Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-03-04
Launch ofthe Leyiathan.

The protracted and difficult process of launch
ing this monster vessel was brought to q success
full termination on the 31st of January, when she
was foated off the ways by the spring tides, and
hauled to her mornings. This is an event of no
common interest and Importance; for, if it be
found that the ocean can be n~avigated convenient
ly and safely by vessels of such huge dimensions
rs the "Leviathan," the enterprise will be follow
ed by others, perhaps on q still more gigantic scale.
We find nm interesting account of the launch in
the London Times of February l:
yesterday afternoon the long protracted pro-
cess of launching this vessel was happily brought
to q successful termination, and the Leviathan
was foated off her ways and towed to her moor
ings in the river.
''The weather was fine, clear, and calm, with
scarcely any breeze, and what little there was all
in favor of the vessel and a high tide. The tide
ran up with unusual swiftness, and as the flood re-
lieyed the weight upon the launching ways, some
of TIE hydraulic machines were set to work for
the last time to push the monster as far rs posi-
BILE into the centre of the river. She moved east
ly, and with such n low rate Of pressure that a
short time gave an advance of eighty inches,
which showed that more than half the cradles
were quite pushed off the ways and rested on the
river bottom. At ii, the men in row-boats sta
toned alongside observed that she no longer rest
ed on the cradles-that she WASH fact ahoat, but,
of course, the transition was so gradual that few
were aware of it until the tugs began steaming
ahead, and showed that at last she vas fairly un-
der way. Then the cheers which arose from the
yard and from the docks, from the boats in the
river, and the crews Of the ships at anchor up and
down the stream, spread the great news far and
wide, and thus under the most favorable circum-
stances the Leviathan commenced her first voyage
on the Thames.
1.-TWO powerful tug boats were at her bow and
two we're fastened astern. Other steamers also
were in attendance and rendered their aid, but the
efforts of the four we have mentioned were main
ly instrumental in managing her. At first the eff
forts of those ahead seemed to have little effect,
and when at length some little way was made on
her it was abruptly checked by one Of the paddle
wheels fouling the cradles. 1t took some time to
clear her of this obstacle, but it was at last &C.
complished her head was let swing partly round
with the tide, and the steamers began moving her
slowly, but very slowly, forward clear Of the era
dies. These, as our readers ore aware, were COM
posed of immense balks of timber, on which the
vessels bottom rested, and which her weight alone
kept down. The police, therefore, had to take
unusual precautions yesterday to keep all boats
clear of her while the wrecks Of the cradles
plunged up in tremendous masses as each was re-
leased Dy the OnWaTu uofeWeHt Vi tue befialuau.
sIt was curious to see these huge groups of
beams emerge from the river, rising from the sur
face of the water twenty or thirty feet, with a
slow heavy movement, and then falling over with
q great crash that churned the water into foam a.
round them. Some, broken and splintered by the
violence with which they were thrown against
each other, formed n loose tangle of timber work,
and went slowly drifting up the river in little is
lands, which rose some four or FIVE feet from the
water. Others, long after the great mass had
foated up, came plunging to the surface, falling
about in q way that showed the necessity OF the
precautions taken by the police, and the certain
destruction that would have overwhelmed any
boat within their reach.
"Soon after the cradles were cleared, and the
surface of the river covered with their fragments,
the Leviathan fouled the barges which, moored
with tremendous chains, were formerly used to
pull her downward toward the river. On this &C.
casion, to Judge from the liberal profers of advice
from nil sides; everybody ndeck seemed eminent
" skilled in dealing with impracticable barges,
and it was quite refreshing to hear how the men
in the barge were desired to undo mooripg chains
and cast off hawsers whichit hadbeen the business
of the last three months to fasten and rivetfrmly;
but ut last Capt. Harrison got q hearing, and, un-
der his directions, every remonstrance which sledge
and axes could urge on the refractory
tackle having been used in vain, it was decided to
scuttle the barge. The expedient was, of course,
decisive, aud the Leviathan was again got under
way and brought slowly to her moorings opposite
Here she was instantly made fast stem
and stern to the Government moorings in the GEN.