The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-17

parently was little confused, but
! after several graceful poses took her
place on the platform iottlo held
l"s'$y in hand
A bevy IF The yards most skilled
worknen eVarmed about and beneath
the snip. resembling ants In size VIXEN
compared with the giant hull of the
craft. As the rams struck the wedges
that slowly, but surely lifted the
5000 tons of steel from the stocks
la dun booming sound emoto the ears
~ the assembled thousands,
Cleaning In a new coat of red paint
and bcdeCked with flags and hunting
the great aull presented an imposing
sight as it lowered more than a hum
dred feet above the crowd.
Almost Complete.
The PenrS& lNania IL more nearly
completed than was any other war
ship ever launched here and weighed
4 600 tons rore than did the Texas.
launched here abot three years ago.
In the sixteen months that they have
been working on the ship the build
ers have rendered her more than
seventy per cent complete The entire
hull has been finished and the wooden
backing il IN place for the armor
plate
The huge cradle on which the as
sembIed mass of steel reposed would
F nave menu AN4tt ittH "tikiAs as inc
builders could afford TO take no
chances of losing millions OF dollars
and cndanserinE hundreds Of lives by
having the beams give way at the
last minute
The time for the launching was
drawing near when the signal was
given to knock the keel blocks clear.
Several hundred men swarmed be-
meath theship and the steady thud OF
the hammers smote harshly on the
subdued air OF expectancy. the crowd
having ceased its buzz of talk ar the
issuance OF the order. As soon as
the keel blocks were clear, .Vtnstle
schroeCted forth It's warning and the
perspiring hammer-wielders scurrfed
to safety.
Trigger Released
An instant later the steel triggef
was released. with a CULVER. az one
awakening from trance. the hull
began moving. slowly at first, but
gaiuiuE momentum with each inch.
The vast crowd burst into cheers,
which were almost Immediately 81
.enced by the Changing bells and
Shrieking Whistles that befittinely
welcomed thr new Mistress of the
seas" as she gllded to her native elc-
mcnt.
simultaneously with the first pre-
ccptahle movement of the ship Miss
kolh FraC fully. but fpreefuliv 1urlcd
',V '''I' 81 t1'1n' t'aEi'' @' iSt we
US VI 'ne 'It& nun ne
sa'.,,' was S'i'as,eu i'lt" hl,hoh
t"rius champagne striking some Of the
nearest spectators As the pennsyl-
wanna floatad ont to the bosom Of the
James to be taken to one
OF tn' AuitNaF1 piers where she WI
.'' com pie,@'- MISS sob received the
''"t7 l"ps OF the iauhchlhk party
i" No.. 'Ii''iy "a1 ihaN'hN lf"pata~
'',''s -, r''"'!l q" me W al "l'n ffo'''
w. i'ii.'' WI .,"'I GU ''
a IN =" ~ ''7'''l'
. "' NV al''t''N''"'lls corn ~ ny.
'I 1i aS't ~, u7'N IN i"u,''i,-
'a'B ''-4l,'o ~ '''.' @no IN
/ W., 49, 49, 49, IN ~ ''ui'rF wen
''N"a $1,000 w ''o9uhi w ~"
y" as ~ =. H. ii.'',lls tn I'ni,-t
n''l". me ,l'Sse'l Io@a."0 ma
! sliPS' 'vpaiees 'h'' ma I, nlo', oaF sGie
! ~, -, VIII uIpef 'fFe oid mttnoo
80 pi'''i',s, &c W ne saw IN TWO
| !" teie"se 'he 'l"ih me uiNStf was
| ''Iu az plare ~ Sohi PreNSeo ar ana
""tItN P'ef,aii "i '4ie nan" Na9 al
'''"' MAS ~ .. ~ IT,
! h'w Out OF pate
y teature ct ne PennsyiFanla which
( "al dit'ereh''h'f nor from OF her ships
. go, - -
i'.t ilIN po"' 't"A rep'o inc GUS
,oHtaIN Ia,H ''%' reitEa'ea 70 the
( "a ~. NHI"on" '' tAe lo,s fahee gums
- tuf Pre1e"' Gay, whlen make the
old tune ll'a'ilce or ramining as OBJ
sDi'l" as COW" aha hfFo"a' keselh-
n"fis 'ht 10 aware anu 'uhilke inc
leN,tS hnu sc" YORK, lAe fehhsyi-
NaI'H' WAIT nave . hlsh deck Tor
war"
nv NNeieton masts 70 the lone