The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-26
9ifhmunh Qispattb.
MONDAY MORNING. SEPT. ae. lssa.
THE VOYAGE OF THE GREAT EASTERN.
Highly Interesting Acceunt..Her Trip
Down the Thames--Performlance at Sea,

4
Highly Interesting Account.-Her Trip
| Down the Thames -.Performance Mt Sea,
| &c., &e.
1 In the foreign news by the Arabia, some
brief mention of the trial trip of the Grea,
Eastern. from London to Portland. Eng. was
made The London papers bring us fuli par
| ucniars OF this most interesting event in
maritime history. The crew of the ship for
the Trip included 60 seamen, 90 seamen rig.
gers, 2oo engineers and fremen ard a ste ward. 3
/ "'i oi w. Ihere were about GO passengers
On ooaIa. ana among them the Marquis OF
Stanord, Lord Alfred Paget, Sir r. w. Car.
Gen. several members of Parliament. and a
number of the mem bers of the Great Eas,o.n
Company. The pilots and officers all went an
board the night previous to the 6t,, inst. ready
Tor the following morning The eorrespon.
dence Of the London Times says:
There was of course the usual roptine
amount OF shouting, and iaexplicabie orders
and coanter-orders, and fussing about the
tugs before all was in readiness Moorinp a +
ter mooring was then slipped off. Capt Har-
rison and the pilot took their places on the
starboard padde-box. Mr.. Scott Russell re-
mained on the bridge to direct the action of the
engines both of which (screw and paddie)
were under steam. Captain Comstock, one of
the abiest American navigators, who brought
the General Admiral over 10 this country,
stood aft to transmit directions TO the men at
the wheel, as Mr.. Langiey's new steering ap-
paratus was not completely fitted Mr.. Pc
rouse, the chief officer took charge of the fore
part of the ship; and to all the other officers
were allotted stations. either TO transmit di-
rections or signals TO the tugs.
Precisely at quarter past seven the last
moorings were lei go, but as at this time the
sweep OF the tide had turned the great ships
bows in, so as to point rather in shore of the
Seamen's Hospital ship, it was necessary to
pAt n rNn
to round the very sharp curve of the river be-
low Greenwich. The screw engines started
first, working beautifully, without noise, heat,
or even apparent vibration; and when the
paddle machinery came into play, few revo-
lutions sufiiced TO get her head round TO the
point required.
Then was the order given to go ahead slow
ly and for the first time the Great Eastern
started into motion and with the slow ma les-
tic beat OF her huge paddles moved grandly
down the river. The general public had evil
dently put but little faith in the announce
rnent that she would leave the river yes terCiav
so that until the preparations were made for
actually leaving there was little stir upon the
river. Gradually, however, as the team tugs
began to move about and get their tow ropes
in, it seemed suddenly to break upon the am
phibious population at both sides of the stream
that they We're at last about to lose a vessel
whose presence has made Deptford and the
Isle of Dogs famous throughout the world.
Then ensued an extraordinary scene. Thou
rushing to the river side from all points Boats
ofeyery kind and size were launched crowded to
the waters edge, and the stream and its banks
seemed Suddenly instinct with life. There were
not so much cheers as continuous shoutng-a
genuine outburst of enthusiasm and delight.
Even the wan and sckly inmates of the Sea-
mems Hospital ship turned out upon the deck
or Gro wded the ports with their worn faces, to
give one shout or wave cap TO the vessel
which swept so grandly by. The very first
turn al Greenwich showed Captain Harrison
and all the officers of the vessel that the great
ship was as thoroughly under command as a
river steamboat, and that the only difficulty
TO be overcome, or rather to contend against
was her length in turning the sharp curves OF
the river at Greenwich, Blackwell and Wool
wich.
The vessels draught was 81 feet 10 inches aft
and - feet inches forward-about the very
worst trim in which she could have left her
moorings, being down by the head 5 inches
instead of some feet down by the stern 23 or
u feet may appear no great depth of water;
but when 1T is recollected that this was the
minimum required at the turnings, and over
length of 500 feet, which is more than the
breadth of the Thames at West nster il will
be seen at once that these angles were at first
regarded with certain amount of anxiety and
distrust. A few moves of the vessel, however
showed that she was perfectly in hand. She
steered as easily as q wager boat and her en-
gnes were found capable of starting her in to
motion or arresting her progress literally al
most by single movement oft the hand.
Her passage down the river was without any
particular incident, except making danger
Gus turn, with facility that surprised all
who saw it, and nearly running down little
bark, whose crew became bewildered at the
sight of the huge vessel, and steered right
across her bows. All the vessels in the river
dipped their ensigns to her as she passed. and
their crews cheered from the rigging Upon
reaching the Lower Hope, below Gravesend,
the steam tugs was cast loose and the oraat
ship was left to 90 to sea alone. The lettar
,: o. Ao ie'lei
continues:
The change, as may be readily imariDed
made no difference, the wanderer thus east
adrlft being better able to take care of herself
than any vessel that had ever vet fioated or
the world seen. Stll, as the event marked the
commencemento of what we believe will he a
long and triumphant career, and one which
Will inaugurate a new era in ocean steam
ships and ocean navigation it deserved TO he
marked The tugs were east or the Chan
mans Head, at the top of Sea Reach. rhe pas
seneer's with the shiu's band being assembled
aft, and the crew forward The rational an-
them was played as the smoky auxi,iaries left
her head to her own control the rassenpers
cheering from one end of the vessel whiIa Inc
crew swarmed into the shrouds forward To
return the compliment. Thus the tugs were
let go, after having performed their arduons
duty, under the most difficult circumstances
IN way that commanded the admiration of
Nhe iAo9t Ca iieHctu pilotS on board. As soon
as the vessel was left to herself an increased
amount OF speed was got on her. This was
done, not IN the least with view of testing
her power, Dut literally only to give her good
sisrIage way, ana move her engines easily.
Inronghout sae whoie course down the ri
Ner tiie pauaIe engines had never been moved
at at greater speed than from four To six revo-
i~ut'on" ~ per iniht'e, ana the screw at from
oyed 20 t 1 @ IN iaet neither engine
"as .ioseo I've .iil ~ oecanle actually necessary to
asS.s. ass. .,ie 1estsraay, however, when
uni ., .., i.eie AIDS, winch had realized
na % - ua - Fa, s use anu .ne non, and freed
I 'hO pAS'" 1'etNAH iIoul all ner river tolls.