Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-09
MAYORS DAUGHTER
CHR|STENs SHIP
At PORTLAND

Portland. Nc, Aug. S.-The best
launch:ng Witnessed in the local
yards this season was the opinion
expressed by the officials and old
time shipbuilders after the Falmouth.
me second government ship 10 be
launched at tho Cumberland ship
~ slid down the ways and made he"
maiden dip into the ocean yesterday
afternoon before hundreds Of spec
tators ana 1909 workmcn OF tho
South Portland plant. Tho spectators
cheered as another vessel was add
Cd 10 the bridge of ships which are
being put II the wafer every day now
to help send the Kaiser 10 . watery
grave.
It was little after IL o'clock when
the crowds commenced 10 gather Tor
the occasion The roads TO the SCUM
Portland plant were lined with autos
making their way 10 the lauhchihE
and the Soutn Portland cars 1"f an
hour prior to the hour set Tor me
occasion were filled TO nNefiioNihS
and the Cumberland County Power
| & Light co. was forced to send extra
ears to accommodate the CroNG9'
About 400 special guests OF inc com
pany were permitted 70 stand On VI"
launching platform to obtain me
view Of the event
Music was furnished 70: the occasion
by the newly organized band and GLE
club composed Of the workmen IN tE@
yard. Dressed in their working clothes
where they had come from the Inherent
boats. the men assembled on ne
launching platform and there the lena,
numbering D and led by Erwin CurfIrf,
played lively pieces as the crowds ne
gan to gather. Between the selections
, Of the band the glee club made Nv ell
tirely of the workingmen, N their over
alIs and under the direction of John
Hanson, favored the spectators with
several familiar tunes which brought
loud applause from the crowd.
1t was 1910 when the man at the stern
was ordered to knock out the KEY block,
and as soon as this was done the vessel
began to slide down the ways.
Miss Catherine Clark, daughter OF
Mayor and Mrs. Charles B. Clarke.
from her sponsors platform broke the
bottle Of wine on the bow and christen
ed her Falmouth. From both sides OF
the boat where other vessels shortly
lay in their cradles, the workmen OF
the yards shouted and threw up ti,er
hats the spectators on tne launching
platform waved their handk archiefs and
hats. the crowd from thu surrounding
hills and houses sent up sh-:eks. autos
footed horns and the patHol boats ard
little motorhoats in the harbnr 'oote
their whistles.
Striking the water evenly, the new
IL launched boats made n sweep to
the right and she struck with such
force that it reversed the propeller on
the stern and to much watching the
ship believed that the engine and ma
chinery had been already installed:
but this was not the case and she was
at once taken in tow by tug boats
who towed her to the installation
plant at IiGonia where the machin-
cry will be put in and ready for serv-
ice within a short while.
Among the special guests Of the
company at the launching who stood
en- the sponsors platform, We're
James c. Hamlen. president of the
Cumberia nd Ship Building Company,
Mr.. and Mrs. James c. Hamen. .Jr.
Hon. Charles p. Clarke and the spon-
sor. Miss Catherine Clarke, Captain
NJ Souris and Lieutenant A. w.
James Of the British recruiting sta
ton, and army chaplain who has re-
tcived active service at the front. be-
ing wounded four times, and is now
in this country as a member Of the
French commission in Washington.
Work was commenced thnie after
noon on the laying of tho keel of an
other ship at the South Portland
plant In the cradle which the Fall
mouth just left. It is expected ac-
cording to the officials of the com
rany to have boat Number three ready
for the water within three weeks
md from then to launch a vessel ev-