Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-11-23
The Great Eastern.

The launch of this wonder Of naval
architecture has been an event to which
it may be said, all England has been
looking forward with a feeling of ma
tional pride but our dispatches by the
1riet show that, Notwithstanding all
the ingenuity and procaution Of her
constructors, the lcvathan has stuck
fast on the ways, and stubbornly refus-
cs to embrace what the reporters would
call her "nativc elemcnt" the Thames.
For some months past, no fewer than
eleven hundred workmcn had been
employed upon this mammoth vessel
The London Times Of the 2Sth ult.. in
fixing the day for the launch, remark
ed:
Since our last notice the whole ex-
terror Of the hull, from deck to keel,
has been reprinted and finished off ac-
cording to the appearance she is inten-
ded to present when in the water
This change has made great improve
ment; instead of a red, unmanageable
looking pile, heavy and awkward to
the eye, her beautifully modelled form,
and slender, tapering bows are now
brought forth in all their perfect sym
metry. She painted three colors-red
lead up to the 90 feet or light load
water line; for Is feet above this, up
to the heavy low water line, copper
color, and the remainder (33 feet up
to the top, black. The mere painting
Of the vessel, slight as the fact may APP
pear when mentioned, involves labor
of no common magnitude, for the pain
ted surface of the Greut Eastern is, in
side and outside, nearly 10000 square
yards in extent, or more than "a acres.
The number OF tons of paint which it
requires is a callulation on which we
dare not venture.
For nearly four years she has doomed
IN dim immensely over the river side,
like some pre-Adamite leviathan fol-
nearly four years she has stood on iron
enigma, exciting and battling all con-
lectures as to how she was to be got
down to the water, and how she was to
be managed and controlled when in
it. To the majority Of Londoners she
has been little else than a colossal sail.
or's folloy, as little likely to banks Of
the Thames itself, in which it was gen.
orally believed the Great Eastern was
destined to remain permanent orna.
ment, a reproach to mariners, and a
beacon Of warning to future enterpris.
ing companies of all kinds. 1t will
however, relieve the minds of our read.
ers to know for certain, that whateve,
other fate may be in store for this 81.
gantic undertaking, the vessel is at leas,
not doomed to remain where she has
been for SO long. The hours of the
Great Eastern's stay on land are now
numbered; each day diminishes more
and more the connection between the
shore and the ship, and on Tuesda,
next, soon after dsybreak, it will b.
finally sundered, and the Great Eastern
launched into that element on which
her appearance will be the forcrunnel
OF new era. 1t is only within tn,
last few hours that the hour for tn,
launch has been decided on, and tn,
morning of the Sd definitely fixed.
! The following particulars touching
the attempt to launch the ship hav,
come to hand by the steamer Wash
ington:
The launch of the mammoth steam
ship heretofore known as the Grea
Eastern, formerly christened Leviathan
was commenced at noon on the 81
inst. The usual means were taken t.
remove the vessel, but for some tim,
4 without avail. After about three hours
Eiabor, the ship had moved about 81,
feet by the stern and q little over fou
feet BY the bow, when one Of the pow
srfnl purchase chains broke, and tn,
work had to be temporarily suspended
i Operations were to be resumed ~ sool
] = the accident could be rectified, an<
London papers Of the afternoon Of tn,
"a sey II vas confidently hopel tia
I aheahtp would b a6oat s high watsI