The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-08
A Holiday Among Our Citizens.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ADRIATIC

Inc NsCnuS III tho NHiPyuIu uuu un tuC
East River.
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Speeches Of Rov. Mr.. ChapiB, Mr. z. 4. Col
Ilns, nr. T. B. stlHman, and 0thcrs,
The steamship Adriatis, tor the Collins line was
launched yesterday morning from tho shipyard ct the
foot Of Seventh street For several weeks past this even.
bad been anticipated with ordinary feeling. Of inter-
etby the whole city The fact that she 10 not only the
largest vessel built in this country but that shs ia
designed to be the fastest steamer In the world at
tracted towards her attention curiosity than
bas perhaps been exhibited any other ship
launched At this port tsln the day ON which hsr keel
wss laid TO the moment she left the socts she has beea
the object Of the shArpes criticism and also Of the most
uIbounded praise There some who were ready to
find fault with her. but tho majority agreed that shs
unequaled in the beauty and exqu symmetry of her
proportions. She visited By Thousands daily long
befoEe the day Of the launch was announced, and
when the long expected morning Of that day arrived
tens Of thousands Of eager spectators assembled from all
parts Of the city, at the desgnated place. II wa
fact holiday IN that part Of the city, and everybody
appeared in their holiday dresses. Fer ct least tn
hours before the appon time the spectators began
arrive and In less than two hours the spacious ship
yard crowded The immense piles Of timber swarmed
with men, women and children. ALI the house tops
whob afforded view of the launch, were in the Same
condition; the masts and ths rigging Of the shipping
completely taken possession Of the deck OF tho
ship, the Intrepid which Is the stocks in adjon-
ing yard presented throng dense that it almost
impossible to through it, and there was besides
all this large number board the Adrletc herself.
But this not all The river WAS nearly
populous ~ the land About dozen
steamboats, Of various sizes, and q numerous neet
of boats each with many persons II could carry
with safety Lay out In the river fronting the yard from
which the launch to take place. The bark Grape
shot which Was yrg In the dock the Adriac,
captured crowd of at least fifteen hundred persons
and held without opposition for two three hours The
st Louis also made prize Of BY still larger force
and those who could ni standing room ON her deck
place in her rigging, last resort bstook them
selves to the inside Of the wheels, glad to get
glimpse Of the spectacle. There they sat, the huge
paddles, only portion Of their persons visible through
the bars and cracking jokes with those outside who
less fortunate in procuring good position. The spto
tors have altogether, been estimated at FROM fty to
hundred thousand and think do not over estimate
the number when We compute it at sixty thousand.
Invitations we're sent to q large number Of persona
including the members of the PRESS for whom the steam
boat Gerard Suyvesant and other steamboats, we're
the Novelty Works. at the foot of Houston and other
streets proceeded into the middle Of the river where all
had unobstructed veS of the launch While all eyes
were eagerly bsnt the magnificent structure, the
archiec Of whose genins she is Of the most bsAu-
tful creations, and who, eight or ten years ago
poor, struggling, unnoticed mechanio-George Steers
the world renowned yacht and shipbuilaers, was
busy among his workmen experimenting the prepara-
tons. This the crowning moment of all his
previous efforts, and although his heart must
have swelled with a just = manly pride,
at the noble vessel before him. and the feeling
the work Of his skill and genius that had attracted that
almost countless crowd Of human beings together
nothing In his by which hs could be disin-
guished from those by whom he was surrounded, we
except that modest bearing which Is the
Of true genius and merit.
While waiting for the launch of the Adriatc the spec.
tators treated to another which great
ty entirely unexpected but which was therefore no
less SURPRISE and pleasing one. without the least nose
warming except that given by the excitement amoDg
portion Of the crowd the Cuba which built in toe
yard Of Mr. Webb observed sliding from the STOCKS
and in few moments making her way out in
tho middle Of the river where she brought By
anchors The Cuba Is shout 1000 tons burtheu and is
intended by her owner, Mr.. B. Banco for the South
American trade.
Before launching the Adrauc It considered necss-
sary to the Grapeshot and ths st Louis which
lay along side the piers tnat extsnd out side OF
the shpyard. This however, took but few rainu.es
and by eeved O'Clock she had clear and unobs,rucei
way before her out into the river Soon after the work
men. who looked like many pgmies beside the gigau-
tic hull commenced splitting up the blocks which afor J.
ed her partial support, and the removal Of which was
necessary to let her down upon her ways. This WORK
performed-the last block was removed, o
hat of hAtd nj
breeth!ess the huge and nanimate bat graceful sruc
lure appeared at tho moment rs IL inshnc.
with life moving slowly at first, but with in
creased speed as she touched the water she swept
out into the river with grace aad majesty
launch. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm win
which she greeted; cheer after cneer burst from
felt as il be had direct Interest in her success, and
could not have been more pleased they hvs
share IN the profits Of her The ladies waved their hand
talks Of failure after ths said man, in the exlbs
rance rance .a Of his sers M toll you she tsts
it is almost needless to say that every within hear
ing sgreed with him. Bot the Adfiatic is nov half
sn' snd asss e
anchor was let 60, but 1t presented percepti-
nns %asn III. shi
was dropped but not In ue to prevent her strkirg
OF the piers Hardly minute elapsed, after the se,ond
running into 1t four five 'eet and krockog the "a
bers into splinters The only damage done. however
to the pier the stern ha wing escaped unDjured vi
the exception Of tew scratches to the copper sheAng
The shock her coming In contact with tue
pier was 50 light tina: IT Vas hardly felt BY those
board. Soon afc the steamtug Titan was alongside
ready to TOW her to the Balance Dry Dock whicn
is TO be coppered.
The Adriatc does not appear to be SO large a. she
really is but this is Attributable to the f.utlessness of
her model and the perfect symmetry Of all her parts
Naval architects and nautical are in raptures with
the beauty Of her ines and predict that sne viii be
without an equal in point Of speed. She is, we
and at present the largest vessel constructed of
wood in the world. The Persia IL loi ger, bat 1t will be
remembered that she ts iron steamer. The AdriAtc
Ia 354 feet in length so eet breadth OF BEAM 80 feet
inches depth Of hold and registers 5aSS tons Custom
House measurement. She Ia to have two osciilaiug
gnes Of thousand actual horse power eash 100 inch
cylinders with IL feet stroke She will have eight tuSu-