Daily Event for October 4, 2010

The launching of battleship #7 on October 4, 1898 at Newport News Shipbuilding was attended by the largest crowd to date ever to witness an event at the shipyard, an estimated 40,000 people were on hand when Miss Nancy Leiter broke the bottle of champagne on the bows of an already moving hull and said "I christen thee Illinois". The launch was flawless and Illinois took to the water of the James River in grand style, streaming banners, cheering crowds and the steam whistles of the ships in the river. There were of course many distinguished members of the American political scene and the naval attachés' from Russia, Italy and the United Kingdom.

At a banquet later than afternoon president of Newport News C. B. Orcutt gave the new battleship a toast saying "The great battleship takes her plunge too late for the war, but her mission is none the less grand and noble, for she will go forth not only as a defender of the flag and the honor of the Nation, but as another guarantee of the protection of American citizens everywhere in the pursuit of peace, prosperity and happiness. May her record be such that the great Central State whose name she bears shall ever be proud of her namesake". USS Illinois served the United States until 1956 when she was sold for scrap.
© 2010 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com


A newspaper article describing the Illinois published before the launch.






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