The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-06
EASTERN

The following interesting details Of the trial
trip of the Great Eastern, and the terrible explo-
sion on board, are from the correspondent of
the London Times:
BEFORE AND DURING THE DISASTER.
The visitors who were passengers on board
numbered about 100, and, as may readily be
believed, included among them some of the
most distinguished navigators, engineers, and
scientific men in Europe. All, as usual, were
assembled at dinner at about half past clock
on Friday, when, before the dessert came on, two
gentlemen left the chairmans table to look at
the coast near Hastings. Mr.. Campbell, the
Marquis Of Stafford, Earl Mountcharles, Lord
Alfred Paget, and few others, followed with
out waiting for dessert. The departure of these
gentlemen from the saloon, as it happened,
broke up the dinner party, and instead of reti-
ring to the grand saloon, as usual, nearly all
the visiters came on deck, and went right for
ward in the bows,
About 30 remained at table, few were on
the bridge with Mr.. Campbell, and thus, by a
most merciful interposition, it happened, for
the first time during the voyage, that there was
no one sitting in the grand saloon, and no one
on the little raised deck round the foremost
funnel. One or two gentlemen were congratu-
lating Mr.. Campbell on the almost marvellous
success Of the ship, when in the space of a sec
ond there was terrific explosion. The for
ward part of the deck appeared to spring like a
mine, blowing the funnel up into the air. There
was confused heavy roar, amid which came
the awful crash Of timber and iron mingled TO-
gether with q frightful uproar, and then all was
hidden in rush of steam. Blinded aud almost
stunned by the overwhelming conclusion, those
on the bridge stood motionless in the white va.
nor till they were reminded of the necessity oil
seeking shelter by the shower OF wreck-glass
gilt work, saloon ornaments, and pieces Of
wood-which began to fall like rain in all d.
rections.
After short interval, during which the white
steam still ohscured all aft the funnel, Capt
Comstock, who was on the bGdge, tried to see
what had occurred, but he could only ascertain
by peering over the edge Of the paddle box that
the vessels sides were uniniured, and the en-
gines still going Gradually, then, as the steam
cleared off, the foremost funnel could be seen
lying like log across the deck, which was
covered with bits Of glass, gliding, fragments
of curtains and silk hangings, windowirames
scraps of wood blown into splinters, and mass
of fragments, which had evidently come from
the cabin fittings Of the lower deck, beneath
the grand saloon. In the middle was great
heap of rubbish where the funnel had Just stood
from which the condensed steam was rushing
up in white, and therefore not hot, vapor, but
enough to hide completely all that had hap
pened below. In another minute, all the pas
sengers came rushing towards the spot.
The 20 or 80 who had remained at table in
the saloon next that which blew up came or
deck also, and it will give your readers some
idea of the gigantic strength of the vessel, wher
tell them that these latter, until, they actually
saw the smash, we're almost unaware of the ter
rife explosion which had occurred beside them
1t was only the dull, heavy roar, followed by
the rafting Of fragments as they rained down
on and through the skylights, which warned
them that something dreadful had occurred
Still none knew what had really happened, Of
what injury the vessel had sustained Captain
Harrison, who was aft at the moment, rushed
forward, and, seizing a rope, lowered himsei
down through the steam into the wreck of the
grand saloon, and, calling to six men to follow
him, began search among the ruins for those
who might have been below.
The only one in the apartment was his own
little daughter, who had just arrived at the after
part at the moment Of the explosion, and who
completely sheltered by the wroughtiron bulk
head, had escaped, by miracle, totally unhurt
Captain Harrison merely gave the order to pass
her up through the skylights, and continued his
search. This was no easy matter. The wreck
and rubbish, piled in all directions in the ladies'
small saloon, forward to the funnel, made il
difficult to move about, The steam hid almost