Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-07-20
MAIDEN PLUNGE OF
LARGEST SCHOONER
BUILT ON SOUND
"WERGEIAAND,v 202 FEET LONG,
TO BE CHRIsTENED BY MRS.
r. r. WARD.

Olympians and residents OF Thurs
ton county, together with many visit
ors from nearby cities, will pay honor,
Saturday evening to the first Olym-
pia-built ocean-going vessel to be
launched from local shipyard, when
the big auxiliary schooner "Werge-
land" hrst Of those to be built By
the Olympia shipbuilding company.
will take her maiden plunge. with
Mrs. +. r. Ward, wife of the man
aser Of the company. As sponsor.
At $3.50 Saturday afternoon the
company's big yard At the foot Of
Main street viii be thrown open to
the public for inspection, from 8
o'clock on "Applju" will be served
through the courteey Of the North
west Fruit Products company, at 2
O'Clock band concert will begin. ~.
1880 Governor Ernest Lister will g..
liver the address Of the occaslon, =
short program will be carriearouAw -
and Mrs. Ward will break Z bottle pe
champagne over the bow Of the bl9
steamer and christen her the "WerEe-
land" a. she is launched into Puget
Following the launching. the even
ing's- crnwd...s sxpectaA to nnmber
1000 to 5000 people. win spit intD
three groups, the company's invited
guests attending Z banquet to be
given By It at the Mitchell hotel.
some to band concert at Capital
park. others to dance to be given
by the company's employees In tho
mold loft Of the shipyard. Visitors
from Seattle. Tacoma and Aberdeen,
and various local people are to - tAe
company's guests 1t the banquet, for
which plates have been reserved for
some 200 persons and at which NO.
cial music will be provided. special
decorations carried ont. and ! pro-
grap Of teasts presentsd.
WhRe 70 6ee LAnnchine.
Local people have bsen looking
forward to the launching with =
great deal OF interest for some weeks
and II II expected that 1 great crowd
will gather along the waterfront 70
witness 1t. Ofncials Of the company
suggest that the best place u see II
win be from the Standard on dock.
the city dock. or along the interven-
Ing waterfront. rather than right aG
the yard, while It b also suggested
that . good view Of the entire pro-
ce~ding can be had from the west
side.
A special committee Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce b cooperating vita
Manager e. r. Ward Of the Olympia
shipbuilding company in making ar
rangements for the launching. and
has issued an urgent invitation to the
people Of the county. Of Shelton.
Centraiia. Chehalis and other nearby
points. to join with Olympians In the
evenings celebration. The company
also has sent formal Invitations to
SVV Vt oVV lIlSuUb Vi IL OuuC13W III
other. cities. to attend the launching.
which 1t b axpected will be one Of
the biggest events recently held IN
Olympia.
Northwest Product Eu&ikeay.
Many Olympians have watched the
various steps In the construction Of
the big vessel since the keel was laid
early last winter. She ss the largest
wooden vessel ever built in Puget
Sound yard and is entirely North
west product. the lumber being pur-
chased In this vicinity, the engines
and other machinery down-Sound.
while many local workers have been
employed in her construction.
The "Wergeland" is 2s2 feet over
all. with 4S-foot beam and IT
foot moulded depth. will have Ave
masts and be powered with twin en-
gines Of the semi-Diesel type, capable
OF giving her speed Of eight knots
An hour. After the launching she
will be towed to the Olympia Oyster
company's dock. whore she VIII -
completed. fully risged out. e0uipoea
and provisioned for her. arst oeeaA