Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-10-10
BIG BATTLESHIp
GLIDES INTO SOUND
Nebraska Proves to Be a Fast Boat
On the Occasion of Her
Launching.

Seattle. Oct. Sat 2:02 Yesterday
afternoon another big sea fighter was
added 10 the fighting strength Of the
American navy. Eager to meet the
waves. the battleship Nebraska refused
70 await the minute set for Der launch.
ing but. taking matters into her own
hands broke away from the last few
srlinters Of wood that held her and
started down the ways at Moran Bros.
Company ship yards eleven minutes
ahead Of time.
Congressman Humphrey was in the
midst Of his address. when there was
a cracking Of wood and the naval
leviathan began TO move. SO slowly
at first that she scarcely seemed 10 be
moving at all, then with rush that
seemed 10 bespeak her Impotence 10
reach the water. she made her own
way down the long incline into the
waters Of the bay. The momentum of
her race down the ways carried the
new oavtleship out into the sound near
y 10 the buoy ar which she was an
chored
Sponsor Prepared for Occasion.
Although the big ship started down
the ways ahead Of the hour set. Miss
Mickey. whose duty it was TO christen
her. was not taken unawares. and. re-
tanning her presence Of mind, crashed
the bottle Of champagne against the
bow Amid the booming Of the salute
from the Wyoming and the shrieking
whistles of the excursion craft in the
( harbor, her speed slackened and she
gradually came 10 rest in the waters
/ of the sound.
From the moment when the first
tremor Of motion was visible in the
immense hull of the Nebraska until
she struck the waves was exactly e.ev.
en- seconds In three seconds more the
full length Of the battleship was atioat.
Interest in the approaching launch
ing was at fever heat in this city and
state, and il IS estimated that between
so. 900 and so. 900 people witnessed
the first plunge Of the huge hulk into
the waters OF Elliott bay. The after
noon was practically holiday in this
city. and from every vantage point the
tens of thousands of eager watchers
waited anxiously for the moment when
the flag above the shipyards huttered
downward and the nearly completed
vessel started with ever accelerating
speed towards the water. which she
reached with plunge that caused a
perfect tidal wave.
In every feature this was one Of the
most important functions ever held in
the Northwest. Gov. Mickey, Of Ne
brasks. and his party OF officials We're
here. Secretary of State Nichols, act
ing for Gov Mcbride. absent in 81.
Louis. and Adjr. Gen. Drain, y. q.
W. with his official retinue, was in
attendance. Every important army
post north of California contri buted
its delegation, and all the departments
of civic and commercial life We're rep.
resented il the public demonstration
that 1ittingly commenorated one of
the city's greatest achievements; the
construction Of the first battleship
ever built On the Pacific coast north
Of san Francisco.
! public Viewed the Ship.
| In advance Of the big event, and to
! accommodate the thousands who had
not been fortunate enough to receive a
formal invitation, the yards We're
/ thrown open 10 the public Thursday
and from morning until night the cur
ious crowds thronged through the
great shed in which the battleship
rested. In the afternoon the hundreds
Of children from the public schools
wandered around in the shops and
sheds. gazing with wondering eyes
and childish dread and delight at the
| finished hull towering TO the smoke
| be-grimed roof Of the house IN which
il had been constructed piece by piece.
rivet by rivet and plate by plate.
Ii was impressive. and at times
amusing 10 pass about amongst this
scurrying mass of people, old and
young. and from every department and
station in life. How were they ever
going 10 get II started "WouldDt
/ il tip over when il hit the water:
Wasn't il funny looking thing:
were samples Of the thousands Of ques-
lions banded back and forth. The
shades Of the old world heroes were
forgotten by the little ones in the pres.
ence Of such an achievement. aud
twentieth century progress was proha-
bly never such marvellous aud preg.
nant reality 70 the majority of the Wis
itors who inspected the craft.
/ But if the stationary hull. looking
more than anything else like q huge
I sea monster. with the projections from
the sides impressing the mind with
the idea Of fms, was impressive as it
stood at rest, the scene at the launch
ing was even more so. In the yards
there was the largest crowd that vas
/ ever gathered together for such a pur.
! pose on the Coast. Five bands rem
dered suitable musical selections. and
from 10 o clock the various Off
cials present INDUCED in short ad-
I dresses.
Preceding the actual launching Rev.