The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-18 00:00:00

THE ARCHIMEDES STEAM VESSEL.

Since the melancholy accident which occurred on board-
this vessel on Thursday, the 30th ult., the public attention
has been much directed to the probable result of the inven-
tion of the new Archimedean propelling screw, an erroneous
impression having gone abroad that the newly-invented pro-
pellers had been the cause of the accident. A number of
distinguished patrons of science and eminent engineers have
visited the vessel during the last few days, and the machinery
and new propellers were examined with great minuteness,
both with respect to the cause which led to the bursting of
the boiler, and the probability of the propelling screw
entirely superseding the present cumbrous and dangerous
paddle wheels. Amongst the visitors was the Earl of Dun-
donald, who expressed his unbounded admiration of the
invention, and his thorough conviction that it would establish
a new era in the science of steam navigation, get rid of the
swell which causes so many accidents in our rivers, and
would also prove extremely advantageous for warlike pur-
poles, while to our commercial transactions it offered the
means of speedy transit in the longest voyages that could be
made, the steam power and propeller being merely used as
auxiliaries in case of the wind not being favourable. The
eatl also expressed his particular admiration of the vessel
itself, which is one of the most beautiful models ever seen
on the Thames. Sir Robt. Seppings, the great naval archi-
teet, who was present at the inspection, expressed to Mr.
Wimshurst, of Limehouse, the builder of the vessel, an
opinion that she was the finest model he had yet seen, and
that the beauty of her water lines were as yet unrivalled.
Captain Minter, the master of the Archimedes, an old and
experienced master of steamers, bore testimony to her sailing
qualities during the two trips she had made to Portsmouth
and Margate, when the power of the new Archimedian screw
or propeller was fairly tried, and with the most complete
success, the vessel making 101 knots an hour against a head
wind and heavy sea. The Archimedes is in appearance like
a pleasure yacht ; there are no paddle boxes, or anything
to indicate that she was propelled by steam, except her funnel,
rising from her deck among the rigging. The propeller
works under the stern of the vessel in a well cut in the dead
wood, and can be removed at pleasure when the wind is
favourable for sailing. The propeller is made of iron, and
describes a diameter of 61 feet in its revolution, and its
power in propelling the vessel is two-thirds greater than the
most powerful paddles of the common description ; but,
owing to the shaft of the engine working so low down in the
vessel in a longitudinal position, one-half the power of the
present engines, which are of 45-horse power each, is lost,
owing to the necessary complication of the machinery. It
is proposed to use the rotatory engines, by which a great
saving of power will be effected, and which are believed to
be better adapted to the new invention. When fitted with
those engines there is no doubt that a railway pace will be
realized by the Archimedes.
On Monday the valves of the boiler were taken to pieces
by Mr. Smith, the patentee of the new propelling screw, in
the presence of Mr. Miller, foreman to Messrs. Rennie and
Co., the engineers. The result of the investigation was sa-
tisfactory as to the real cause of the late unfortunate occur-
rence, that if the valves had been in action at the time of the
explosion of the boiler must have burst at a pressure not ex-
ceeding 61b and a third on the square inch. It will be scarcely
possible to believe that the boiler could have burst at such a
pressure, and the inference then was that the valves had
stuck ; and this could only be attributed to the weakness of
the boiler, which, not being sufficiently stayed, lost its shape,
and in consequence caused the valves to become deranged.
It is worthy of remark that this is the first marine boiler
made by Messrs. Rennie. It was constructed on a new prin-
ciple, by which a larger surface of iron was at once presented
to the fire, and more steam generated. There was but one
opinion among the practical men present as to the weakness
of the boiler, which is attributed to its form and great size.
The company are determined to remove the boiler, and have
nothing more to do with it. Mr. Smith declared that the
vessel should not go out again with the boiler. It is intended
to substitute other boilers of the ordinary construction. When
the new boilers are put in, it is intended to send her to
America, on an experimental trip. • During her last voyage
she excited great attention—a steamer without paddle-wheels,
and causing no swell, surprised every one on the river ; and
since she has been in the East India Dock she has been
visited by a great number of persons.