The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-08
Governor Mickey's Daughter
Stands Sponsor for Ship and
Governor Makes Speech.
Enthusiasm Runs High mt Se.
atlle and SurgIng Mutt.
tude Cheers as Ship
Enters Water.

Seattle. oct. 7.--At 2 o'clock this af-
ternoon. thirteen minutes before the
scheduled time. the battlcship Nebraska
left tho ways nj the Moran Brothers
shipyard and slid gracefully and ma
jestleally slid into the waters of Puget
Sound. The launching was entirely
successful and no hitch marred the
proceedings. The only reason the yes.
sci was launched ahead of time was
that by n slight mlscalculation the
poppct twooden brace) NJ the bow
was raising the vessel too high, and
In the opinion OF experts II was bet
ter that the supports should be knock
ed away without delay.
Governor John II. Mckay. OF Me-
braska. ana his party, including prom
inent state officials and their wives
reached the city last night and partici-
pated In the ceremonies.
The launching was the occasion Of
u half holiday throughout the city
Miss Mary Main Mckay, daughter OF
Governor Mickey. stood sponsor for
the vessel.
The Nebracka is the irst battleshlp
constructed ON the Pacific coast north
Of San Francisco. and all the leading
army and state officials In the north
west took part In the program.
Fully $4,000 people Viewed the cere-
monies and saw the big vessel enter
the water. Naval men who viewed the
launching stated that II was the most
successful one they ever saw. The
Nebraska weighs more than any ves-
rel ever before launched for the United
States navy. Immediately after
launching. the big Alaska liners that
lowered about her docks black with
exclrsionists. looked dimlnutive beside
her.
Three ears ago last December" said
Governor Mickey, OF Nebraska, as the
cheers that greeted his appearance
died away, Robert Moran went down
TO the city of washington and said to
the secretary OF the navy; I can build
n battleship and can build 1t inI
Seattle The secretary OF the navy
did not know him as we know him. He
did not know the spirit OF the men of
the northwest Therefore the great
secretary doubted.
"Then Robert Moran came home, II
was on Sunday morning. lie called
around him few Of the leaders among
the business men OF Seattle--a few of
the men who do things, He told them
his story; told them that he could build
the ship, but that the appropriation
made by congress was too small to
nay for 1t. These men did not doubt.
They did not hesitate, because they
knew that Robert Moran would do
whatever he said he would do. They
had faith In his ability, faith In his
Judgment and In his integrity. They
knew that he would build the ship
and they said to him, We will help
you to build It.
"We are here today to witness the
fulhllment OF that promise. Here Is
the man who made It. There Is the
ship-the great batleship Nebraska
one OF the most powerful ships In the
whole worid-whlch is about to be
launched into the waters Of the great
est Of oceans, to go forth, under the
stars and stripes, to maintain the
power and defend the honor of the most
glorious nation on earth. The prom
ise has been kept and the pledge made
by our people has been redeemed. This
splendid vessel is a mighty addition
10 the great American navy; we are
proud Of this ship, and we honor the
men who made It."
Presentation Of Subsidy.
AS the concluding words Of Cover