New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08
RAD|ATE
RADIANCE At LAUNCHING
New York Girls Cross Fingers
for Luck as the Washington
Irving Leaves Ways
BIGGEST RIVER STEAMER
Memorable Ceremony at Cam
den for Hudson River Liner
Water from Irving
Well Replaces Wine.

Philadelphia. Dec THE Washington
Irving. the big new steamboat built for
the Hudson River Day Line, left the ways
of the New York Shipbuilding Company
at Camden this afternoon. bathed in a
golden light which was reflected from the
red heads Of forty-nine girl students Of
the Washington Irving High School, Of
New York City, :. ---
The forty-ninG schoolgirls came over as
the guests OF the Hudson River Day Line
to act as assistant sponsors for the iarg-
est river steamboat. and they made It the
most memorable launching ever held In
This vicinity 90.
The Titan haired delegation was under
the leadership Of Miss Minnie Green, of
the Washington irving High School,
founder Of the "Redheads." Descendants
Of Washington Irving also were there. a.
Duer Irving. jr, L. du Pont Irving and
the latters sou, Washington Irving, rep
resented Che Irvings. Samuel Rea who
will be the next president OF tho Penn
sylvania Railroad was at the launching.
Mayor Blankenburg gave up the care of
the city for a few moments and saw the
vessel take the plunge, and there were
also present Andrew Fletcher, Delaney
May Captain George A. White. f. l..
Hine. r. A. C Smith and George V. S.
Williams, Of New York
Well Water Replaces Wine.
Instead Of the usual bottle of wine
which is splashed over the bows as YES
sci takes the water the Washington
Irving was christened by Mrs. Eben
Erskjne Olcott wife of the president Of
the Hudson River Day Line, with water
taken from the famous Sunnyside well, on
the old estate Of Washington Irving. As
the big boat left the ways Mrs Olcott
poured the clear sparkling, but not
.bubbling. water over the bows, and the
Washington Irving was named and took
her first plunge into the blue waters Of
the Delaware, .-
But the first attraction were those red
headed girls, and the second was the
wonderful steamboat upon which all
nautical engineering skill has been ex-
pended She might be called the very last
thing in a river. steamer were 1t not for
the fact that few years hence the Hud-
son River Day Line probably will en-
deavor to build. something bigger, hand
soner and grander. and then the Wash
ington Irving will have TO take back
seat.
The girls-onev irritable streak Of red
raf-sT IL no
noon. Everything was in readiness for
them at Broad Street Station. Even the
railroad company had forgotten its cor
porate existence and had entered into the
spirit Of the affair. s..
Along with the girls came about 15O !
specially invited guests Of the Hudson
River Day Line. These guests came float |
ing out into the train shed long before the
leheads did. and as all were decked out
with ribbons flowers and blue pennants'
with the inscription, Launching OF the
Washington Irving in white letters,
groan went UP from the waiting throng |
"Stung :" said many in chorus, and turn
ed to leave, when, far down the track
there was CLINT Of dull red with a'back-
ground of white, with blue pennants wav-
ing above.
Ivy Crowns "sorreI Tops"
.,rbere they GOMEZ? shouted small
how and there was a rush down the plat |
form In a second the famous fifty came
in sight. Each red, Titan, vermillion'
crimson or copper colored head was
crowned with an ivy wreath.
White sweaters, each with the letters
.W. T. II. vs." in red silk embroidered
across the front were wor BIN each GIRL
but unfortunately for the general effect
each "sorrel top" had been allowed to
rarb herself as she pleased.
The result was a marvellous tumble OF
nony skin coats, white shoes and stock
ings blue capes and green listers. The
color scheme struck one right between the
ewes but IT attracted attention, some
thousands OF attention ...
Az one etage Of their march down the
platform the leading girls halted The
others hanged into them, and while the
ensuing confusion was being Strengthened
ont the leaders suddenly darted ahead
again. By the time the rear ranks woke
nm they were far behind. With yell OF
terror at being thus deserted. the scut-
mob went through the station proper Ike
a cyclone.
In front of the station was a row OF
cabs TO each Of which was attached
white or near white horse. Who ever
heard of a redhead without white horse
IN close proximity? And there were forty
nine redheads-forty-nin beautiful young
women who were proud to be called red
heads, and who Dragged that there
wasn't such an array of hair in one party
any place in the world to-day,
These assistant sponsors came here 10 /
have a good time. The steamboat com
panS meant that they should have good
time. They were the original luck TO the
palatial new boat. Following their arri-
val they were piled into automobiles and
were taken through Independence Hail.
where they saw the Liberty Bell and were
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