The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-01-12 00:00:00

THE LEVIATHAN.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6th.
Yesterday morning the slow pushing efforts which
constitute the progress of launching this vessel were
recommeneed for the sixth time with the same itanguine
hopes and confident assertions which have distinguished
all other attempts during the last two months. It was
intended to have gone to work soon after daybreak, but
the severe frost of the previous night had frozen all the
water in the ram pumps and feed pipes, and even the
pistons into the cylinders of the rams themselves. This
of course occasioned a delay, since fires had to be lighted,
and the pipes and pumps thawed before anything could
be done. At 5 o'clock, when well was discontinued,
•he had made 26 slips in all—in lengths varying from 2
to 5 inches each, according as the pressure was great
and the elasticity of the timber threw her off with more
or leas force. Her whole progress was 8 feet 34 inches
aft, and 3 feet 1 inch forward. The reason of this great
difference between the progress of the stem end stern is,
because the fore part of the vowel is already so much in
advance as to have twisted the cradles on the ways.
Yesterday, therefore, almost the whole of the pressure
was applied on the aft cradle, and the difference of posi-
tion between that and the forward one in a great mea-
sure removed. There seems no reason to doubt that if
the tackle which hauls her towards the Thames could
have been used, the result of yesterday's work would
have been some 30 or 40 feet, as it is the strain applied
upon the immense chains across the river which keeps
her in motion for three or four feet when once the rams
have started her. As it was, however, in consequence
of the accident which happened the day before, when
the steam barge, with all the gear for hauling in the
chains was sunk by • bark, nothing could be done with
the river tackle. The fires in the braziers in the cradles
were to be kept up during last night, as it is with good
reason apprehended that the packings of the rains may
freeze, which would, of course, occasion much delay
before the work to-day could be resumed. -
A very beautiful series of stereoscopic views of the
Leviathan has jast been completed at the yard by
Messrs. Howlett and Downes. They give all the most
striking points of her interior and exterior, the cradles,
engine-room, drums, chains, and, above all, the hydraulic
rams used in the launch, with the most admirable
minuteness and effect, and indeed, are the only pictures
which convey a correct idea of the gigantic ship and its
still more gigantic launching apparatus.
THURSDAY.
Yesterdsy morning the launching operations were
resumed as mond at Millwall, and continued without
interruption throughout the day, when the signalboard
showed a further progress of 10 feet aft and about 9 feet
6 inches forward. During the previous night the pre-
caution had been taken of completely emptying all the
hydraulic machines with their pumps and feed pipes, so
that none were frozen, and the whole apparatus was at
work at 9 o'clock. As was the case on the day previous
the pressure guages on the hydraulic rams at each slip
showed that the weight of the vessel overcame the elas-
ticity of the wood, and lefts pressure of 2 cwt. to the
circular inch on each machine. Judging from this, it is
evident that a slight continuous strain would suffice to
keep her in motion for a distance of probably one or two
feet. The hauling tackle towards the river was not
used—at least the steam power was not applied to it,
though • few men at each end worked it with a fourfold
purchase, and at the stein at least again exerted suffi-
cient strain to crush in the iron drum of the windlass.
Upwards of 60 huge fires were kept burning in the yard
during the whole of yesterday, and will be continued as
long as the frost lasts, to prevent the pumps and feed.
pipes from freezing.
FRIDAY.
. .

The launching operations were resumed as usual
at an early hour yesterday morning, and oontinued
without interruption till after dusk, by which
'fine an advance of 11 feet was accomplished on the fore
and aft cradles. The whole of this distance was tra-
versed by the gigantic vessel in a series of short, grind-
ing slips, varying in length from three to six and a-half
inches, and taking place at regular intervals of ten
minutes or so between each. The amount of pressure
exercised by all the hydraulic machines varied from
about 2,000 to nearly 2,500 tons, the average, however,
showing that the resistant* offered by the ship was
rather less than on the previous day. The river tackle

was only used to a very limited extent, but it will
be brought into full operation to-morrow, when it is
hoped to accomplish souse 30 feet or so.
SATURDAY.
The launching of the monster was continued as usual
throughout yeaterday. At the close of the day the re-
sult was an advance of 12 feet 8 inches art, and 11 feet
forward. Beyond this bare fact nothing worthy of men-
tion took place, except, perhaps, that the vibration of
the earth consequent upon each slip of the vessel W.,
more violent and more continuous than has ever been
experienced at the yard hitherto.