne across
the massive steel nose of the vessel,
new ship was born and christened.
The day was dark and foggy, but
the citizens made holiday of it. All
banks and other business houses were
closed from noon until $3.50 p. m,
that everybody might have an oppor-
tunity to attend what is here looked
on as one of the most important
events in the history of the city. At
the shipyards every inch OF room was
occupied and on the adjoining wharves
the people swarmed 10 the danger
point. Sound steamers and tugs were
fitted up as floating grandstands and
many thousands were thus given a
chance to see the new warship take
its dip into the water.
On the launching stand had as
sembled the officers OF the states of
Washington and Nebraska and rep
resentatives of the army and navy of
the United States, together with
many distinguished citizens who were
invited by the Moran Bros. company
TO grace the occasion with their pres
ence. Bands from the navy yard
from Fort Lawton and from Van
couver barracks furnished the music,
among the pieces being spirited
march dedicated to n, Sraska by a
local composer, and played publicly
for the first time today.
The only hitch in the program for
the launching was that caused by the
impetuosity of the ship itself. Appar-
emily imbued with the spirit of the oc-
casion and eager to show that it could
keep up with the pace set by the
great state for which it is named, the
Nebraska started eleven minutes be-
fore the time set
The tide was still rising, but the
water was sufficiently high to avoid
danger of an accident. Congressman
Humphrey of Washington had just be-
gun his speech. which was to have
been followed by an invocation by
Rev, DR.. Matthews of Seattle, when
a crash was heard as of breaking
planks, and the great bulk trembled
for an instant. All eyes seemed to
have centered on the ship rather than
on the speaker, for a whisper, Shes
moving" turned instantly into a tu
multuous cheer, and the Nebraska
was on its way to the water.
Miss Mary Main Mickey stood
ready, charming sponsor for a mag
nificent craft, coolly awaiting the
word. AS she saw the vessel starting
she quickly grasped re bottle by the
neck and broke it over the stem OF
the vessel, pronouncing the conven
tional formula as she did So Hel
words were never heard, even by her
self, for the signal service had beer
so accurate and the lookout so keel
that the vessel had not moved a foo
along the ways till the great guns O
the Wyoming began to thunder
greeting to the newest sister of tn,
navy and all the joyous pandemoniun
of the affair broke loose.
Mayor Balling of Seattle made tn
opening address, telling of the import
ance of the occasion to Seattle as wei
as to Nebraska and the nation ii
was followed by Secretary of Stat
Sam II. Nichols, acting governor @
Washington, who welcomed Govorno
Mickey and the Nebraska visitors.
Governor Mickey then spoke. an
was frequently interrupted by al
plause.