Ohio History Journal

THE BATTLESHIP OHIO

 

The battleship Ohio was built for the United States

navy by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, under

contract dated October 8, 1898, at a cost of $2,899,000.

It was launched May 18, 1901 in the harbor of San

Francisco and christened by Miss Helen Deshler, who

was designated for this honor by Governor George K.

Nash, who was present on the occasion, as was also

William McKinley, then President of the United States.

Great crowds were present at these ceremonies, in-

cluding members of the President's cabinet, officers of

the army and navy and other distinguished citizens.

The ceremonies were brief and simple.  The speeches

were limited to a few appropriate words by a representa-

tive of the 4,500 employes of the Union Iron Works and

the address in response by President McKinley.  The

warships of the Pacific squadron were in the bay at

anchor as was the transport Sheridan which had re-

cently arrived from the long journey across the Pacific

bearing the Forty-second and Forty-sixth U. S. Volun-

teer Infantry on their return journey home from the

Philippines.

In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty

Limiting Naval Armament, entered into in the adminis-

tration of Warren G. Harding, the battleship Ohio was

placed on the list of vessels to be disposed of by sale.

All naval material having been removed from the Ohio,

the vessel was sold as a hulk for scrapping purposes,

March 6, 1923, to the Dravo Contracting Company,

(206)

• 1
 

The Battleship Ohio            207

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She was delivered to the

purchasers and removed from the Navy Yard, Phila-

delphia, April 16, 1923.

The silver service of the Ohio was transferred to

the custody of the Ohio State Archaeological and His-

torical Society in answer to a letter directed to the Navy

Department by Senator Frank B. Willis and a special

request by Governor A. V. Donahey early in June, 1924.

The Buckeye design of the silver service was suggested

by Mrs. William G. Deshler, mother of Helen Deshler

who christened the Ohio.  A little later the loving cup

was also transferred to the Society.

The story of the launching and christening, as re-

ported by the Associated Press, is as follows:

 

THE BATTLESHIP OHIO NOW RIDES THE WATERS

IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY.*

 

COMPLETE PROGRAM FOR LAUNCHING WAS CAR-

RIED OUT SUCCESSFULLY AMID THE

GREATEST ENTHUSIASM.

 

PRESIDENT McKINLEY AND GOVERNOR N A S H

WERE PRESENT -- TREMENDOUS OVATION

GIVEN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

 

SOLDIERS WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM MA-

NILA JOINED ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN

THE DEMONSTRATION.

 

San Francisco, Cal., May 18 -- (By Associated Press.) --

Fortunately, Mrs. McKinley's condition today permitted

President McKinley to attend the launching of the battleship

Ohio from the yards of the Union Iron Works. To witness the

launching of this ship, named in honor of his native state, was

 

* Copied from the Ohio State Journal of May 19, 1901.

• 2
 

208       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

the real objective of the President's long trip across the continent,

and the event which has attracted to the Pacific Coast the gover-

nors of three states, the Ohio Congressional delegation, several

United States senators and many other notable and distinguished

people.

Dramatic and picturesque as was the sight of 14,000 tons

of steel sliding into the full breasted tide of San Franciso Bay it

was not so splendid and magnificent as the great naval pageant

which accompanied it, nor as profoundly impressive as the greet-

ing extended to the President by the 4,500 employes of the ship-

yard. With the threat of a great strike impending, the President's

words to the working-men today have added significance, and his

reference to expansion and other national questions made his

speech, which is probably the last he will deliver on his present

tour, in every respect a notable one.

When the President left the sickroom of his wife this morn-

ing every arrangement had been made to notify him instantly of

any change for the worse in her condition.  The physicians as-

sured him that there was no indication of a set-back, but, at his

request, telegraphic connections were made at the wharf and at

the shipyard and, save for the time he was on the water, he was

not a minute away from direct connection with the Scott resi-

dence. He was driven to the wharf in a closed carriage escorted

by a squad of mounted police. The cabinet and other distin-

guished guests were already aboard the transport -tug Slocum,

which was to convey the party to the Union Iron Works. two

miles up the bay, when he arrived. The President's flag, an

eagle and shield on a blue field, was flying from the main and the

Union Jack was at the bow as he stepped smilingly upon the

gangway to the accompaniment of the cheers of the thousands

who blackened the neighboring pierheads. Then began the sail

over the shining waters of the bay. It proved to be a triumphal

journey, the like of which has not been witnessed in this country

since Admiral Dewey, upon his return from the Philippines, sailed

up the Hudson on the Olympia.

Every craft in the harbor was decked out in gayest attire and

the city in the background was a perfect mound of waving flags.

Every wharf on the sea front swarmed with people. Up near

the shipyards the grim warships of the Pacific squadron were

swinging at anchors with streams of signal flags extending fore

and aft of the peaks from prow to taffrail.

