Coulter -- Launch of the San Pablo at the Union Iron Works -- October 21, 2023

San Francisco Call, 19-August-1900

WA Coulter did many maritime drawings for the San Francisco Call. 

 LAUNCH OF THE SAN PABLO

AT THE UNION IRON WORKS

New Santa Fe Ferry Steamer, Christened by Miss

Christine Payson, Daughter of the Vice President

of the San Joaquin Valley Road.

THE Santa Fe ferry steamer San Pablo was launched yesterday afternoon at the Union Iron Works under auspicious circumstances. Promptly at 5:34 o'clock the last keel blocks were knocked away and the splendid craft slid slowly and without a tremor down the ways and into the waters of the bay.

The launching was witnessed by several thousand people, gathered inside and outside the yard. Not a delay or hitch of any sort marred the occasion. At the time set almost to the second the last blows of the hammers were struck, starting the San Pablo down the well-greased ways. As the vessel moved Miss Christine Payson, daughter of Captain A. H. Payson, president of the Santa Fe Terminal of California, broke a bottle of California champagne on the vessel's bow and christened it the San Pablo. A great shout went up from the people and the whistles of the Union Iron Works joined the whistles of the tugs and steamers along the front In a deafening screech of welcome.

Irving M. Scott had general supervision of the launch. James Dickie, superintendent of the shipyard, had direct supervision, and at 5 o clock gave the orders that set hundreds of men at work knocking away the keel blocks.

Many Notables Present.

A large party of railroad officials and other notables occupied the raised platform at the vessel's bow. Among them were Captain Payson, vice president of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad and president of tho Santa Fe Terminal Company of California, for whom the San Pablo is being constructed; Mrs. Payson, Miss Christine Payson, Irving M. Scott, Irving M. Scott Jr., W. A. Bissell, assistant general traffic manager of the Santa Fe; Mrs. Bissell, Alexander Mackie. secretary and treasurer of the Santa Fe Terminal Company; Mrs. Mackie and children. Robert Forsyth, general manager of the Union Iron Works; J. O'B. Gunn, secretary of the Union Iron Works; Captain John Metcalfe, Captain John Leale, Howard C. Holmes, chief engineer for the Harbor Commissioners: John Parrott, John C. Coleman, Edward Coleman, Fred A. Gardiner, Dr. E. Calderon, Consul for Honduras, and Dr. N. Rosencrantz.

With the launching party were also S. Miyoshi, professor of naval architecture in the Tokio Imperial University and inspector in chief of the marine bureau, Department of Communications, of Japan; N. Klmura and S. Tsutsumy, inspectors in the Japanese navy, and K. Isaka of the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, who were interested spectators. They were deeply impressed with the perfection of arrangements, as well as with the imposing array of vessels under process of construction, including three torpedo-boat destroyers, the battleship Ohio and the almost completed battleship Wisconsin. The three gentlemen first named are on their way to Europe on a tour of inspection of the great ship yards and the navies.

Besides the spectators who saw the launch from the shore a large number were aboard tugs, excursion steamers and steam launches, all of which craft were bright with flags.

Railroad Men on the Bay.

A number of railroad men were guests of Captain William Leale on the steamer Caroline. Starting from Jackson-street wharf at 4:30 o'clock, the party was given a short pleasure trip and arrived at the Union Iron Works in good time to see the launch. Among those on board were the following:

W. H. Davenport, general agent Union Pacific: C. W. Colby. Pacific Coast agent Erie Despatch; W. T. McGill, contracting agent Erie Despatch; W. R. Vice, Pacific Coast passenger agent Union Pacific; F. W. Prince, cityHICket agent; H. H. Francisco, general agent; N. W. Hall, contracting agent; John L. Truslow, general agent; H. R, Alberger, chief clerk traffic department; W.B. Hinchman, chief clerk freight department -- all of the Santa Fe; Dr. George S. Goodfellow, chief surgeon of the Santa Fe; W. G. Nevin, general manager; J. J. Byrne, general passenger agent; Edward Chambers, general freight agent; W. G. Barnwell, assistant general freight agent; J. P. Greagson, chief clerk general, freight office -- all of Los Angeles; A. S. Hore, contracting agent;, and Harry Blair, W, C. Ashley, Zach George, of the traffic department; and C. F. Tillotson and Misses Ackerman, Powell and Witts of the freight department of the Santa Fe; E. R. Spangler of St. Louis. R. R. Ritchie, general agent Chicago and Northwestern.

The San Pablo will be the finest ferryboat on the bay. It is expected that she will be completed in sixty days and put on the run between Point Richmond and San Francisco. The vessel has a length of 225 feet, 64 feet beam and 17.6 feet depth. Her horsepower Is 2000 and speed fifteen knots. Her keel was laid May 15.

Feathering paddle-wheels are the novelty in the construction of the San Pablo. They are so built as to feather in either direction, as the San Pablo is intended to run either end first. The wheels are very small, permitting gTeater deck room above for the accommodation of passengers.

Work will at once begin in the constructing shed made vacant by the launch of the San Pablo on the freight steamer Alaskan, to be built for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company, which is to be 489 feet in length.