CHRISTENING OF THE KENTUCKY.

Southern Cross, Volume 6, Issue 9, 4 June 1898, Page 6

CHRISTENING OF THE KENTUCKY.

THE NEW BATTLESHIP BAPTIZED WITH WATER BY MISS CHRISTINE BRADLEY. Washington, D. C., March 24. Miss Christine Bradley, daughter of Governor Bradley, of Kentucky, who was chosen sponsor for the magnificent new battleship that bears the name of her native State, is a student at the Woman’s College in this city. When her party, en route to Newport News, entered the depot and stood nearly on the spot in the waiting room where President Garfield fell, she was met and greeted by a company of local white-ribboners, led by Mrs Margaret B. Platt, the local president. They had assembled to greet her and bid her Godspeed on her lovely mission. Mrs Nellie H. Bradley, wife of Francis M. Bradley, official head of the Sons of Temperance in the nation, pinned upon Miss Bradley’s breast a small silk American flag, surmounted by the white ribbon.

Mrs T. A. Williams, the district treasurer, stepped forward and presented a larve bouquet of white roses tied with a white ribbon, to which was attached a card bearing this sentiment : “ Our best wishes for the success of the Kentucky. May her career be as honourable as her christening is pure. Though formed for war, may she prove an emissary of peace.” Miss Bradley responded in fitting language to the congratulations of the white ribboners, then went aboard the train, accompanied by her mother and Mrs Thacher. It was exactly ten o’clock when the dipped into the waters. The christening by Mrs Herbert Winslow with champagne was cheered, but nothing like that of the Kentucky, which followed one hour and thirty minutes later. At 11.36, amid the yells of thousands, and shrill shrieks of hundreds of whistles, the Kentucky dipped majestically into Chesapeake bay, and the event that nations have watched with interest was at an end. Between the two launchings the marine band played “ Old Kentucky Home ” twice, and through both all cheered, alike the south and the north, with the Kentuckians. The christening, which many officials thought should be done with wine or Kentucky’s favourite product, was done with pure water, Miss Bradley declining to use anything else, winning her fight for it after a private but hard-fought battle with those who opposed her. Carrying out her sentiment in the matter, she had the water brought in a plain, wire-covered glass bottle from the famous crystal spring on the spot where Abraham Lincoln w r aa born in Larne county, Kentucky. At the banquet which followed the launching, Governor Bradley responded to the toast, “ Kentucky and the Kentucky.” He spoke in part as follows : No ship has ever been christened as it has been. Not according to the custom of pirate Vikings, clad with the skins of wild beasts, but with sparkling water from the spring which quenched the infant thirst of him who gave freedom to a race and saved our country from destruction. And when the great ship majestically moves to the glorious destiny which is in store for it, it will be sanctified by the prayers of more Christian women than all the others that have ever moved on the face of the waters. Whether under calm and cloudless skies or struggling with tempest and waves, whether in peace or war, there shall hover over it, not the spirit of alcohol, which has destroyed so many lives, desolated so many homes and

caused the shedding of so much blood and so many tears ; but the spirit of Kentucky’s noblest son, the grandest man ‘in all the tide of time,’ symbolized by God’s gift to man, that which causes the earth to yield its fruit and harvest, which cleanses and purifies, which quenches the thirst of the living and relieves the parched lips of the wounded and the dying. Purity and patriotism have to-day been blended in the christening of the ship, which I predict will win more fame, gather more laurels and accomplish more good than any that has ever swept the seas. And in our parting with the majestic vessel, Kentuckians with one voice exclaim : ‘ln spite of rock and tempest’s roar, In spite of false lights on the shore, Sail on, nor fear to breast the seas ; Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, cur hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o’er our fears,

Are all with thee, are all with thee,’