Near Goat Island lay the transport Sheridan, travel-stained

from her long journey across the Pacific. She had just arrived

from the Philippines and still had aboard the Forty-second and

Forty-sixth U. S. Volunteer Infantry, which she had brought

• 3
 

The Battleship Ohio                209

 

home. The President saw her at once and requested that the

course of the Slocum should be changed to allow him to pass near

her. As the Slocum approached the big transport there was a

scene of almost frenzied enthusiasm aboard. The soldiers, all in

their service uniforms, rushed to the side and rent the air with

cheer upon cheer at sight of the President of the United States

come to welcome them home.

The band on the afterdeck struck up "The Star Spangled

Banner." The soldiers lined the rails and ratlines and almost

drowned the music with their shouts. They swung their hats

and acted like madmen.   Several of them got out their regi-

mental flags and waved them frantically to and fro from  the

bridge. The ensign at the stern was dipped again and again. The

salute was answered by the Slocum.

The President was plainly moved by the remarkable demon-

stration. He stood on the lower deck, uncovered, bowing and

smiling and waving his handkerchief until the sound of the shout-

ing died away in the distance.

This welcome from the soldiers was only the beginning. As

the Slocum drew near the line of steel clad thunderers of the deep,

with Jackies lining the sails, the marine guards drawn up aft and

the officers in full uniform on the bridges, a puff of smoke burst

like a white balloon from the port quarter of the battleship Wis-

consin, Admiral Casey's flag ship. Boom! came the report. It

was the first gun from the ships, the first of twenty-one.

Each of the warships, the big, savage battleship Iowa, the

long, lean cruisers Philadelphia and Adams, the little torpedo boat

Farragut, and the revenue cutter McCulloch, which was with

Dewey at Manila, turned loose their secondary batteries as the

Slocum steamed slowly by. Opposite the McCulloch the Presi-

dent witnessed a smart exhibition of a jack tar's skill. A flag at

her peak fouled and in a twinkling a nimble sailor ran aloft and

loosened it. Beyond the warships the little tug threaded her way

through the holiday fleet of steamers, yachts, tugs, barges and

every variety of water craft about the front of the shipyard.

Each was black with cheering people and there was hardly one of

them which did not have a saluting gun of some sort to add its

voice to the roar of welcome that greeted the President from the

dense crowd of workmen gathered upon the pier. Ashore to the

right was a stand covered with acres of people and beyond that

a hill alive with them.

Up the pier a broad aisle of white muslin ran, crowds of

workmen being packed on each side. Up this path, arched with

flags and banners, one of them bearing the inscription, "The Ore-

gon has made her record; watch the Ohio," the President and his

• 4
 

210       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

party moved to a stand where the representative of 4,500 em-

ployes of the Union Iron Works, in a neat speech in which he

asked a heartfelt blessing upon the head of the President and ex-

pressed tender sympathy for his suffering wife, gave the Presi-

dent, as a token of esteem of the workmen, a gold plate engraved

with a suitable inscription.

The President's response aroused much enthusiasm. He toid

his audience of his friendship for the working men during his en-

tire public career, and touched the hearts of the surging crowd

before him, as he spoke eloquently of the patriotic response which

California had made during the Spanish War.

Many eyes were wet and more than one of the workmen

made a suspicious movement with his coat sleeve, as if to brush

away an unhidden tear.

 

PRESIDENT McKINLEY'S ADDRESS

President McKinley addressed the workmen in part as fol-

lows:

"My Fellow citizens -- I am inexpressibly thankful to the

Ruler of us all for his goodness and mercy, which have made it

possible for me to be with you here today. I have wanted to see

the men of the Union Iron Works. I have known of their skill.

I have seen their genius displayed and their workmanship. I

have observed what your spokesman has so well said, that suf-

fering under the disadvantages of fuel, indeed, thousands of

miles away from the materials which go to make a ship, you have

persevered and triumphed and made as good ships as have ever

sailed the seas. I have a great deal of pride in the name, but

proud as I am of my native state, I am a thousand times more

proud of the nation that is over all the states (great applause),

supreme and sovereign and glorious in its mission of good will

and liberty to all mankind. (Applause and three cheers for

Ohio.)

What we want is to build more ships. We ought to have a

good commercial line from here to the Philippines, made in the

Union Iron Works (laughter), built by American workingmen

and manned by American sailors and carrying the American

flag. (Applause.) There is nothing in this world that brings

people so close together as commerce. There is nothing in this

world that so much promotes the universal brotherhood of man

as commerce; and we want to encourage commerce. The nations

are close together now. The powers of the earth are all tied to-

• 5
 

The Battleship Ohio                211

 

gether. We have overcome distance. We not only want a com-

mercial line but we want a cable line from here to the Philippines.

