The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-05-21

Andrew Newhall's new freight and
passenger steamer Islander" was
successfully launched at Newhall at
few minutes past six o'clock Satur-
day afternoon. The day was auspic,
ious in every way and the launching
was witnessed by large number of
people from East Sound, Olga, Doe
Bay and Blakeiy island, as well as by
a number from Friday Harbor and
other points and by the passengers
of the Buckeye en- route to Belling-
ham. The staunch and graceful yes
sci ''took to the water" like duck
and as she started to slide down the
ways Miss Loretta Newhall, eldest
daughter of the owner, broke against
the bow the traditional bottle of
champagne" the neck of which was
gay with red, white and blue ribbons,
and said 81 christen thee Islander. "
Standing straight and true in her
cradle the trim vessel slid quickly in
to the calm waters of Cascade bay,
while the steamer Buckeye and rev.
enue launch Guard whistled a shrill
welcome and the crowd on shore
waved their handkerchiefs and cheer
ed The vessel would have foated
Immediately upon the surface of the
bay as gracefully as a sea gull, but
for the fact that the cradle had not
been sufficiently ballasted to remain
on the ways and allow the vessel to
go free, but clung tenaciously to the
hull, held there by the upward press
ure of the water. After an unsuc-
cessful effort to get the cradle out
Sunday it was beached and weighted
down with rock and the vessel float
ed easily on the next high tide and
was towed to Bellingham where the
work of putting in the machinery and
piping is now under way.
After the launching, fine lunch,
including ice cream and cake and tea
and coffee, was served by Mrs. New
hall and daughters at the boarding
house of the Cascade Bay Lumber
Company. 1t was a very enjoyable
occasion and many were the congrat-
ulations extended to Mr.. Newhall up
on the successful launching and many
the compliments upon the stauncI
and trim appearance of the isl
ander," which all hope will be popu-
lar with the people and profitable for
her owner.
The Islander" is a trifle over 80
feet in length over all, 193 feet beam
and 8 feet depth of hold. She was
designed by and built under the SUI
pervision of J. A. Scribner, of Friday
Harbor. Only the best material has
been used and her construction is eX-
ceptionally strong. Her ribs are ten
inches wide and only twelve inches
apart and she is stiffened at frequent
intervals by very heavy oak knees,
natural bend. Her planking inside
and outside rs of 2i-inch fir. The
''house" on the tonnage deck extends
the full length of the vessel and is
seven feet high. In this space, astern
of the engine room, will be the ladies'
cabin, which will be at the stern, as
on the Buckeye, two state rooms, the
dining room and cooks galley. The
fore part will be the main freight
deck. Above this will be the mems
cabin. back of which there will be
four state rooms. Above the mems
cabin will be a ''Texas," containing
the pilot house and state rooms for
the captain and mate. Comfortable
quarters for a portion of the crew
will be fitted up below the tonnage
deck, in front of the engine room.
The machinery will consist OF fore