The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-05-02
LAUNCHED At NORFOLK
A Little Fredericksburg Miss Sponsor
For Steamer w. l.. Messick.

Tho following account of the launch
inc If the steamer w. l.. Messick at
Norfolk on Saturday IS taken from the
Norfolk Landmark Of Sunday, April
Goth. 1911. which also contained a three
column cut Of the steamer and sponsor:
Amid the shrieking of steamboat
whistles in the vicinity of the ship-yard
and the applause of two thousand or
more people who gathered around. the
new steamer w. l.. Messick was launched
from the ways at Smith and McCoy's
shipyard and dry dock yesterday morn
/ ing.
The w. l.. Messck is said to be the
largest vessel built in this city during
the past forty years. OF course, the
shipyard at Newport News and the navy
yard at Portsmouth, are not included
in the list.
Az the vessel was released from the
snoring which held her in position, Miss
Adelaide Rowe. seven years old, daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. A. p. Rowe, of
Fredericksburg, Va, a granddaughter
Of Capt. and Mrs. w. l.. Messick, pres
ident of the owning company, smashed
the bottle of champagne, which was
covered with satin, and broke it across
the boats bow just as the YES
sci slid into the water. saving 81 chris
ten thee w. l.. Messiek. The launch
ing was a signal success in every way.
Following the successful launching of
the vessel banquet was spread in one
of the large buildings at the shipyard.
At the banquet Miss Rowe was present
ed with gold. pearl and coral neck
lace, upon the pendant of which. a gold
Maltese cross, was engraved picture
of the new steamer and the statement
that it was presented by the owners OF
the vessel.
Addresses were made by +. G.. New
bill. Commonwealth attorney for Ian
caster county, Va, POSTMASTER; w.
Mcdonald Lee. head of the Virginia
Fish Commission; Fred o. Smith and
George w. Mccoy.
The w. l.. Messick was built by
Smith and Mccoy in lO4 days. She
was built for the Carter Creek Fish
Guano Company, Capt. W. l.. Messick.
president. She will be used in the man
baden fishing trade. and her home port
will be Irvington, Va. She is $40 feet
long. % feet 6 inches beam. and II feet
depth of hold. When fully loaded she
will draw IA feet, with gross tonnage
of 200 tons.
FROM THE NORFOLK vIRGlNlAN-PlLoT
Attracting even more attention than
the ship was little Miss Adelaide Rowe,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. A. T. Rowe,
of Fredericksburg, and granddaughter
of Capt. w. l.. Messick, president OF
the owning company. who christened
the ship.
Despite her seven years Miss AIDE
laide was as composed and self pos
sessed as possible. Beautifully dressed,
she stood surrounded by dozen men
and women on the stand built close
against the bow of the vessel. After
the wedges had been driven home and
the blocks sawed in two. and just as
the hull began to move, she swung the
satin-covered bottle of champagne
against the port side of the bow, say
ing. al christen thee w. l.. Messck.
There was not a hitch in the launch
ing. This is the second boat OF this
size to be built in Norfolk during the
last 40 years. When the blocks had
been cut away the hull, stern first, be
gan to glide slowly down the ways,
gathering momentum as her keel struck
the water. She floated out into the
stream, swapping a new inch rope cable
as if it had been paper string. linen
the tug Daisy towed her alongside the
dock, where the work of putting on the
superstructure will be finished.