Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-09
THE EVENING STAR
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
A CHINANAN's IDEA OF SrEAMsHIp.-Dur.
ing the cruise of the United States steamship
Sasquehanna in the Chinese seas, on one occa-
sion, at Shanghai, she was visited by United
States missionaries with their pupils and native
assistants One of the latter subsequently sent
fan to Capt Buchanan, her commander, on
which was written in Chinese characters the
Impressions made by his visit. As translated
those impressions are as follows:
Since the 22d year of " Taw- -quana,, many for
eign vessels greatly differing in form and dfmen-
siOns, have visited Shanghai. The flags Of these
vessels indicate the nations from whence they
came. These ships are said to sail with great
speed, even to the distance of several hund red
miles In day. but in point of speed they are not
to & pe e9mPafed TO the steamer lhre-wheel shiP;l
commanded by - 'Pee-hQh-nung," ;" bringing the
great Mandarin 81 No." arrived at Shanghai the
18Th Of the third month Of the third year OF Hien
Fung.' The dimensions and height of this
steamer seemed to be beyond computation
L felt strong desire to go OIL hoard and inspect
for myself, when happily the teachers Yates and
Taylor invited me to accompany them on board
Arriving at the rivers bank, we took a small boat
and approached the great ship. We ascended by
ladder. Beholding the body of the steamer, 1
thought to myself il must be three or four hun
dred feet long, and as much one or two hun.
dred feet broad
The smallest mast seemed so large as to REQUIRE
several men to encircle 1t.
The rigging was OF large iron chains and
great ropes, painted black.
The central great mast seemed to reach to the
heavens
The engine and iron smoke chimney was ind.-
~cTlbabiy larger, and as black as ink
The rudder was so completely concealed as to
render II impossible to find It,
CLOG Ks Were TO be seen In different parts Of tbe
ship.
Moreover, several large cloth bags (wind sails,
Were so adjusted as to conduct the air into the in
terror OF the ship.
On the first floor were placed many of the larg-
e-t KIND OF guns On inquiry found that il re-
CURED ten or twenty pounds of powder to load
enc OF these great guns. The shot for these gums
are larger than peek. Moreover, they saw that
some of these large shot have powder and many
small shot within, and that when thrown to a
great distance they explode, spreading death and
bewilderment wherever they 60 Smaller puns
and weapons of warfare are without number
The soldiers (marines, wore on their heads hats
made OF what appeared TO me to he velvet oraa-
mented with gold trimming. The covering for
the body Of blue and red On their should.
-rs Were many bright brass buttons.
In their dress they were all alike
In their exercises, whether standing or moyino
they acted in concert.
A soldier with gun in hand stands at the lad
der, where men ascend the ship His business IL
10 keep sharp look-o He is relieved every
honr or 80. This guard is kept up day and night
The beds OF all the men are in the day time
placed In bags Of skin, (hammocks,) so that in
'ase OF ram they sustain no injury.
The men are so frequently drilled in the use of
arms, both small and great, that they cannot miss
Moreover. there are ten or twelve men who play
on musical instruments. And, Oh such music
There is nothing like it,
The great Mandarns of the American people
always have this attractive accompaniment The
Expense ~ borne out OF the public treasury
hrst noor, (spar deck.)
fer Nyiti a
with white brass hand-railngs, the great hall in
the interior Of the ship. Here from below look
ing above the light Is admitted 10y brilliant glass
windows. On the floor spread a howery
carpet; on the table, IN the centre Of the great
hall, WAS an embroidered broad 10th table cover;
on the seats were arranged the sOftest kind of
cushions, and reTy amusing, (Spring seats On
both sides of the great central hall were several
small rooms, used dormitories in each of
these small rooms were TO be seen every necessary
arrangement for the comfort of the oficers-such,
Tor instance, as bed, dining table, bathing
Tub, and cooking range with all necessary uten-
,s indeed rtS everything that could be desired
ant everything there was good.
Chinese, though they should exhaust all their
hearts energies and expend never so much
money, could never make a thing that would
even bear a comparison with this.
All the window and door frames are cased in
white brass
pended in dftrens parts of the ship all in readi-
ness for extinguishing fire.
Now we descended. still lower TO the third
story. Here we were shown the powder and shot
room, coal room, medicine room and room for
small arms also large hall where saw many
boxes, in which was deposited food for the men
every mans food in his own box
We have now come to the great fire engine.
Could only zee that IL was an immense, incompre-
henslble mass OF wheels, made of white brass and
steel, so brilliant as to dazzle the eyes like the
sun. How continuance so ingenious, so life
IKE and so convenient could have been conceived
anu constructed, cannot comprehend. And then
Us cost, who can tell, 1 could only behold and
i wonder II, out Of ten thousand parts, | could
comprehend and speak of one 70 explain the
II wnole minutely Is an impossibiity.
! passed about two hours on this great steamer,
i brhOidin9 what was TO be seen.
Ihe language OF the great officers, soldiers and
Il men, l could not understand. Fortunately, the
i teachers Yates and Taylor could interpret for me;
II therefore was able 10 understand d few things
II The measurement OF this steamer is 2 500 tons.
vi ali the vessels under the heavens this stands In
'he centre, the tr ia point OF size and brilliancy
II SILL have desire 10 90 once more on board
ths steamer, in order that | may inspect more
particularly. And, more than all, desire to take
WIN Inc man who caa sketch, in order that
EaY get drawing Of this ship to suspeId in my
room where can always behold it,
moreover, this steamer has on board ten or
WE'VE Japanese, who, having fallen into great
1ouoIe al sea, Were saved from the perils OF the
Yep and had food and clothing given them.
No" TINS great steamer, il is said, will take them
l " oIhtlr native country This circumstance alone
/ Suncient TO show that in the hearts Of the
| Ir!ing
II resented to . Pub hab -nung, - commander Of
by KnozrSSrssr~a ,,
ICE UNITED STATBs POsT OFFICE DEPART
f.-"e have, Of late, taken occasion to
POln' out the extreme unreasOnableness Of the
-'"'' oi 70 many American newspapers that
s'O"i and growl and growl persistently against
-He fost, attributing to its mismanagement
"fy occurrence justly chargeable upon the ell
'IThE or the condition of particular districts
He country. We I'm l the same subject com
'H'ea On with great force and effect in a late
-ulaOer of the SOmthsids Democrat, and ex-
| N' from Its article paragraphs which should
pinned, Tor future cooling reference, in the
Oi our fussy brethren of the press from
Maine to California
r,,,on .hc fJth of June 1Sj6 there were In ope-
II 90, 'hl> country 1872 mail routes whose