Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-01-21
How a ship Is La ,,nchea.

ri nd
sne Is supported on either side by pieces Of timber
one eno Oh each shore these imbers arc tecb
nlcaiy termed. resting on the ground and the oba,
up the ship. or, in other words, keepine
tlce IN building ships is to Mace the storr r az
water ana the head of The ship up the ward 50 that
the vessel shall go stern foremost into the r;vor
men me launching time comes the ship requires to
~ lon al tnese supports and barriers and
It may interest the country reader at least to rn
how this is done. First of ALL large hoon,s ~ 49,;
Der are placed lengthwise under each side If tho
ship, with slight inclination towards the watar
emu OF them' Ihese tmbers are bolted to blocks of
wood in the ground, and they have other n;ecoS of
timber boted to the sides of them. so "a 70 foru, |
ways as the shipwrights say, or grooves bv
which the ship is to move into the water ThenerSt
process is to place another beam of timber on each
of these ways" and to bolt smaller neces IF finn
Der upon them which are fitted, but not fastened To
tile ships side, so as to form a kind of cradle in
which the vessel Is to rest, and which goes with the
ship into tie water. The beams of timber fixed toi
the blocks are penttuy creased with soft soap and
OIL, to make the vessel move smoothly and when all
is in readiness the supports are knocked away. and
the ship glides into the water. The shin is Ehera
ted by striking down her . daggers," which are tho
last hindrances to her taking The water There is
dagger called, at each side of the shin It is
just at the head of the launching timbers, and is
simply square piece of wood placed in a slantinq
direction end of which rests against the fxed
beams of timber which lie under the vessel and the
q
ship rests. 1t is an honorable distinction in shin
builders yard to knock down the daggers and ii is
the custom to award the honor to the two eldest an
prentices. Underneath the dagger small piece of
wood is placed on end to prevent the dagger falling
of itself; and a chisel is also driven into The
wood to keep the g. TOM as it is called in its
place These are alike on both sides of the shin
and, as 1t has been stated it is the privilege of the
two eldest apprentices to take charge Of this DEPART
ment The real interest of ship launch is a brief
\ hntoy 1fiF1cr l.
lie along under the vessel to give her rally that
is to drive in a number of wedges to ease the shin
off the blocks under her keel couple of hundred
men may be about the ship in this work, and at the
voice OF the leading man, every of them strikes
his wedge at the same instant gradually raising the
ship, and producing sound like muttled thunder
The centre blocks then removed. and the shores
taken away from the side of the ship. The ship is
now ready for launching, and the master shipbuder
and his friends stand platform at the head of
/ the vessel The place themselves down each
side of the ways" the signal, g Out oakum," is
given, and Immediately the oakum, which has kept
the dust from the grease, is removed. All out
Sir, is the response. " Out keys" is the next COM
mand and as quickly in the former case, the
men remove some small pieces of wood. which have
been placed down the ways to assure them that all
continues true Again the respond "All out,
sir,' and they hasten from the sides of the ship
The whole interest is now in the daggers, both of
which the master shipwright sees 9 Out chisels >
g Out small toms g Down daggers,'' follow in ra-
pid order, and the ship is freed from her restraints
A bottle of wine from the fair lady breaks on the
ships head. she glides down the ways, big wave
rises she touches the water enargng itself as she
gets off the stocks, and the ship is launched.
From the Olive Branch.
Coming Home.
Glad words! The waters dash upon the prov OF
the gallant vessel. She stands the deck and the
winds WOO her ringets look anxously for her head
lands of home. In thought there warm kisses
on her lips, soft hands on her temples. Manly arms
press her to hrObbing heart, and voice sweet
er than all the rest whispers. My child y Coming
home Full to bursting is her young heart and
she seeks the cabin to fill her JOY vent in blessed
tears.
@. Coming home! The best room is set apart for
his chamber. Again and again have loving hands
folded away the curtains, and shook out the snowy
drapery. The vases arc filled every day with fresh
flowers, and every evening tremuous, loving voices
whisper, He will be here tomorrow. perhaps y
At each meal the table is set with scrupuous care
The newly embroidered slippers. the rich dressing
gown, the study cap that he will like we'll all
paraded to meet his eye.
That student brother! He could leap the waters
and fly like bird home. Though he has seen all
the splendor of olden time, there is but spot tina
fills his heart, and that spot he will reach
. Sweet home"
Coming home! What sees the sun Drowned sail
or in the darking waters! He smiles There are
pictures there of blueeyed babe and its mother
sweet cradle song
For know that the angels VIII bring to me.''
He sees her watching from her cottage door he
feels the beat of heart in the pulse ofhi whe1
a familiar football touches only the threshold o
memory.
That bronzed sailor loves his home, as an eagle
whose wings seek oftenest the tracks ofthe air. love
best his mountain eyry. His treasures ale there.
Coming home Sadly the worn Californian fold
, his arms and sinks back upon his fevered pillow
What to him is his yellow gold Oh. for one smile
I of kindred But that may not be- Lightly the.
tread by his bedside: watch the dim eye. moisten tn
+ parched lips.
A pleasant face bends over him--a rough pain
gently pushing back the moist hair, and familia
voice whispers Cheer up my FRIEND we are in port
you are going home
is it near +! Can he be most there! thrill send
! the blood circling throus h his limbs-what! Shal
he see those dear eyes before the ght of darkness
settles down forever VIII his babes fold their lit
tie about him and press their cherry lips to his
What wonder if new vigor gathers in that mani
. chest He feels strength in every nerve, <treng
to reach home-strength to bear the overwhelmn
10Y of meeting those dear ones.
Coming home The very words are rapturous =
. They bear import Of everything sweet and holy il
: the domestic lfe-nay more, they are stamped wit
the seal of heaven, for the angels say OF the dyln
saint :: lie is coming home.'
n THE REoRGAN!zATIoN OF THE NAvY.-The Naona
ntegencer says that the bill proposing reorganza
, ton of the navy, which reported 10 the Senate
Il Monday last by Com. Stockton, from The Commute
on naval affairs, contemplaes making provision tor IN
u following officers, VIZ:
II 20 commodores, 6S captains, 81 commanders,
= lieutenant commandments, 325 first lleutenants, 200 Sc
cond lieuenants SO surgeons 81 passed assistant su