The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-06

Small stationary engines in place of the crabs work
ed the same description Of tackle at the stem and
stern but with these the power has been so multi
piled that each can apply, If necessary, strain
Of one hundred tons or more. At the same time
the launching ways have been strengthened by the
addition of several lengths Of the bridge rails insert
ed between those already down at regular intervals,
and additional and more powerful hydraulic rams
were brought to bear on the ships cradles, to push
her with force enough to start her down the ways.
These were the changes which the experience OF the
first attempt showed would be advisable IN future
efforts. Six hydraulic rams were yesterday nxed
against the side-namely, two seventeen ones AZ the
aftermost part of each cradle, and tennch one at
each forward part The base Of each OF these rams
rested against regular series of strong piles driven
deep into the ground, andi this fulcrum appeared
strong enough; but, OF course, they could only De
tested by the actual pressure Of the rams and that
could not possibly be applied until all was ready TO
The last preparations were complete at noon yes
terday Up to that time, carefully had the secret
been kept that even in the immediate neighborho0d
Of the yard the intended effort was unknown. A
collier brig, which ashore on one of the launch
ing ways, tended to lul whatever suspicious might
have been entertained, and which the appearance of
gangs of workmen greasing down the launching me-
tails was certainly calculated to excite In the yard,
with the exception Of those actually concerned in
the launch, there were not more than twenty or
thirty gentlemen present, and nearly all of these
were engineers shipbuilders. The great advan-
tage of this arrangement over the very mixed crowd
which filed the yard on the last occasion ap
parent that there is now no fear of the rule Of strict
privacy ever being again departed from.
The men were all at their places at the crabs and
hydraulic gear soon after u o'clock Some time was
lost while the various details infinitely inspect
ed, preparatory to beginning; but at last at one
o'clock all was ready, and the signal was given 70
the gangs working the hydraulic rams at the fore
most cradle to commence pumping The aftermost
cradle having slipped on the ways about IL inches or
than the one near the bows it was necessary
to push down the latter first in order that they might
both start on level. As the men commenced their
efforts the anxiety and expectation of all in the
yard even down to the navvies at the crabs seemed
wrought to the highest pitch; not word was
spoken, and not a person moved All seemed
absorbed in watching the tremendous experiment
going forward, SO that literally for q few
minutes the suspense was almost painful. The
gangs at the pumps worked with WILL but the
handles went down more slowly, and the pressure
was evidently becoming felt. few minutes more
and the sharp loud reports of beams of timber
yielding and straining under tremendous pressure
became more and more frequent Every one imagined
that the vessel herself was yielding, but this
mere fancy, as, after few moments, it became evil
dent to all near the rams that 1t was the piling
against which they rested that giving Never
theless, the strain was kept on, increasing with
every stroke of the lever, and the huge beams
beams and supports groaned and strained and bent.
moving yisibly about Like huge piece Of
die never showed sign of yielding nor
moved even to a hairs breadth. At last
the supports of the rams gave way so much
tIdI IL DecdIne HtCeSstTy VI dSSSI tneH ny HdulluB
in the tackle, which pulled the vessel towards the
river but these gave so little relief that at last
one Of the centre piles broke, and some others
Sprung so badly that it became imperativey
cessary to abandon the attempt Almost at the same
moment of the large three-inch mooring chains,
securing the double sheaves which hauled upon the
stem Of the vessel parted somewhere or other in the
river, so that had the piling been capable of
| immediate repair and strengthening the latter acct
dent alone was sufficient to put stop to further ef
forts. Hardly had the orders been received to dis
continue the attempt when the men were all at full
work again to repair the causes which had led to the
| failure. Gangs of 100 "navvies" so carried
| down huge pile-driving machines, which in
an hour were erected and at work, driv-
ing in fresh piles behind those which
| had yielded These men will work night and day if
necessary, that in few days at most all will be
ready again for another effort The supports for the
| rams will now be made of immense strength, not
only by great addition of new piles, but by the
whole being bolted together with iron tie rods,
and again secured in the to the launch
ing ways themselves. Thus strengthened, it will be-
| come quite a mechanical impossibility that they
should yield under any pressure which the dead
weight and friction of the whole vessel can offer.
When we say that repairing the mooring chain and
having that gear ready, is in Captain Harrsons de-
partment have said quite enough TO vouch for the
| certainty of that not being found wanting on the
next occasion, when sincerely hope we shall have
to that the Great Eastern is at last at the
| waters edge.