Evening journal., 1910-01-26
NEW VESSEL IS
NEXT TO BIGGEST
North Land Exceeded Only by
the Denver as Largest VIII
mingtOn- Built Ship
PLEASING SPEECHES
AT THE LUNCHEON

With one exception the steamship North
Land, which was launched Yesterday for
the Maine Steamship Company from the
yards of the Harlan and Hollinrswortb
Corporation, is the largest vessel that
ever left the ways Of a local sblnvard
The largest steamship launched from the
Harlan and Hollingsworth yards was the
Denver for the Mallory Line in 1901. The
DehVer was 40 feet long. The North
Land Is $50 feet long.
While the weather conditions Yesterday
were not most favorable for a successful
launching, there was not the slightest
hitch and the huge hull of the North
Land gained impetus as 1t glided toward
the river and made its initial dip into the
Icy water. r. j. Noble, general manager
OF the steamship company, was one OF
the men on the deck Of the North I.and
when the vessel took 10 the water. As
the hull swept toward the south side of
the Christiana the momentum was SUM
cient for the vessel to poke her stern into
the mud fats on that side After manv
minutes hauling BY tugs the hun Of the
wharves.
The luncheon in the mold loft fol-
lowing the launching was most en-
Joyable. w. G. Coke. president of the
Harlan and HollingsWorth Corpora
ton presided, and seated with him al
the head table We're Miss May Noble. 4
the sponsor, Mr.. and Mrs r. ]. Noble. 4
and officials of the Harlan and Hol-
lingsworth Corporation
After most pleasing luncheon had
been served President Coke made a
few congratulatory remarks. which he
prefaced by relating an incident at a
launching at the Cramp shipyards in
Philadelphia. when a fair sponsor ask
ed Charles II. Cramp if he was not
worried about getting a big vessel
launched successfully. Il am not so
anxious about getting the boat afloat
as ! am about what I am to say after
ward" Mr.. Cramp replied. Mr.. Coke
said he always felt the same wav He
said the Harlan and Hollingsworth
officials were more than pleased to see
the North Land enter the water so
gracefully as she did and if she CON
tinued as she started there would be
no cause for worry. As to speed, he
was sure the vessel would more than
exceed expectations. The North Land
/ am informed is the second largest
vessel ever built in these Yards" said
Mr.. Coke. we have put into her the
best that we could. 10 you, Mr.. Noble.
and to the fair sponsor / wish the
best, and may the new steamship ex-
eel your and our expectations"
Persifor Frazer vice-president OF the
Harlan and Hollingsworth Corporation,
q moment or two later arose and said
that he had been requested to respond
for Mr. Noble, in view Of the fact that
Mr.. Noble had been launched with the
boat and had no time to prepare a speech.
Therefore, representing Mr. Noble"
said MIR. Frazier jocularly, II wish 10
the builders Of this boat
most heartily" Everybody greeted this
with laughter, and none seemed to enjoy j
L more than Mr.. Noble himself. From
Mr. Mobiles point of view" continued Mr..
Frazer, Il wish to say that the workman /
ship the materials used, and the beauty
1f appearance OF the North Land have ,
never been surpassed. And further rep {
-esenting Mr.. Noble, / wish to say that
we are about to build a fleet OF steamships (
and we assure you they will be built in
he Harlan and Hollingsworth yards" ]
After the laughter had subsded Mr. 5
Frazer, talking seriously. spoke of the {
pleasure it gave the company to turn out \
vessel Of the high standard of the q
North Land, and he expressed the hope
hat if Mr.. Mobiles company ever had ,
more vessels constructed the II. and II.
corporation might get the contract. Mr. ]
frazer congratulated Miss Noble on the
harm with which she served as sponsor.
nd he presented her with the vari-col-
red ribbon casing that was about the bot
le Of wine she crashed across the North
.ands PROV. The ribbons were mounted !,
n a hardwood shield. containing record !
{ the launching. :