Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-17
MIGHTY WARSH|P
GL|DES DOWN WAYS
Worlds Greatest Sca-Fightcr
Successfully Launched at
Newport News.
NOTABLE THRONG PRESENT
At Post-Launching Luncheon,
Secretary Daniels Pays Trib-
ute to Navy.
Especial TO The Times-pispa,ch. !

apic IN t"o respects: II was the largest
bat;ieship ever launched by any coun-
try. and a prayer was offered in which
the wish was expressed that divine
blessing would result In such a condi-
tion that the warsh;p might never be
needed in a war OF agSression but
as the minister OF God. bc u terror to
those who do evil and a defense to
those who do we'll" The PRAYER was
offered by Bishop Joseph f. Berry, Of
Pennsylvania, while thousands stood
with heads uncovered. Forinerly. there
had been no religious services at
launchinRs here and always music by
a band. There was no music to-day
BIG SHIP CHRIsTESED BY
MISS ELIZABETII kOLB
The big ship, which was christencd
b. Miss Elizabeth Kolb, OF German
town. Pa. claimed by Governor Brum-
baugh. OF that State, as the sweet
est girl in Pennsylvania began her
graceful trip down the ways promptly
at 1o:ll O'Clock. Gathered in the stand
and cheering as heartily as any OF the
vast throng were Secretary OF the Navy
Josephus Daniels. Senator Claude A.
Swanson. Governor Henry c. Stuart, OF
Virginia: Governor Brumbaugh. Of
Pennsylvania; Philander G. Knox. for
mer Governor Pennypacker. OF Penn
sylvania; John Wanamakcr. Rear
Admiral Beatty. commandant OF the
Norfolk Navy-Yard: Colonel Ira +.
Haines. commandant of Fort Monroe:
Captain Max Thierichens, commander
OF the German auxiliary cruiser PrinZ
Eitel Friedrich: delegations from both
branches OF the Legislatures In Penn
sEivania and Virginia. social leaders
from the national capital and several
States and hundreds OF other we'll
known people or the Keystone state
and the Old Dominion.
Not hitch occurred TO mar tho
launching. and. despite the fac, that
the nnass OF steel which was Just about
TO be consigned TO its native element
and given the name OF the Pennsyl-
vania. weighed 5000 tons in excess OF
any battleship ever launched. shipvard
of1cials pronounced il the most success
full
some time before the hour set for
the launching, 10 o'clock, the sponsor.
MISS ko!b, and her maids of honor.
MISS katheryn Margin. Miss Mildred
haroid and Miss Katherine Kolb, all
schoolnates OF the sponsor at the Ma
tional Park Seminary, Forest Glen. Md
sponsor. who was the target of hum
dreds OF photographers. professional
and amateur Miss Kolh was in
structed as to the most effective w.r
10 throw the conventional bottle OF
wine with which the ship was chris
tened
WARNING WHISTLE GIVEN
THAT MOMENT IS AT HAND
At 10:0S o'clock the warning whistle
for the release was blown A slight
CULVER swept over the hull. but the
ship did not move. a second whistle
followed. and the hydraulic pressure
was again applied and released, and,
hardly perceptible at first, the $4,000
tons OF steel started slowly down the
ways.
AS the vessel started the large dele
CATION from PENNSYLVANIA. led by Gov
ernor Brumbaugh. gave cheer after
cheer for pennsylvania"
SO scientifically perfect had been the
graduation or incline Of the ways that
the huge hull took the water with
only the wave OF her immense displacc-
mcnt. AS the bow cleared the cradle.
the vessel gave a graceful bow as she
reached an even keel. as il responding
enormous size and Importance
Immediately the great vessel had
cleared the ways. the sponsor was the
center of a throng congratulating her.
The shipyard officials, the Secretary OF
the Navy and the Governors OF the two
States. Virginia and PENNSYLVANIA. like
wise came in for congratulations
AS the hull ncarcd the water the
crowd In the stand checred tho sponsor
and others occupying the sponsors
stand
Soon after the great hull took tho
water. the crowd Of more than 10000
people who had gathered in tho yard
to witness the event began to wend
their way homcward. The sponsor and
her party and the members OF the
Pennsylvania and Virginia official dele
cations accompanied Secretary OF the
Navy Josephus Daniels and his stan to
the Mayflowcr. \ few minutes later
the Presidents yacht swung out into
tho stream and headed for Old Point,
where the guests were rendered n post
launching luncheon ut the Hotel Cham
berlin by the officials Of the yard.
Although the ship was the heaviest
ever launched in this country, 80 true
was the cradle guided on the stocks
that the layers Of tallow were not
burned and at no time did the slight
est wisp OF smoke show above the hull
GREATEST CARE USED
IN LAUNCHING CRADLE
In the construction Of the launching
cradle, the greatest care was exercised
The slide consisted OF approximately
700 oak wedges. $50 on each side be-
tween the sideways and the launching
cradle. In the construction OF the
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Continued on Second I,nYcl