(Applause.) We want it to be an American cable (Applause),

that cannot be cut by any power in the world.  (Applause.)

They say trade follows the flag. The telegraph must follow trade.

(Applause.)

My fellow-citizens, we have problems before us. We never

had more important ones. We have expanded. Do you want to

contract? (Cries of "No.") It is not a question of whether we

will acquire the Philippines or Porto Rico or Guam or Wake

Island or Hawaii or Tutuila. We have acquired them; they are

ours. The question is, shall we give them up? (General cry of

"No.") And, from one side of this country to the other comes

the answer. They are ours, not to subjugate, but to emancipate;

not to rule in the power of might, but to take to these distant peo-

ple the principles of liberty, of freedom, of conscience and of

opportunity that are enjoyed by the people of the United States.

(Applause.)

Our flag never goes anywhere except it carries blessings.

Our flag never oppressed anybody but it has given freedom to

every people over whom it has floated. (Applause.)

Having said thus much, I want to thank you all for this most

cordial welcome. I am glad to again meet the working men of

my country. All my public life has been devoted to effort to

give the working men the best opportunity, the best chance for

good wages and steady employment. (Great applause.) When

labor is well employed the country is safe and when labor is well

employed there is contentment and happiness in the homes of the

laboring men. Let us do our duty, the great public duty that con-

fronts us, let us do it walking humbly before God, dealing justly

and mercifully and always seeking his favor and guidance. Let

me say that I shall carry this beautiful souvenir of the employes

of the Union Iron Works with me and it shall abide with me so

long as I live, and shall be passed along to those of my family

that shall follow, as one of the dearest tokens I have ever re-

ceived from my fellow countrymen. (Enthusiastic applause.)

Then came the launching. A platform had been built around

the prow of the big iron monster, which lay in the very slip in

which the famous Oregon was built and from which President

Harrison launched the monitor Monterey ten years ago. On

the platform were the President and members of the cabinet,

Governor Nash of Ohio, Miss Deshler, his niece, who was chosen

to christen the ship; Miss Barber, who was to act for Mrs. Mc-

Kinley and many uniformed officers of the army and navy.

Immediately at the right was a red coated band.  Below,

• 6
 

212        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

workmen were knocking away the last keel blocks, until the

great steel hull rested upon her cradle and only a single beam,

set like a trigger and ready to fall aside at a blow, held her in

place.

The ceremonies were simple. There was no speech making.

Mrs. Ida Eckert Lawrence of Ohio read an original poem.

Miss Barber and the President stood before the electric ap-

pliance which would loose the weight that was to knock out this

last beam. Miss Barber with her finger on the button was look-

ing intently at the indicator. At 12:22 1/2, two and one-half min-

utes before the tide was at its highest, the time set for the launch-

ing, the word was given, Miss Barber pressed the button and the

last block fell away. At the same time the bottle of champagne,

suspended by a red, white and blue ribbon, crashed against the

side of the ship and Miss Deshler uttered the words, "I christen

thee Ohio."

Released from the bonds the heavy hull of 14,000 tons of

steel went plowing through the thick grease of its cradle. Slowly

at first, then faster and faster she slid down the ways, taking the

flood majestically and piling up the water in great waves before

her. The band crashed, the whistles blew  and the multitude

shouted. No ship ever given to the American navy has taken

her initial plunge into the sea under more favorable auspices or

in the presence of a more distinguished company.

The trip back to the city was almost a repetition of the jour-

ney to the yard. There was the same wild demonstration from

sea and shore.

When the Slocum came alongside her wharf the President

did not wait for the gangway to be run out. He stepped over the

rail to the pier and almost ran to the carriage which was waiting

for him. The door slammed and he was off at a gallop for the

bedside of his wife.

 

FLAGS FROM THE BATTLESHIP OHIO

The battleship Ohio was built for the United States navy

by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, under contract dated

October 8, 1898, at a cost of $2,899,000. It was launched May

18, 1901, in the harbor of San Francisco and christened by Miss

Helen Deshler, who was designated for this honor by Governor

George K. Nash, who was present on the occasion, as was also

William McKinley, then President of the United States.

Great crowds were present at these ceremonies, including

members of the President's cabinet, officers of the army and

navy and other distinguished citizens. The ceremonies were

• 7
 

The Battleship Ohio                213

 

brief and simple. The speeches were limited to a few appro-

priate words by a representative of the 4,500 employes of the

Union Iron Works and the address in response by President Mc-

Kinley. The warships of the Pacific squadron were in the bay at

anchor as was the transport Sheridan which had recently ar-

rived from the long journey across the Pacific bearing the Forty-

second and Forty-sixth U. S. Volunteer Infantry on their return

journey home from the Philippines.

