Washington sentinel., 1856-04-10
THE LAUNCH OF THE ApRIAT1c

We are not sufficiently au fat in matters of
this sort to attempt description of this mag
nifcent scene. We therefore give portion Of
the Hsralds most elaborate and graphic ac-
count of the launch of this splendid steamer.
1t was proud day for the indefatigable Collins,
his engineers, and builders
When We say, fond as we are of horse-racing.
that we felt an excitement and interest nearly
akin 10 that splendid sport We can convey an
| estimate Of our emotions. But superadded in
this instance was the admiration for the genius.
industry, and science of our countrymen, which
was so eminenty apparent in everything con.
nected with the successful launch of the grand
Adriatic! The crowd was estimated variouslv
at from fifty to one hundred thousand persons
Every variety of sea-craft, from the largest
steamers and ships to the minutest steam-tugs
and skimmers, were crowded from their decks
to their topmasts. Still we were kindly cared
for by an invitation 10 the steamship Ohio.
from whose deck we witnessed the entire scene.
But here follows the Heralds account, which
will be found very interesting 10 our readers:
"The new steamship Adriatic, for the Collins
line, was launched yesterday morning from the
shipyard at the foot Of Seventh street For
several weeks past this event had been antici
pated with no ordinary feelings Of interest by
the whole city. The fact that she is not only
the largest vessel ever built in this country
but that she is designed to be the fastest ocean
steamer in the world, attracted towards her
more attention and curiosity than has. perhaps.
ever been exhibited towards any other shin
launched at this port From the day on which
her keel was laid to the moment She left the
stocks, she has been the object Of the sharpest
criticism, and also Of the most unbounded
| praise. There were some who were ready 10
| find fault with her, but the majority agreed
that she unequalled in the beauty and
exquisite symmetry Of her proportions. She
was visited by thousands daily, long before the
| day Of the launch was announced and when
| the long.expected morning Of that day arrived.
tens Of thousands Of eager spectators assem-.
bled from all parts Of the city, at the desig-
mated place. 1t was, in fact, holiday in that
part Of the city, and everybody appeared in
their holiday dresses. For at least three
hours before the appointed time, the spectators
began TO arrive, and in less than two hours the
spacious ship yard was crowded The i'm.
mense piles OF timber swarmed with men,
women, and children; all the house tops which
afforded a view Of the launch were in the same
condition, The masts and the rigging of the
new ship, the Intrepid, which is on the stocks
in an adjoining yard, presented throng SO
dense that it Was almost impossible TO move
| through il; and there was, besides all this n
large number on board the Adriatic, herself.
| But this was not all--the river was nearly as
| populous as the land. About dozen steam.
| boats, of various sizes, and numerous fleet of
rowboats, each with as many persons as il
| could carry with safety, lay out in the river
| fronting the yard from which the launch was
TO take place. The bark Grapeshot, which
was lying in the dock near the Adriatic. was
captured by q crowd Of at least fifteen hundred
persons, and held without opposition for two
or three hours. The st. Louis was also made
prize Of by still larger force, and those who
could not find standing room on her deck, or
place in her rigging, as a last resort betook
themselves 10 the inside of the wheels, glad to
get even glimpse of the spectacle. There
they sat, on the huge paddles, only portion
OF their persons visible through the BARS and
cracking jokes with those outside who we're
,s less fortunate in procuring good position.
me spectators have, altogether, been estimated
| AZ rom htty TO hundred thousand and we
| tnink we do not over-estimate the number
when we compute il at sixty thousand.
Invitations were sent TO large number Of
persons, including the members Of the press
for whom the steamboat Gerard Stuyvesant
and two other steamboats, were engaged
These, after receiving their company on board