The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-04 00:00:00

LAUNCHING THE LEVIATHAN.

The uncommonly tedious process of compelling this vessel
to take to the water was resumed yesterday afternoon, and
attended with mere successful results than we have lately
had to record. In spite of the utmost endeavours which
were made to get everything forward in time yesterday
morning, it was found impossible to fix the hoses of the
new hydraulic rams with sufficient strength to warrant the
recommencement of work till past 2 o'clock. By that hour,
however, all was ready, and the presence of an unusual
number of visitors, among whom were their Royal High-
nesses the Dukes De Joinville and D'Aumale, the Marquis
of Stafford, Sir Joseph Paxton, Mr. Penn, the dockyard
authorities, &c., showed that, notwithstanding the recent
mishaps, the confidence and curiosity of the public were
still as great as ever. Almost with the first efforts the
Leviathan moved slightly and after this her tendency to
the water was still more marked than heretofore, the only
difference being that she was rather disposed to slip or run
away for some distance. During one of the slipping move-
ments. the greatest distance that she has ever shifted at
one time, took place. Almost directly the rams were applied
to her she dropped with a slow and equal motion for 10
inches, the neat time she moved 13, and the third
time only one inch. Each of these movements, how-
eve-, was a distinct slip —the mere first start being suffi-
cient to set her off. Just after she had made the second
drop, the attention of all in the yard was distracted from
the vessel by a most painful accident which took place
outside, and in which a number of persons were seriously
injured by the fall of a scaffolding on which they stood. In
order to gratify the curiosity of the crowds who have daily
assembled outside the yard, a large scaffolding was erected
between the dead walls of two houses, about 15 or 20 feet
from the ground. On this crazy structure, the very aspect
of which was enough to warn prudent people from its
vicinity, numbers of visitors have stood all day for the last
week. Yesterday it was unusually crowded, upwards of a
hundred persons, most of them men of the lower classes,
being upon it, when suddenly, as the launch began, the
whole platform gave way, and with its occupants came with
a fearful crash to the ground. The cries and screams of those
who were hurt, the efforts of the uninjured to extricate
themselves, and the rush of the mob outside to the spot
for a few minutes made the scene one of indescribable con-
fusion and alarm. At last comparative order was restored
—all the more easily because nine-tenths of those who
had fallen had escaped unhurt, and the casualties were
ascertained. It was then found that a considerable number
had been cut and bruised about the head, face, and body,
all more or less severely, though fortunately none so much
so as to prevent their walking away after a short time.
Seven persons, however, were found to be so seriously in-
jured that it was necessary to remove them at once to Poplar
Hospital. There they were given into the charge of Mr.
Brownfield, the resident surgeon, who immediately be-
stowed upon them every care which their cases required.
Those admitted were Henry Ridley, 33, fractured
leg ; Robert Custance, 49, fractured leg ; Joseph Fisher,
39, fractured leg; Benjamin Wood, 33, fractured thigh and
severe contusions; Henry Myers, 16, fracture of the arm :
William Parry, 40, sprained wide; and George Matthew,
30, sprained ancle. A few minutes before 3 o'clock, after
this unfortunate accident had occurred. another push was
given at the Leviathan, when she suddenly slipped away
from the rams, and with a beautifully regular motion, and
with very little noise, glided down 6ft. 7in. This great
step was made so quietly that it took the whole yard com-
pletely by surprise, every one looking on in mute amaze-
ment while the tremendous structure glided softly away at
the rate of six inches in a second. The strain and friction
caused by unwinding the enormous drums as she moved
slowly soon stopped her. After this the next efforts were
with some delay renewed and continued till four o'clock,
when the result of the two hours' work was 14ft. 9in. for-
ward awl 12ft. 7in. aft. At the constnencement the figures
of total progress stood 418 inches forward and 437 inches
aft. Thus, tLen, the stern seems to have gained upon the
bows during yesterday afternoon alone nearly three feet.
Her total distance moved since the first attempt last Sa-
turday is 48ft. 7in. forward, and 49ft. 7in. aft. She has
still, therefore, nearly 2)Oft. more to go before she will be
entirely clear of the launching ways; but it is thought
quite within the limits of probability that she will accom-
plish this distance in a very short time. _