The crew of the battleship Ohio on the way round Cape

Horn to New York made two flags which were displayed from

the mast of the ship as it entered New York harbor. They were

lowered and presented to Miss Deshler who had christened the

battleship and had given it a silver loving cup with design of the

fruit and leaves of the Buckeye. These flags have since been in

the possession of her mother, Mrs. William G. Deshler, who had

suggested the Buckeye design for the silver service and who trans-

ferred these flags to the custody of the Ohio State Archaeological

and Historical Society.

 

LAUNCHING OF ANOTHER BATTLESHIP OHIO

On May 30, 1820 a battleship bearing the name

Ohio was launched from the Navy Yard on Long Island.

The Chillicothe Supporter manifested considerable in-

terest in this event and in its issues of June 14 and June

21, 1820, quoted news accounts of the launching from

eastern papers.   Because of their interest in this con-

nection we quote a few of the accounts:

From the New York Commercial Advertiser of May

30, 1820.

LAUNCH OF THE OHIO

At an early hour this morning the ferry boats were engaged

in conveying passengers to the Long Island shore; by ten o'clock

some thousands had crossed. Between 10 and 11 o'clock the

East river presented an interesting sight; it was almost literally

covered with pleasure boats approaching the Navy Yard.  At

the appointed hour the signal was given, and the ship glided

majestically from the stocks into her destined element. At this

moment the air resounded with shouts of applause from the sur-

rounding spectators. The Washington 74, and Hornet Sloop of

war, fired a national salute, which was immediately answered by

• 8
 

214        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

a battalion of artillery, from the 9th Regiment, under the com-

mand of Colonel Muir, stationed at Cordear's Hook. The Ohio

is considered by competent judges, to be superior to any vessel

of her class. Her dimensions are stated to be 186 feet in length,

and of 2500 tons burthen. It is supposed that not less than one

hundred thousand persons witnessed this interesting sight; and

we are happy to state, that, although the crowd on the margin of

the river was great, and a considerable anxiety manifested to

get the most eligible place, no accident occurred.

 

The Baltimore Patriot summarizes the descriptions

in two New York papers as follows:

The New York Gazette, in noticing the same interesting

transaction, mentions, that the weather was uncommonly fine --

that many of the Packets, Steam-Boats, Team-Boats, and Row-

Boats which attended filled with spectators, had bands of music,

playing the most animating and national tunes. "On the bow

of the Ohio was suspended a white flag, bearing her arms; and

shortly after the launch, a white balloon was witnessed bearing

its course north easterly," which contained the tidings of her

safety; and Mr. Long supposes (with rather more piety than

probability) "such may be the will of Providence" that at the

time of his writing (about two hours after the launch) the "news

of her commission to her destiny may have reached the state

bearing her name."

The Evening Post adds, that the Hornet "was elegantly

decorated, and her yards manned with hardy American tars."

This last arrangement was certainly very appropriate and sea-

man-like.

 

A correspondent from Albany, New York, under

date of June 2, 1820, gives the following spirited ac-

count of the event.

Albany, N. Y., June 2, 1820.

Had the people of this country been told half a century ago

that the time would soon arrive, when the facility of travelling

should be such that a party of ladies and gentlemen would take

a trip of 320 miles in the space of two days for the purpose of

seeing a ship of the line launched, the prediction would have been

treated as a dream or romance, and as impossible of being real-

ized as the scheme of navigating the fields of air in steam bal-

loons.  Yet such a trip has been performed during the present

• 9
 

The Battleship Ohio               215

 

week. On Monday last at two o'clock P. M., a party of ladies

and gentlemen of this city, to the number of between one and

two hundred, embarked on board the steamboat Richmond, for

the purpose of witnessing the launch of the Ohio 74 at New

York at 11 o'clock the next morning. The Richmond after a de-

lightful passage of 18 hours, arrived at 8 o'clock A. M., and hav-

ing taken the Clinton band of music on board, was moored off

the navy yard at Brooklyn. The weather was remarkably fine,

and the scene is represented by those who witnessed it, as inde-

scribably grand and beautiful. The houses, wharves and shore

of the south east part of the city, the whole of the East River

adjacent to the navy yard, and the heights of Brooklyn, were

crowded with spectators. In every direction the star spangled

banner was seen flying, and the sound of martial and instrumental

music saluted the ear. Everything wore the appearance of en-

chantment, and the mind was bewildered with the variety and

grandeur of the scene.

At 10 minutes after 11, the Ohio moved slowly and with

great majesty into her destined element, on which we hope she

will prove a bulwark of the freedom of our country. Her ar-

rival upon the bosom of her native waters was welcomed by

the loud and reiterated acclamations of the many thousand spec-

tators, and by national salutes from the Washington and Hornet,

which were fancifully decorated with the colors of other na-

tions. No accident occurred to mar the pleasure of the day,

and no one regretted the distance he had come to view the

spectacle so interesting.

• 10