The Washington herald., 1908-03-02

Lexington, KY, March L-When Mrs.
John G. South, Of Frankfort, KY. was
named last week az Washington secretary
OF the new Association OF Sponsors for
Battle Ships. few outside her immediate
family knew she is the same Kentucky
girl whose appointment as sponsor Of the
battle ship Kentucky created such a tre-
mendous sensation
In the controversy which followed her
appointment there were involved two Sec
retaries Of the Navy, a governor Of Ken
lucky, a Kentucky colonel, several Sen
ators and Congressman, the tackles" OF
the hattie ship. another Kentucky belle,
and. incidentally. the latter's sweetheart,
who became her husband through espous-
ing her cause.
Parties 10 the Controversy
Mrs. South Is the only daughter OF
William O. Bradley, then governor OF
the State. and who on Friday was elected
United States Senator. The old contro-
versy was used against him in his cam
paign.
Mrs. South is now visiting at Washing
ton, where she has been elaborately en-
tertained
The other Kentucky belle in the case
was Miss Harriette Banbridge Richard
son. Her sweetheart OF school days, at
tracted again TO her by the controversy.
was James Tandy Ellis, a young Ken
tueky poet, now private secretary TO Con-
z--essr,a- S,r-sfe1- Sta-fe1- - @ba c-aoo,5
Kentucky district
The navy officials involved were Secre-
tary Hilary A. Herbert and Secretary
John D. Long. who succeeded him.
Miss Richardson was one OF Kentucky's $
charming and beautiful women and be-
longed TO a pioneer aristocratic family
While visiting her sister, the wife Of
Capt Forney, at Washington. at dinner
given in her honor by Congressman Ben
nett, Secretary Herbert was present
In a pretty speech he declared that
when the battle ship Kentucky was ready
20 be launched, Miss Richardson should
christen IL The guests drank merrily TO
the health of the fair Southern visitor
and the battle ship.
Wanted to Use whisky,
When Miss Richardson returned 10 Lex
ington. she told her intimate friends Of
the honor promised her BY the Secre-
tary. and conceived the idea Of christen-
ing the battle ship with whisky.
Maj. Barrak G. Thomas, the noted thor
Oughbred breeder. offered for the purpose
a sample OF his "forty-year-old'' Bourbon
from the choicest corner Of his wine eel
lar. Miss Richardson sent a bottle Of
the whisky TO Secretary Herbert, and
asked THAI he and President Cleveland
sample ii 70 see If it met with their ap-
provaL
But the uncertainty of politics placed at
the head Of the Navy Department 4 new
man in the person of John D. Long, and
as chief executive OF Kentucky William
O. Bradley. When the preparations were
begun for christening the Kentucky, Sec
retary Long passed the honors OF naming
a sponsor over TO Gov Bradley
The Kentucky colonels. the tackles"
on the battle ship and Miss Richardson
waited with bated breath his action Gov.
Bradley named his daughter, Miss Chris
tine then a schoolgirl OF seventeen, for
the honor.
Then arose a storm OF protests from
throughout the country Letters were
written 70 the newspapers by many per-
sons. One that appeared in a Louisville
paper was by James Tandy Ellis. the
former schOOlmate and sweetheart Of
Miss Richardson
Where Romance Came in.
She recognized the initials signed TO
the article. and. writing to the editor Of
the paper. procured his address. Then
she wrote. thanking Mr.. Ellis for his
words Of rebuke 10 the men who had
turned her down.
Correspondence resulted. which ended
in their marriage two years later.
. Miss Bradley proposed TO christen the
battle ship with water. This did not meet
with the approval of public sentiment.
and she finally broke the usual decanter
of champagne over the ships PROV at
what was one of the most notable gath
erings in the history Of the time -honored
custom.
There always has been a mystery as
10 what became OF the bottle of whisky
sent 70 Secretary Herbert Il was an
derstOod this official declared he never
4@~StNN4 ~ = II ~ NAtc NilAAr OL MS uGdLLl.
Mai Thomas often referred TO the lost
bottle Of liquor, saying he would Ike 20
have an expression as 10 its quality
Strange 10 relate. II was his position on
the temperance question which nearly
kept Gov. Bradley out OF the United
States Senate The Republican platform
was pledged 20 temperance, and for this
reason several members of the legisIa-
ture opposed TO the election Of former
Gov Becknam 10 the Senate refused for
a long time TO support Bradley
Mrs South was a hard worker for her
father in his political battles. The con
troversy over the christening OF the bat
tie ship often was referred 10 by his po-
litical enemies, since Miss Richardson.
now Mrs. Ellis. is quite popular and had
many influential relatives in Kentucky
and the East