Under wintry skies on January 26 at 10:57 A.M., the tanker “ESSO RALEIGH” was launched from Shipway No. 6. The weather, however, did not dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of the gathering which witnessed the ceremonies and afterward attended the luncheon at the James River Country Club. “ESSO RALEIGH” IN THE JAMES RIVER AFTER LAUNCHING     Mrs. William Lewis Inslee, wife of W. .L. Inslee, who recently completed 40 years of service in the Traffic Division of the Standard Oil Company, was Sponsor. Her daughters, Misses Marjorie Westlake Inslee and Helen Pitou Inslee, were her Maids of Honor. Captain Roger Williams, vice-president of our Company, gave Mrs. Inslee her last-minute instructions for christening the vessel.     At the launching luncheon J. B. Woodward, Jr., general manager of our Company, presented the Sponsor with a diamond-studded wrist watch as a memento of the occasion. In accepting this beautiful gift Mrs. Inslee declared the whole event to be the greatest thrill of her life. She also said that it was the first time she had ever seen such cold weather in Virginia, the first time she had ever made a speech, and the first time she had ever launched a ship. She was gracious.     Another gift was presented by Robert F. Hand, who formerly was vice-president in charge of the Owners’ Marine Department. It was a ship clock. He praised Mrs. Inslee for her technique as a sponsor. Mr. Hand also said that he had never known our Yard to build a ship that was not a good ship and that all the launchings he had ever attended here were memorable occasions. H. J. Esselborn, who is in the Marine Department of the Owners, extended thanks to the Sponsor for her excellent service in sending the ship on its way into the historic James. He injected a note of humor by saying that he knew the ESSO RALEIGH to be a good ship, for if it had not been, it never could have withstood the blow of the champagne bottle in christening. His statement confirmed the remark Mrs. Inslee made when the ship began to move down the ways: “Did I break it, or did I break it?”     Mr. Inslee accompanied his wife and daughters. Other Standard Oil representatives included Mr. and Mrs. H. S. FitzGibbon, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Hand, Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Carlson, and W. Z. Gardner, all of New York; Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Atchinson of Baltimore; Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Skehan and Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Ray of Richmond; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Sampson, E. E. Andrews, and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Bryan of Norfolk.     The keel for the ESSO RALEIGH was laid on May 8, 1939. For general particulars concerning the vessel, see below : PHOTOGRAPHES OF LAUNCHING OF TANKER “ESSO RALEIGH". ( Thanks to S. Dale Hargrave )