Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-11-27

Attempt TO Launch the Great Eastern. z=sssss.l
The launch of the mammoth steamship heretofore
known as the Great Eastern but now formally christ
ened the Leviathan, was commenced at noon on the
Sd inst The usual means taken to move the yes
sell but for time without avail After about three
hours labor the ship had moved about six feet by the
stern and little four feet by the bow when one OF
the powerful purchase chains broke and the work had
to be temporarily suspended.
During the operations sudden strain on one of the
drums caused to revove with great velocity throwing
several of the men into the air like straws and knock
ing down others with great violence -Four men had
their arms and legs broken and died he be-
ing conveyed to the hospital. Immense numbers Of
people including many distinguished men, assembled
shore and on the river to witness the launch
The Times of Wednesday says that postponement
of further efforts has been resolved upon and the ship will
stand in great danger of settling owing to the immense
pressure $4,000 tons) upon the new made earth.
The London Post of the 4th, has detailed account
of the unsuccessful launch, from which we quote:
1t was nearly 121b O'Clock, and the public be-
ginning to yawn and manifest Impotence, when they
were somewhat appeased to the christening bottle of
wine gayly decorated with flowers, carried forward
to the stem of the vessel Here it suspended, and
Miss Hope the daughter of the chairman of the Great
Eastern Company giving it hearty swing dashed the
wine over the bows of the vessel and babe The Leva-
than God speed amid the cheers of thousands. In
few moments the word passed to commence the
launch At the signals the lighters slowly but steadily
commenced to haul taut their tackle from the river
which it thought would of itself be sufficient to
bring the vessel gently down 1t appeared however to
have no effect beyond once or twice producngn the
sci sulen rumbling noise like distant thunder as
the great strain told upon her hull 1t remained thus
for about ten minutes.
Expectation wound up to the highest pitch when the
peculiar kissing noise of the hydraulic at work to
push her off was heard We should have mentioned that
each of the drums constructed to be turned by
ordinary windasSes in order to wind up the slack chain
between the drums and cradles otherwise if any slack
was left when the hydraulic started the vessel it
would run it rapidly out, and heaven only knows the
consequences that might ensue. When the rams be-
gan to work the order given to wind up mean
ing to call in this slack between the drum and the cradle
This accordingly done at the forward drum but
unfortunately at the stern of the vessel the did pre-
csey the reverse and unCoed slack chain Among
the number Of engineers who looking on the dan
ger OF this was seen at glance but there off
cal to check the men, who seemed ordinary navieS
Suddenly there was cry of she moves, she moves y
the fore part of the vessel slipped and the stern rushed
down rapidly 1t seemed to Slip three four feet in the
space OF couple of seconds, in consequence of the
slack chain from the after drum Offering not the slightest
check. In an instant the strain came upon the drum
which dragged round, and of course as that was
connected with the windlass by multiplying Wheels the
latter turned some ten fifteen times for every foot the
drum moved The men at the windlass madly tried to
hold it, but the heavy iron handle flew round like light
ening striking them and hurting five or six high in the
air as if they had been blown up by powerful OK
plOSiOn
A panic seemed to spread as this shocking accident
took place. and the stationed at the tackle and fall
levTneXt the wndlass rushed away. Fortunately most
fortunately for the lives of hundreds of the spectators
the at the lever at the other side of the drum
stood firm, and hauling on their tackle drew their
lever up, and applied the break the drum with such
terrific force that the ship instantly stopped though she
seemed to culver under the sudden shock as if she
had received heavy blow, and the check tackle and
pile of timber which restrained the drums strain
ed audby The whole of this took place in the course
of two three seconds The vessel dropped the men
hurled from the wndlass, and with heavy rumb-
ling noise the tremendous structure was still on the
"ways, again almost before the spectators had time to
imagine what had occurred.
Soon after another attempt made to launch her,
but the great mammoth was not moved an inch-
All further attempts then abandonded for the pres
ent.