The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-19 00:00:00

Attempt to Launch the Northumberland.

It is with regret we have to announce that the
attempt to launch this magnificent vessel on Satur-
day proved a failure. After going half way down
the launching ways she slowly came to a standstill,
and, in spite of every effort made yesterday, there
she still remains, half in the water and half out of
it. The best authorities are confident that the
vessel is safe where she now is, but they are by no
means so certain as to the absence of risk which
may attend the efforts to get her off. It is not
necessary, after the minute details of this ship's
construction which appeared in The Sun of Satur-
day last, to refer again to her build. It is
efficient to say that no attempt has ever been
made to launch any of the ironclads so completely
plated with their armour as the 'Northumberland.
Her sister ships, the Agincourt and Minotaur,
were launched with the utmost ease, because the
latter was sent afloat without her armour being
fixed, and the former was built in a wet dock.
Contrary, however, to the general practice,
it was attempted to launch the Northumberland
nearly finished ; in fact, not more than 250 tons
of plates remain to be fastened. Never since
the launch of the Great Eastern has it been
attempted to send such a heavy vessel end on into
the water, and, in fact, this is the first attempt of
the kind ever made, inasmuch as the great ship was,
as is well known, slowly lowered broadside on into
the river. Every part of the road leading to the
millwall Works was crowded. Their Royal High-
nesses the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred were
among the earliest visitors, and before the launch
they went over the extensive works, all parts of
which were thronged with a most brilliant assembly.
The Countess Percy, the future Duchess of
Northumberland, had the honour of naming the
ship. All the preparations were completed within
a few minutes of 2 o'clock, when the garlanded bottle
was dashed against the bows, the hydraulic rams
were set to work, and in a few seconds the ship be-
gan to move, amid tremendous cheers from all the
company. For some 40 or 50 feet or so her pace
seemed rapid, and the cradle smoked and sparkled
under the tremendous friction of some 8,000 tons
weight sliding over the timber ways. Before she had
gone a hundred feet, however, her velocity was evi-
dently diminishing, though the friction beneath the
cradles appeared greater than ever. Gradually she
moved slower and slower, and at length, when
nearly half the hull was in the water, to the con-
sternation of all she came to a dead standstill. It
is difficult to describe the excitement which this
untoward accident occasioned, for until an exami-
nation had been made it was impossible to find out
how the vessel lay, or whether she might not become
a total wreck. Fortunately for the company, and
we may add for the country too, the first inspection
showed that the ship was firm in her cradles, and,
with the exception of about 20 feet of her stern, still
well-balanced on the ways. In an instant all hands
were set to work to shore her up with enormous
timber struts on the inner side, while every precau-
tion was taken to prevent her moving further or
unexpectedly. A luncheon was provided by the
company, to which, after the attempt at the launch,
all the guests adjourned, but it need scarcely be said
that the failure of the efforts to get off the North-
umberland cast a gloom over the company, and it
was not till Sir John Hay, the chairman, announced,
amid cheers, that the vessel was in a perfectly safe
position that this feeling was removed.
During the whole of Saturday night the work-
men were busy fixing the most powerful supports
under both sides of the vessel, and by yesterday
morning she was completely wedged up. At the
high tide a powerful attempt was made to move
her. There was then nearly 24 feet of water under
her stern, and, indeed, she was so much water-borne
that many in the yard were positive that she had
lifted an inch or two. At this time two enormous
hawsers were got across to the building yards at the
opposite side of the river and were attached to
powerful capstans, each of which was manned by
60 men. By heaving on these the ropes were drawn
almost perfectly straight out of the water, and, at
the same, no less than 11 tugs attached to the
Northumberland united all their efforts to pull her
off, but in vain ; the ship remained absolutely im-
movable. Even the wedges which supported her on
either side showed no signs of having been in the
slightest degree affected by the strain upon the
vessel. No further efforts will now be made till the
return of the spring tides next Saturday week.
The Northumberland is, or rather will be, we
trust, this day week the largest vessel afloat, except
the Great Eastern. Her length is 400 ft. by 59 beam;
her tonnage, 6,621 tons; with engines of 1,350
horse power nominal ; and an anticipated speed of
16 knots an hour. Nothing could exceed the libe-
rality with which everything connected with the
proceeding was carried out by the company. A
chartered steamer took their invited guests from and
back to London-bridge and Hungerford Pier; while
the arrangements for their reception in the yard and
at table were all that could be desired.