Naming Battleship Cheered by Throng

From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, July 5: With the words, “I christen thee The Indianapolis,” Miss Irene Hart broke a bottle of champagne against the bow of the miniature battle ship, erected on Market St between the Circle and Pennsylvania St, amid a patriotic air played by the military band and cheers from 1,500 citizens assembled to witness the ceremony. Five bells were struck and a detail of sailors and marines manned the ship and guns providing a touch of reality to the event. The exercises concluded with the crowd singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The event celebrated Marion County attaining 100 per cent pledge to its War Savings Stamp quota of $6,243,000 (2017: $103,584,398) and coincided with the launching in a Pennsylvania shipyard of the Indianapolis, a 12,500-ton cargo steamer, attended by Mayor Jewett and his party representing the city.

“Naming Battleship Cheered by Throng,” The Indianapolis Star, 5 July 1918, p. 1:5

#worldwarone #battleship #WarSavingsStamp #christening