New-York tribune., 1904-09-26
FOR LAUNCHING.
THOUSANDS TO SEE 1T.
Programme fer Naming the Battle
ship Connecticut ON Thuradnu

greeted by the cheers OF thirty thousand persons
within the yard and perhaps as many more who
VIII be watching from the williamsburg Bridge
the first class bateshp Connecticut will slide from
the ways and take to the water OF the WaIlabout
Channel at the Brooklyn Navy Yard promptly at
II o'clock next Thursday morning. This will mark
the completion of the first stage in the construction
OF the hrst large hattleshp built by the United
States Navy Department. and the day is one that
mas been eagerly looked forward b. the depart
ment and naval officers since the building of the
snip was authorized by Congress in January, 1902.
The launching OF the Connecticut will not con-
sumo any great amount of time when everything is
in readiness. and viii be attended by only the
simplest ceremonies but the preparation for It has
taken a deal of time and caused endless amount
OF worry for those who have had charge OF the
preparations. Not TO speak Of the work necessary
TO prepare the ponderous of steel her sur
roundings that she will slide smoothly into the
water without a hitch the officers who have been
arranging the details Of the celebration and decid-
ing to Just who should be invited and where they
should be placed have had one of the most diff
cult tasks of their lives. At time many months
ago the idea prevalent that the Connecticut
would take her initial plunge surrounded by tower
ing grandstands filled with spectators. But this
viii not be There are be just three stands.
al! OF them exceedingly small. There will be
for the newspaper men, seating not more than
sixty another for the guests of honor and it Will
not accommodate more than seventy-1ve persons.
Seats on 1t have been assigned with the idea OF
having q representative gathering including
national State and city officials, prominent officers
in the army aud navy and persons representing
large shipbuildiug interests. and few other promt-
nent citizens.
The third stand which is built directly under the
towering bow OF the ship is the most important OF
all 1t will hold Just six. The most prominent
figure there will be Miss Alice Wees. grand
daughter OF Gideon wenes, of Connecticut. who
Secretary OF the Navy in President LincOlns
Cabinet. AS the first thrill runs along the keel OF
tho big batteshp Miss Welles will dash bottle OF
champagne her bow, and name her tho Con
necticut Beside tho young woman will stand two
friends os her own selection who will assist her.
three other persons the stand will be Secre-
tary Morton OF the Navy Department. Governor
Chamberlain OF Connecticut. and Rear Admiral
Rodgers commandant OF the Brooklyn navy yard.
In spite of the protest OF the Christian Endeavor
Society. champagne Is to be used for the naming.
The brand TO be used will remain secret. the
authorities do not intend furnish any advertise
1nent for wine agents. although dozen more
agents offered all OF inducements for recogni
tion.
PLAN To BRING THE GUESTS.
The navy yard tug Narkeeta will meet the dis
patch boat Dolphin off Liberty Island and take
from her Secretary Morton of the Navy Depart
meut and his guests. who will come from Wash
ington on the Dolphin. Another tug will bring Miss
Welles and her guests, and the tug Nina has been
placed AZ the disposal of the officers OF the French
cruiser Troude now anchored in the North River.
Rear Admlra4 t nor that prominent citizens
day regarding the rePoH PSna%t Because more Invi-
tations TO the Iauuthing of the Connecticut had not
ce1ofes ceem fes % SS arTansements said however:
Every effor. has been made to treat Conneeticut
fairly. They have been speciaHy taVoreo there ere
considering the total number OF INVITATIONS sent out
which has been limited IN bv yns Miss Wees and two
friends DESIGNATED by her. In the stand for the
guests OF & h9poT rreen Connecticut AS to other in
vtations they have been seht seiiSi0uSiS ~ PeVP'
N CaPtain J. n Hemphil will be in charge OF the
pV'IJo ~ 10 a. d b iU have the fleet of the naval
Servisoy Of the port to which will be added mum
cotions on ~ Tor places in the river will be assigned
stations The view OF the & snab 70 NC i"u i''
AS soon as the onnecticht strikes the water, tugs
DeIs w oFPs FSeTe neF on 10 Friday the work of completing the
boat viii be resumed There will be no delay o9t II
the Vessel viii be ready for her trial trip
LUNCHEON FOR THE GUESTS
After the boat is safely tied the special guests
will go to building No. Z, where luhcheon WIN De
spread for about eight hundred NO VIM VIII DC
served there Following this there will De re-
oontior az the Naval Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation I'm Sands-st, for which about two thouSaho
invitations have been sent out The guests WIN DC
received by q special committee conslsuhs Oh MISS
Helen Miller Gould Mrs. Z. a. McAlpin Mrs. Rus
sell sage Mrs Charles F. Darlington MIS- Aloert
< Barker Mrs. John Z. Mum, Mrs. o. d Fotter
and Mrs Frederick Rodgers. They Will be ASSISTED
by- a committee representing the managers OF tue
aSsoctation Luncheon will be served :.
The keel OF the Connecticut was iSd Se MaTch t e M
t0cis spd material in time. the Connecticut VIII
be onIv per cent behind her sister ship the LOUIS
Jeno T. n6jnt of progress Of the work. There is a
rvairv between the construction department or the
ynrd i and ths Newport News Shpbuildng Company.
Sbtnb S' e constructing the Louisiana, TO which
Vessel will be completed first. The Connecticuts
an zines and other machinery are ready 10 be IN
staled and the work will take great leap forward
as soon as she is launched -. ,,,.
Ti,a hattIeship is to have a. maximum dlsplace-
renf OF n 10 tons and indicated horsepower OF
1e 5CO Her length is 45O feet and beam q feet. ana
bSr sDeed IS calculated to be IL knots. She VIII
carry 42 officers and $50 men.