Launching, no. 2 / motion picture

"The camera was changed after the former subject had been photographed [i.e., Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa"] and the ship [Chitose] is seen nearly head-on, bow first, still floating backward into the harbor, while in the foreground are seen numerous row-boats with their occupants. As the boat passes out of view the row-boats constantly move around and increase in numbers, thereby lending action to the scene. This film is also exceedingly sharp, and being shown in connection with the launching proper would prove interesting"--Edison motion pictures 1890-1900.
"Southern Pacific Company series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter travelers, by reason of its southern route, thereby avoiding the extreme cold of the winter months. Its course lies through a section of the country that presents a variety of beautiful and picturesque natural scenery. It is also the direct route to the popular resorts of Southern California, thereby making it a favorable route for tourists. The following subjects were taken by our artist while traveling over the very extensive lines of the Southern Pacific Railroad Co., to whom we are indebted for many courtesies, and without whose co-operation we should not have been able to bring before the public these animated photographs of interesting and novel scenes"--Edison films catalog, no. 105.
16435 U.S. Copyright Office
Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 10Mar1898; 16435.
Camera, Frederick Blechynden.
Duration: 0:25 at 30 fps.
Filmed January 22, 1898, at the Union Iron Works shipyard in San Francisco, California.
Paper print shelf number (LC 1211) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
Additional holdings for this title may be available. Contact reference librarian.
Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
Sources used: Copyright catalog, motion pictures, 1894-1912; Musser, C. Edison motion pictures 1890-1900, p. 386 (Edison films, March 15, 1898, p. 15); Niver, K. Early motion pictures, p. 180; Edison films catalog, no. 105, July 1901, p. 43 [MI]; AFI catalog, film beginnings, 1893-1910, p. 583.
Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.