Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-16
READY FOR GLIDE
into JAMES RIVER
Worlds Biggest Battleship Will
Take Initial Dip This
Morning.
GREAT THRONG GATHERING
Many Dignitaries and Thousands
of Other People Will Wit
ness Launching
GREAT THRONG GATHERING
Especial TO The Tines-Dispatch |

:
In readiness for the launching of
the super -Drcadnought PENNSYLVANIA
which Will he the biggest battl.Ship in
the world. at 10 o'clock Tomorrow
morning. y larger number OF digni-
tarics than have ever before Witnessed
"a launching have accepted Invitations
TO be present, and the most pretentious
ceremonies ever attempted will mark
the event The shipyard will he
thrown open 20 the public. and thous-
dhds or people are expected to be pres
cnt. Following the launching the in
Vttcd guests Will go to old Point
where the shipyard company will ten
der banquet to the sponsors party
and the distinguished guests
The launching Of the Pennsylvania.
according to the plans Of the shipyard
ofiicials will be the most notable sine.
the Virginia, named after the Mother
of States" glided from the shipwayg
ana rested on the bosom OF the river
that proved a haven OF refuge for the
hrsi English ship which anchored in
American waters.
The mammoth stand. erected for the
Invited guests. and from which towers
like miniature throne. the stand OF
the sponsor. is gayly bedecked with
the holiday spirit that pervadcs the
whole OF the city. The stand will ac-
commodate 1900 people
FLAGS OF THE NATIONS
WILL. FLAuNT N BREEZE
Supports for the rigging which will
Haunt to the four winds of the earth
tho flags and pennons OF the nations
OF the world. already are In place The
flags and bunting will be placed to-
morrow morning
Hundreds OF the most skilled work
men or the builders have been busy on
ana under the Dreadnought for sew
era! days. and the wedges which will
raise the assembled tons of iron and
steel so as to be in readiness for tho
release of the launching trigger are in
place.
The water. ,or-sHp. ,ahrtting the ways
was cleaned and drsdser o-day, the
builders taking no chances in having
anything go wrong.
Towering high above the other ships
building here. the Pennsylvania. bu,
for the band OF wooden backing for
the ar,nor plate. looks almost COM
pleted 10 the unintiatcd eye. However
she is but 20 per cent complete. and
Will not be ready for her trials for
months TO come.
The upper part OF the ship is painted
red. while the lower part. extending
approximately from the keel TO tho
water line, is a dull gray giving the
monster OF the deep a sinister and un-
canny appearance.
Miss Elizabeth Kolb. sponsor. accom-
panied by her maids of honor her
mother and father and other members
OF the launching party. are spending
the night at the Chambcrlin Hotel at
Old Point. having arrived this eve
ming.
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels. ac-
companied by navy and other govern
ment officials, Will arrive at o'clock
Tomorrow morning. having left Wash
ington this afternoon on the presiden-
tial yacht Mayfower. Members OF the
party will leave the yacht at the ship
yard TO witness the launching. Later
they VIII return to the yacht. on which
they will make the run from the ship
yard to the Chamberlin Hotel whore
a luncheon will be rendered the sponsor
and invited guests by officials of ,be
shipyard
GOVERNORS AND STAFFs
WILL BE SPECTATORS
Governor stuart and Governor
Brumoaugh. OF Virginia and Pennsyl-
Fania, respectively, accompanied by
their STATS and members of the Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania Legislatures
and Virginia and Pennsylvania Reure-
sentatives In Congress- will arrive at
Q o'clock on n special train from Rich
mond. The train will take the visitors
into the plant of the shipbuilding COM
pany.
Public schools Of the city have been
granted a holiday. and the pupils. both
white and black, Will attend the
launching in bodies. They will be
segregated on the wharf which the
shipyard has set aside for their use.
Each pupil Will carry flag, and songs
especially prepared for the occasion
VIII be rendered during the launching
ceremonies.
The shipyard gates will be thrown
open to the public at o'clock. and It
is safe to assume that the inevitable
rush VIII begin at that time. At for
mer launchings vast crowds have
gathered at the shipyard gate hours
before tho time of the launching. and
as history repeats Itself. the same
thing Is expected to occur tomorrow.
Scores Of launches small boats.
steamers and bargcs Will gather In the
river near the point OF the launching
each having on board every person that
can find foothold. Shipyard tugs
and launches will be pressed into ser
vice to keep them clear OF the course
taken by the Pennsylvania when she
leaves tho ways.
ROOM AT NEWPORT NEWS
ALREADY AT PREMIIrM
So great Is the crowd Of visitors who
viii attend the launching that several
hotels announced tonight that room
OF an" Kind was at Il premium. Ac-
commodations will become even more
crowded Tomorrow. and the crowd is
expected to be almost ms large az those
which witnessed the launching OF the
Kcarsarge and Kentucky, after which
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