The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-28
Trial Trip OF the steamer powh.,.n.
[ Correspondence Of the Republic.]

L
| PORTSMOUTH, Va, May %. 1852.
| The Steam Frigais Po,phatan Hon. IViIliam 4.
Graham, Secretary IF The Nary Commodore Nor
ris- Commodore ShuJrick = The Trial Trip Ora
| ney Island Old Point-1H Rip Raps-Ihe Re
| tWn-Ihe Virginia and Antluerp Line Of Seam
Friday was charming and delightful day. here,
and certainly had no unpropious influence upon
| the trial trip OF the PowHATAN, that noble spec.
| men OF naval architecture, which does SO much
| credit TO all who have aided in her completion,
both as to her hull and the ponderous and gigantic
| machinery necessary propel her upon her native
| element. The experiment u most succes ,ful
| one in every point Of view, and gave the utmost
| abstraction to the SECRETARY OF THE NAVY Com
| inodores MoRais and SHuBRIck, and the numerous
company of officers and citizens who were ON
board and witnessed this first successful essay of
| one Of the nobest steamers Of which our navy
| or that Of any other land can boast.
AT 10 O'Clock a m. on that day (the 2Ist inst.)
| the dgnhed and affable Secretary of the Navy,
| VIM. A. GRAHAM, formerly Governor Of the Old
! North State, accompanied by Commodores MoRRIs
| and SHUBRIoK, the Chiefs of the Departments of
Ordnance and photography, and Of Construction,
Equipment, and Repair, and about seven hundred
officers and citizens, embarked on board the Pow.
| hatan, which soon cast OF from the wharf at the
Gosport Navy Yard.
The shores either side of the beautiful river
| and harbor were crowded with spectators, who DO.
held with delight and pride the gallant frigate as
| she proceeded by them upon her experimental trip,
| noiselessly dividing the yielding waters Of tho
Elizabeth as she was borne along upon it's swelling
| though placid BOSOM And. too, from the windows
| of some Of the private dwellings might be seen
the waving OF a white kerchief by some fair hand,
| an omen Of good, which we doubt not tended
greatly to dspe the evil inf dences which are said
| to attach to the day.
Passing by the United States Naval Hos pita, and
the opposite ruins Of the old fort on the right, and
| further on by Craney Island, rendered memorable
| in history for the repuse which the English met
with in their attack of this island on the 22d of
June, 1919, one among ''the most brilliant and
| successful incidents of the late with Great
| Britain" the Powhatan soon passed the Rip-Raps
and Old Point Comfort. with ts brstling battle
ments and its tasteful and airy Hyge. a, where 90
much beauty is collected during the summer
pon,hs particularly from the adjacent count,s Of
the Old Dominion. Proceeding majestically on
her course gracefully rising and sinking upon the
| buoyant wave, the motion on her deck was almost
impercepnble, noiseless and smooth was the
| action VI her immense and pondtrous machinery.
Having reached Lynhaven Bay and fulfilled the
most sanguine anticipations Of all on board, and
having fully answered the reasonable expectations
Of the Secretary and the Chiefs, who were anxious
| to reach home in time for the Baltimore boat tho
head of the noble frigate. then within few miles
| Of Cape Henry, was turned homcward.
The company Of invited guests now partook of a
sumptuous feast, etherealized by the sparkling
| and wit sharpening champagne Complimentary
toas,s were given to the SscRrrAnY Commodore
MoRRis and Commodore SHvBRIcK; the latter Of
whom replied very felicitously to the alluson of
l n,
abiding to the part ne bore in the repulse Cra-
ney Island which had been previously alluded to-
all Of phich he and part IF ichich he toas
Commodore Shubrick is the only surviving naval
| officer present upon that memorable occasion.
The Richmond Enquirer, OF the goth August, 1919,
speaking OF this victory, remarked: "Notbing has
ever occurred that surpassed the intrepid conduct
of our scamen and militia at Craney Island"
During the trip the fine band OF the big ship
Pennsylvania was in attendance in their gay uni
form jacket. of red, and cnlivened the scene by
occasional strains Ct Sweetest music.
AT five O'Clock p IN. the Powhatan reached her
mornings. bringing back the large company highly
delighted with her successful performance. and
more than pleased with the attentions and hospi-
tality Of the naval officers in charge, who seemed
to have left nothing undone which could have
added to their enjoyment.
Such was the trial trip, and such the company.
And when II is mentioned that the affair alto
gether sudden and unex pccted, only few hours
preparation being allowed the triumph Of the ex-
perimental trip is considerably heightened.
FRANCIS GRIcE, esq., United States Naval Con-
structor, who the originator of what is now tho
Seaboard and Roanoke Railro I'd, n m m Of genius
| and skill in his profession, and for many years
resident among US, has the honor alec CT having
designed the model OF the Powhatnn. The work
vas executed at our navy yard by our southern
mechanics, and was supervised by SAMUEL T.
| HART, esq who for some time the constructor
at this station, and who succeeded by E. II.
DsLAso, esq, the present constructor. who was
present upon the trip.
The designer Of the engines was CHARLrs II.
HAswELL, Engineer in Chief
To Wa. SEwELL, esq.. Chief En- gincer, was given
| in charge the superintendence OF the construction
OF the immense machinery, work Of years OF la
borious toll, and demanding the utmost care and
watchiulness Of this vgilant and scientific officer.
His assistants were GEoRGE SEwELL, ESQ.,, now a
Chief Engineer, and JoBs FARos, esq, First As
sistant Engineer, to each and all Of whom the Co
vernment 10 indebted for the successful compi,t
Of this laborious and accurate work. Tht &c gen
tlemcn are already ornaments TO their corps,
,chich must be eierafed ia position 10 rank. II Ia
now most important body Of men, and the time
will be fully felt and appreciated by the Navy
Department, because the steam marine is d, stined
to become one OF the main cooperative arms OF the
| ma tiunal defence
The machinery built at the Gosport Iron
Works OF which ANDREW MrHAFrEy, esq., IL pro-
pretor and TO whose enterprise the people Of Vir.
ginia are indebted for the erection Of establish
ment at which any work be uted, even
from plough point up TO engines and machinery
weighing 400 900 pounds, which is the weig ht OF
| the Powbatan's.
The construction and completion Of the Pow
| hatan places beyond controversy that Virginia is
| nov prepared to construct ocean steamers wsich
| will bear comparison with any in the world; and
we hope the Senate OF the Old Dominion, when il
vocs on Thursday nort ON the Antwerp scheme OF
Ambrose w. Thompson. will bear in mind the inn
mense advantages Of that great State enterprise
and tho impetus which direct communication be-
| tween the waters Of Virginia and Belgium will
give to the trade between her in crior and sesbosrd;
the railroads now contemplated and those erecting
beinO intended md calculated IN brno from that