Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1898 — PRIDE OF THE NAVY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PRIDE OF THE NAVY.

MAMMOTH BATTLESHIP ILLINOIS IS LAUNCHED. Steel Monster Will Probably Be the Most Powerful Fighting Craft Afloat —Nucleus of the “New Navy”-Cost Will Exceed «3,000,000. The mammoth United States battleship Illinois, one of the three latest additions to the navy and probably (he most powerful fighting mac-hine afloat, was launched at Newport News, Va., Tuesday under auspicious circumstances. As the steel monster trembled in its flight from earth to sea, Nannie Letter broke a bottle of sparkling champagne upon the vessel’s prow and pronounced the words that made it the godchild of the groat Western commonwealth and caused 25,000 people assembled to send up a cheer that could be heard for miles. Gov. Tanner of Illinois shook hands with the Governor of Virginia, the newly floated ship rose proudly from its. initial dip, and the launching was pronounced a success. From many points of view the launching of the Illinois was the most important of the kind in the history of the country. The vessel is the largest fighting ship ever floated under the Stars and Stripes, is the costliert ever built by the navy, and experts believe it-will be the most formidable warship ever put in commission by any power. There was never such a crowd in Newport News at any previous ship launching. They came from everywhere, from the North and South, and especially from the West. Long before the hour of the lauuching throngs began lo gather alwut the spot, and by 11 o'clock standing room was worth its area in nickels everywhere within a block of the Illinois. Enthusiastic

cheers greeted the arrival of the distinguished guests. Few in the vast crowd could hear the words spoken by Miss Leiter, but nearly all were able to sec her, and when she raised the bottle Of wine in her hand and clashed,.it against the steel of the Iwttleship, the action was a signal for their enthusiasm to break forth with full force. There wns a groaning from the timbers, the ground trembled as the thousands of tons of steel shot downward and the spray that was sent aloft arose higher thanl Che platform on which stood the little woman who had named the new craft. Shrieking whistles and a volume of applause which swept over the vast throng like a tidal wave of sound greeted the ship as it gracefully floated out into The stream. Again and again tumultuous cheers rang out for the Illinois us the officious little tugs fussed around and drew the marine champion back to the shipyard pier, where it will receive the finishing touches. The Illinois, with the Kearsarge and Kentucky, now nearing completion at Newport News; the Alabama, being constructed at Philadelphia, and the Wisconsin, under construction at San Francisco, are to constitute the nucleus of the “new navy,” which is to stand comparison with the best in size and fighting qualities. She is a trifle less than 373 feet over all, and her width' is somewhat greater in proportion to her.length than that of the other battleships. Ten thousand-horse power is to be developed by the engines which wall be used to propel the big ship.

BATTLESHIP ILLINOIS. As it will look when completed and under headway.