The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-23
Misunderstanding Of the Leviathan
Postponed sine die.

From the London Tunes Dec. II.
Yesterday morning this long protracted
operation was resumed, and after some foul
hours hard labor and dismal succession OF
misshaps during which one part after another
of the apparatus broke down in the most ig.
nominious manner, the work was discontin.
ued and the further proceedings postponed
sine die. The causes which led to this fifth
signal failure may be told in the few words
that it was almost impossible to make the
vessel move at all, and that in the efforts to
do so, hydraulic rams, windlasses and chains,
though OF the most ponderous and massive
construction, were all broken in regular sue
cesson, till scarcely anything of the appara-
tus was left to continue work. Under such
circumstances, therefore, not even hope was
entertained of effecting anything, and by
O'Clock the attempt was abandoned, What
makes the matter worse is that nearly every
portion of the powerful gear was broken
without producing the slightest effect in the
way of movement upon the monstrous vess-
ell. 1t is quite true that when the efforts
were discontinued the signal board showed
that the entire bulk had been moved 80
inches, but of this distance IS inches were
made at one slip early in the day, and with
comparatively easy or at least reasonable
pressure from the launching apparatus. AT.
ter this with immense difficulty, and at the
cost OF some parts of the machinery, another
trihing movement of three inches more was
got out of her, when she appeared to wedge
herself in such q manner that though the
most tremendous efforts were subsequently
made she remained as firm as mountain
Some idea of the extent to which the pres
ssure was applied may be gathered from the
fact that no less than three hydraulic rams,
one powerful crab or windlass, and the doub-
led chains which drag her toward the river
both at the stem and stern, were all burst
and broken. The manner in which each of
these gave way showed that the strain they
were subject to was something almost un-
heard of in the history of mechanics-in fact,
the accident which occurred to the wndlass,
when side of its massive iron drum round
which the chain was coiled, was crushed in
like nut, was not only, we believe, never
known to occur before, but until Yesterday
was considered almost impossible.
The men, as usual, under the direction of
Mr.. Brunei, were all early at their work, but
some loss OF time was necessarily occasioned
in getting such extensive gear into working
order, and then at the very commencement It
was seen that the vessel was sticking fast IN
on the ways, and that if moved at all. the
days work was likely to be a severe one
This was partly attributed to the Leviathan
having got completely off the one f ,ot in 10
incline into one in IL, and no doubt the re-
duced gradient must to some extent have ex-
ercised retarding influence But the real
reason, we fear, will be found in the fact that
the iron bars Of the cradles and the railway
metals of the ways are both considerably
rusted, and that this resistance, added to the
immense friction always caused by running
iron on iron, offers such bar to the further
progress of the vessel as will require half the
hydraulic presses in the kingdom to over
come. The first slip was not effected till the
pressure applied upon the cradles an the
strain from the river exceeded 1000 tons. and
then, as We have said, she slipped, or rather
jerked down 50 inches, the last few inches
being gained apparently more from the vibra-
tory motion communicated throughout her
entire length than from her own momentum.
From series of calculations which have
been made throughout the launch, as far as
it has yet gone, it has been ascertained that
the strain required to keep her in motion
when once started was only 100 tons. Yes
terday, however, the calculations based on
the rapldty with which her momentum d.
minished showed that the strain required vas
more than $50 tons, or one and half great.
er than it has been at any time since the eff.
forts first commenced
Alter this 35-nch slip, the greatest exer-
tons were made to move her, but for long
time without success. During this, all the
hydraulic rams were taxed to the very ut
most, and through the sides of one of ten
inches in diameter; the water was forced
through the pores of the solid iron like thir
lew, until the whole cylinder ripped from top
to bottom, with noise like dull under |
ground explosion. The iron of this cylinder |
averaged six inches in thickness, and stood a |
pressure of upward of 10000 lbs. to the
'quare inch, before it gave way. At the
same time also, the drum of the windlass was
in the way we have mentioned. The
strain on this was about 100 tons, and the |
most singular part of the circumstance is,
low the chain, with which it was dragging
he stem OF the vessel toward the river moor
ms, wlthstOod the tension. At length, after
ONE delay and immense eXertiOns, q move
nent of three inches distance was gained,
tut more than this it was impossible to af
ect. The men continued at work, till the
hains dragged the stem and stern of the YES
ell to the river and which were secured to
nchors among the piles on the opposite side
fthe bank of the Thames, were both broken
way, Two more hydraulic rams were also
roken, and the usual average of extensive
asualities having thus been reached at the
ary hour of 2 o'clock, the yard was cleared
t workmen and the "launching" suspended
Or the present. The last ram broken was a
onble one, of two seven-inch cylinders, and
nth very long stroke. One cylinder was as
sual ripped from top to bottom, and the
'hole strain of the compression of the timber
eng thus thrown upon the other it forced
slightly out of its horizontal position and
mapped its piston-a column of iron seven
lches in diameter-like eed The mass
We c'st-iron slab against which the base of
mother OF the rams rested was also split like
board; but this, of course, was mere bag
telle among the other great mishaps, which
re not only expensive in themselves, but by
he del US they give rise to- occasion an ex.
cndlture in which the cost of their repair is
mere item. No day has yet been named
'r the renewal of the attempts.