The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-12
FLORIDA TAKES
initial PLUNGE
Worlds Most Powerful Battleship
Launched at Brooklyn
Navy Yard
TAFT SENDS HIS GREETINGS
First Naval Vessel Constructed at
Government Yards for Many Years
to be Equal Of Any Ship AfIoat
When Complete

New York. May 12:-The largest
fastest and most powerful sea fighter
in the American navy and i'm the world,
the monster battleship Florida, was
launched today at the Brooklyn navy
yard The battleship is the first naval
vessel built at a government yard
since the Connecticut was constructed
at the Brooklyn yard some years ago.
Thousands of spectators witnessed
the launching. Long before the hour
appointed for the event those persons
who were fortunate enough to obtain
tickets of admission began to pass
through the gates of the navy yard.
Many who were not took places of
vantage on housetopsand factory roofs
I'm the immediate vicinity of the yard.
Hundreds thronged Corlears Hook
Park on the Manhattan side of the
East River. from which a good view
was obtained of the navy yard oppo-
site. Many of the spectators took
their places hours before the vessel
slid from the ways, and they waited
patiently until the ship entered the
brine. Even then they were loath to
depart, many remaining for hours 10
watch the giant hull as it foated at
anchor i'm mid-stream.
Official party Is Large
The launching party. which was one
of the largest and most distinguished
that ever witnessed similar event in
this country was given a place upon
the large platform which had been
built around the prov of the battle
ship. The State of Florida was rep
resented by large official party Sec
retary Meyer and several of his assis-
tants were on hand to represent the |
Navy Department The navy itself
was well represented by numerous Of
ficers of the battleships Michigan.
Connecticut. Nebraska and Rhode Is
land. all OF which are now in port here. !
The contingent was headed by Rear
Admiral Schroeder. Commander i'm |
Chief Of the Atlantic fleet. The COM
mandent and officers of the navy yard |
looked after the visitors and the work.
men of the yard were given n half hol-
iday that they might witness the
launching.
Miss Fleming Is s.oonsor
Ready to ohristen the ship. Miss FL |
zabeth Legere Fleming. daughter of |
the late ex-Gov. F. p. Fleming of Flor !
ida, stood trembling with excitement |
ON the launching rstand. the chrfsten- |
ing bottle poised for the first move of q
the ship. Suddenly there was a rend- |
ing sound. the weakened beam gave |
way and the giant hull began to move |
u"wn the ways. At the same moment
Naval Constructor William Y. Baxter |
VINO supervised the construction of the |
vessel gave the sigral TO thes nonso" |
Miss Fleming with a1mirabe self-pos-
session hurle1 the bottle of sparkling
Wine at the prov and evcla'~,ed in . |
clear voice: 'I christen the florida" |
Caring specs eve-v M ,ot. Tho |
great hull glided rapidly down the
ways into the Fast River. receiving its
hrst touch of the brine Of few min-
utes before II o'clock. As the future |
sea terror settled in the water the |
crowd gave won't to cheer. which Wa,
soon drowned by the playing of the |
marine band ara the din created nv |
me booming of the cannon and the |
screech of countless whistles.
President Taft Sends Greetings
immediately after the launching |
mere wgr an official luncheon at |
"hich the guests included G'vernor
filchrist Of Florida and his staff. |
MISS Fleming and her maids of honor, |
secretary of the Navy Never. Rear
Admira's Schroeder, wainwright Pot
ter and others. Naval Constructor |
haXter members of the Senate and |
rouse Committees on Naval Affairs. |
ard eminent representatives CT the /
state and City of New York A hearty |
erecting from President Taft added in
terest to the affair
Description of Ship
The Florida Is the latest word I'm |
oattleshirF,although England and Ger
many nave prepared plans for super
riorldas. She Is the heaviest warship |
mat has ever been launched I'm the |
c,VVV toIlS as
she glided down the ways today. which |
Is LOCO tons more than the Utah
weighed when she was launched at
Nanden last December. The con-
S.ruction of the Florida wal, authoriz-
eu py Congress I'm 1907 and her keel
was laid dc at the Brooklyn navy
YARD on March o. 1909. She Is now 6s
per cent completed and Is expected to
oe ready for sea before the summer
OF 1911.
p'he Florida Is $40 feel long and has
peam of s5 feet inches and mean
u'aught OF 27 feet inches. The ar
NOR consists Of belt II inches thick
"'nidship. which Is more than 3 feet
vice. Above this rs second belt
rect wide of an average thickness of
"'ches. The lower water line belt is
luminous from stem to stern, while