New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-12
FLORIDA READY TO GLIDE
Brilliant Ceremony Will Attend
Launching Of Rattleshlp-
PAL METTo GIRL AS SPONSOR
Hull, the Heaviest Ever Built IN
This Country, Will Slide Over
Nine Tons of Tallcw.

| Unless the weather interferes to prevent
| it. the spectacle in the Brooklyn navy
| yard this morning at the launching of the
| battleship Florida will be one OF the most
brilliant and impressive seen at the New
York station of the department since it
was established All the preparations have
been completed the reservations. roped of,
the various stands put up and decorated.
the active participants thoroughly drilled
in their parts, and. the towering steel hull
is ready for its plunge.
The schedule of work connected with the
launching has been carefully made out by
Naval Constructor ". J. Baxter and SO
far as skilful foresight can determine
there is no chance Of a slip. The great
! mass of steel the heaviest ever sent into
the water from an American shipyard,
will weigh at launching 1871 tons. and
exerts a pressure Of about two and quarter
tons on each square foot of the launching
ways. which, with a. slope of His Of an
inch TO the foot and six feet in width.
will require approximately nine tons Of
| tallow for their proper greasing.
The ship will be launched with her boil
ers in place and her four propellers at
tached. The placing of the propellers is
made necessary owing to the fact that
vessel out Of the water
At .10:15 a general warning signal. will be
sounded on the big siren whistle Ten min
utes later red flag will be, flown from
the cupboard arm. Of the cantilever crane,
far above the Floridas hull, which will
tell river craft TO watch out for the splash
and the wave. AT 1857 Rear. Admiral
Leutze Will warn Miss Fleming, the ships
sponsor, to be ready
Two minutes, later the. command saw
Of" will be given, and promptly at II
O'Clock, II the schedule holds, the great hull
Will begtn-its slide toward the water. with
five of the finest bands, in the service to
cheer it on with the strains Of The Star
Spangled Banner" As she takes the water
the Florida represents an expenditure Of
almost 81, 215,0 900, with a completion mark of
6s per cent p
The social side Of the affair has received
attention. There Is disappointment over
the cancellation by President Taft of his
engagement 10 be present, but Vice-Presi-
dent. Sherman, Secretary Meyer and As
sistant Secretary Winthrop Of the Navy
Department Congressman Calder, Fitz-
gerald and others, Governor Gilchrtst and
a delegation from Florida, Rear Admiral
Seaton Schroeder, commander Of the At
idliIiC llSOlf long l4Sl o. IdNSl
active and retired. will attend.
Governor Hughes, Mayor sGaynor and a
number Of city officials have been invited
to the ceremony. and more than twenty
thousand tickets of admission to the yard
have been issued Admiral -Leutze has
| asked the aid OF the city police in keeping
order outside the gates. and about three
hundred marines will attend to the people
after they are in the Enclosure. ..-
a luncheon will be served to invited
guests after the launching in Building No
III. but the, real affair after the ship IS
ahoat will be the dirner given by tbs work
men OF the yard in the banquet hall OF Kfs-
met Temple in the evening Covers will be
laid for one thousand, and the list OF speak
ers includes Vice-President Sherman. AS
ststant Secretary winthrop. Admiral L sutze,
Admiral Schroeder. Naval Constructor
Baxter, Captain Parks. Of the Steam Ensi-
neering Bureau. Congressman Calder and
Fitzgerald and others
The staff of Miss Fleming, who IS to
name the ship. has been completed by the
arrival of Miss Nellie Fletcher. daughter Of
United States Senator Duncan V Fletcher,
OF Florida Miss Airline Buchanan, of Jack
sonville, Miss Mary Milton, of Jacksonville.
and Miss Eusenia Carter, of Pensacola,
each of whom has 4 special commission
signed by Governor Gilchrist