Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1908-11-19
THE. NORTH DAKOTA
Launching Of Big Ship at Quincy,
Mass. Additional Details
of the Event.

of the Event.
The Boston Herald prints an ex-
tended account Of the launching of
the battleship North Dakota. The
Herald says:
"The q. S. S. North Dakota, the
first of our projected 10000 ton, 2l-
knot, turbine driven battleships, and
the most powerful ship in the United
States navy, was launched in the
presence of a distinguished assem-
blage from the yard Of the Fore River
Ship Building company in Quincy.
'tThe great steel hull slid down the
creased ways with scarcely tremor,
and is it moved mighty cheer burst
forth from the thousands of specta-
tors, flags and handkerchiefs were
waved, the band played "The Star
Spangled Banner,' while scores of
tugs and steamboats, in the river
whistled strident welcome to the
new leviathan.
"One hundred men and women,
including Gov. Burke and other dis
tinguished officials of the state, came
from North Dakota to witness the
launching. Many of them had never
before seen battleship, and few OF
them got their first glimpse of salt
water when they arrived in Boston.
To them the event was one of rare
interest, and they enjoyed themselves
immensely.
There we're foreign navies repre-
sented to the number of three. be-
sides our own navy officials of the
state of Massachusetts, special train
conveyed the guests from Boston to
the ship yards. The Herald adds:
stThe North Dakota guests were
met on their arrival in Boston by
Brig-Gep. W. B. Emery, representing
Gov. Guild; Maj. Talbot Alderich
and Maj. Philip S. Sears of Gov.
Guilds staff, and escorted to the
train. .ss,..a
"Here everything was in readiness
for their reception. Gov. Burke and
his staff and the christening party
were met by Rear Admiral Francis
T. Bowles. president of the Fore
River company, who escorted them
to the launching stand which had
been erected about the bow of the
vessel and which was decorated with
the national colors. The stand had a
capacity of several hundred, and was
comfortably filed long before the
hour for launching arrived.
Miss Benton, her chaperone, Mrs.
Alice Nelson Page, of Grand Forks,
N. D., Gov. and Mrs. Burke, Rear
Admiral Bowles. Col. Benton and
half a dozen others, occupied the
christening stand directly under the
bow of the vessel and about four feet
higher than the launching platform.
Immediately above this, suspended
by tri-colored ribbons, hung the bot
tie Of champagne inclosed in woven
network of red, white and blue. \
Miss Benton was attired in an
Empire gown of champagne satin
broadcloth, with gloves to match,
and large black picture hat. She
carried large bouquet of American
( Beauty roses presented to her by
J Admiral Bowles. Mrs. Page was
dressed in light gray suit of satin
broadc!oth and wore large picture
hat. Mrs. Burke wore blue
tailored suit of broadcloth, a small
toque, with white wings, and a set
of mink furs.
From an early hour 250 men had
toiled with sledges and crowbars to
release the North Dakota from the
ways which had held her over 10
months. Gradually the weight upon
the sustaining blocks was lessened.
"A score OF men, with battering
rams, knocked these away, one after
another, until but one piece re-
mained. When all was in readiness,
sawyers attacked this. and at the
first snap, which told Of it's giving
away, Admiral Bowles gave the sig
nal for the christening.
Slips Easily Down Ways.
Standing with her face toward the
launching platform. Miss Benton
raised the champagne bottle in her
right hand, and just IS the vessel be-
gan to move, brought it down with
crushing force against the PROV.
There was distant crash Of falling
timber, and as the huge, red hull,
gaining momentum with every mo-
ment, slipped gracefully and easily
from her birthplace, . terrific shout
went up, the band played s"The Star
cnn urlod no onnor - and the wh1Hf 1Aa