The Washington times., 1905-05-06

WILMINGTON, Del, May e-The
freboat Firefighter. constructed for use
on the Potomac river. was launched this
afternoon at the yards Of the Harlan &
Hollingsworth Company, shipbuilders.
The vessel which viii guard the river
front at Washington and Georgetown.
made her debut In the presence Of a
large delegation of District of Columbia
officials
The Ffrehghter took her first dip In
Christiana river few minutes before
2 O'Clock. A high tide and careful ar
rangements combined to make the affair
successful, while the little ceremony of
christening the vessel. IN which Miss
Marian West, daughter of Commissioner
Henry L. West. played the leading role.
was simple in the extreme and passed
OF without a hitch
District Party.
The party which watched the launch
ing OF the latest addition to the District
fleet included Commissioners Maefar-
land West. and Biddle, Chief Engineer
William T. Belt, Of the District Fire
Department: William TindalI, secretary
to the Board OF Commissioners; W. Y.
Cox, president of the Washington Board
1
Underwriters Association, Wilmington
officials and Washington newspa per
men.
The visitors, among whom were sew
eraI ladies, left Washington at 10 o o'clock
| this forenoon. arriving in Wilmington
shortly after noon. While here they
have been the guests of Harlan & Hoi-
| lingsworth, the builders of the Fire
| fighter, who had made every arrange
ment for the comfort and entertain
ment of their guests.
No Time Lost.
| The shipyards of the firm are in close
| proximity TO the Pennsylvania railroad
station As the visitors from Washington
were anxious to catch an early train
home they proceeded directly from the
scene of the launching TO the station.
| The christening service was not pro-
| longed. There were no speeches. Miss
West was the only Washingtonian who
had q hand directly in the proceedings
! She had little to do but that little she
did with grace and precision. AS the
steamer slid slowly down the ways and
| plunged into the stream, Mss West
| dashed a bottle of clear. sparkling wate,
against the bow of the Firefighter The
| WGteT uSSu III CHiStenlnS the cfGIt, al
| Commissioner Macfarland's suggestion
was procured from the George flashing
| ton well, at Mt. Vernon.
| Invited CHESTS.
Among those invited by the builders
to attend the ceremonies were the fol
lowing:
Commissioners Macfarland. West, anG
Biddle, William T. Belt Chief Engi-
neer Fire Department; Mrs Henry B
| F. Macfarland, Mrs. Henry L. West
| Miss Marian West, VINO chisteneo
the boat; Miss Biddle DR.. William Tin
/ dali. secretary to the Board of Com
| missioners; Waldo c. Hihbs, priyat;
secretary TO Commissioner Macfarland
Louis c. Wilson, privase secretary tc
/ Commissioner West; Daniel E. Garges
private secretary to Commissioner Bid
die; w. V. Cox, president Washington
| Board OF Trade; James f. Oyster, pres
! ident Washington Business Mems As
| sociation; Walter A. Brown, president
| board of fire underwriters: George H
j Harries. secretary Washington BoarG
| of Trade; W F. GUIDE, secretary Wash
ington Business Mems Association; A
! n. Hamilton, secretary board OF fire
underwriters; NJ, l. Weller, chairman
| committee on harbor and river. Wash
| ington Board of Trade; Rudolph kaun
mann. Scott c. Bone. Edgar D. Shaw
| Woodwork Cium, A. r. Israel. Carl d
| Sheppard Roy L Knapp. Gen. ]. H
Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thompson
| Major and Mrs c. A. f. F1agler.