Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-08
BIC 10000 TON OIL
TANKER LAUNCHED
At HARLAN PLANT
Vessel Built for Standard Oil
Company Largest Ever
Constructed Here.
IN UNCLE SANS NAVY

The J. \. Bostwick, the largest steam
ship ever launched IN this city, s1iu
from the WAYS nj the Harlan piaht Oh
the Bethlehem Shipbmding Corporation
this afternoon into the Christlana Rver
The "Big-un'' as she has been styled by
the men about the ward, towering hlgh
above all the other vessels being CON
structed at that plant, has been qui'e
a while building, but Is now competed
AZ but the engines, Tor the service OF
Uncle Sam as a cargo carrying OH 'ailhei
of $1,000 tons dead weight.
The launch was u magnificent success
The ship carpenter had calculated every
thing out To a nicely and when the
.'big-un" started down the ways the boat
swept majeSticAlv into the ChrlStlana
and I'D the river by the bend, the speed
being gradually sIackencd by big three
inch hauserS tied every few feet IN the hig
cables that kept final check on the boat.
Il required about IN hour 10 cut loose
all the appurt enanrcS ON winch the snip
rested and to prepare II for the plunge
Guard patrolled the sides Of the ways to.
keep the 5000 workmen and nearly As
MANY more Of their wives and relatives
from the danger zone. rs the ship sped
into the Christiana the ropes adjusted TO
first hold and then break asunder IN order
that the speed Of the boat might be check
cd. could have inflicted much INJURY 10
spectators to close 70 the water II any
thing had gone awry
But nothing happened.
Its the way that Harlans do things,
the workmen along the sides Of the way
shouted. after the oil tanker had tioated
safely III the river Among the officials
who were responsible for the launching
there was a big breath of relief when 1t
was all over. Il was the biggest operation
they had ever attempted and everything
had gone of nicely and was aicredlt to all
who had any connection with the accomp-
li>hment
After the vessel foated two tugs drew
alongside and "nosed'' the craft into q
berth on the dock alongside Of where the
boilers and engines were waiting 10 be
assembled in the ship.
Originally the tanker was contracted
for BY the Standard Oil Company but
subsequent to the war requlslt1oned by
the government.
Aside from the christening OF the
boat the launching was devoid Of ceremony
Miss Dorothy Bostwick was the sponsor
and when the vessel began 10 move slow
" at first and then more speedly'-Into
The Christians. Miss Bostwick broke
bottle Of champaign over the bow Of the
boat and formally ishered another
vessel into the service Of the government
With Miss Bostwick were Mile. La
fhaise. Mr.. Albert Bostwick, Mr. Fahys
and Robert 7. Hand for the Standard
OIL Company. After the launching the
PARTY of guests we're entertained at lunch
con by General Manager Weaver at the
Hotel dupont
The Tanker is 47x4Sl feet in lenth
overall: 90 foot beam and 30 feet deep
She IS equipped with triple expansion
engines and Scotch boilers and construA ed
according 10 Lloyds sea going speclf q
lions. She is of steel construction NTH
a single screw and three steel mas's and
is Of the shelter deck type with the usual
accommodations The vessel was con-
structed TO carry oil in bulk,