The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-30

and one which will inaugurate new era in
ocean steamships and ocean navigation, it
deserved to be marked. The tugs were cast
off the Chapman's Head, at the top of Sea
Reach, the passengers with the ships band
being assembled aft and the crew forward.
The National Anthem was played as the
smoky auxiliaries left her head to her own
control-the passengers cheering from one
end of the vessel, while the crew swarmed
into the shrouds forward to return the COM
pliment Thus the tugs were let 60, after
having performed their arduous duty under
the most difficult circumstances in way
that commanded the admiration of the most
experienced 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, but literally only to give her
good steerage way and move her engines
easily. Throughout the whole course down
the river the paddle engines had never been
moved at greater speed than from four to
six revolutions per minute, and the screw at
rom IL to Is. In fact, neither engine was
moved till it became actually necessary to
assist the tugs. Yesterday, however, when
our valuable little aids, which had realized
the fable of the Mouse and the Lion, and
freed the Great Eastern from all her river
tolls, were cast adrift at Chapman's head,
more speed was put upon the vessel, and in
10 minutes she set at rest forever all doubt
as to her being the fastest vessel beyond
comparison in the world. 1t has already
been stated that the proper seagoing trim of
%ho ;o e.,
down by the stern. Instead of this she is
at present six inches down by the head,
while her whole draught of water is too light
to allow the proper immersion to her paddle
floats, and no less than four feet of her screw
blades are out of water.
Any one at all acquainted with steamships
will see that an attempt at the real speed
under such circumstances was out of the
question. Yet even in this trim, enough
was done to show the marvellous power
which this vessel will possess when fully
ready for sea. At sea the Great Eastern
is intended to work at 25lb. of steam, the
paddles going IA revolutions and the screw
SO. To-day the pressure of steam was under
lib, the paddles never actually reached
nine revolutions, and the screw only o.
Yet, ever when not employing two-thirds
of her power, and in the worst trim against
a strong tide, she ran from the Lower Hope
point to the More light ship, distance of
ID statute miles, in two minutes under the
hour. Calculating from this data, it will
be found that working to her ordinary sea-
going power will give her, even in her pres
ent trim, an average of from Is to - miles
an hour. During the time that the vessel
was going at this speed of l3 knots, or ID
miles, the engines worked with an ease that,
when their size and power are considered,
was perfectly astounding. There was scarce
ly any vibration on the vessel, and, as far as
could be gathered from outward objects,
one might much easier have imagined ones
self writing in Partisan salon than in the
state cabin of the Great Eastern flying down
to the More. One thing connected with the
vessel is as remarkable as her other charac-
teristics. Even when going l3 knots an
hour, there was an utter absence of" swell /"
in her wake-even less, as far as could be
judged from the deck, than is made by the
ordinary penny steamers, and not one-half
as much as was thrown up by our own tugs
The More Light was reached at half past
II o'clock to-day, and the anchor let 60 in
fathoms, with 45 fathoms from the horse
hole. Before anchoring the vessel was put
about, and went completely round under
steam in less than three quarters of a mile.
In few minutes afterwards Admiral Har-
vey came alongside in his yacht, dipping his
ensign as he approached, as every single
vessel, man of war or merchantmen,
hoe hn OF
has hitherto done. In an hour afterwards
the ship was surrounded with yachts and
sailing boats of all kinds. During the run
down from Gravesend, the fixing of Mr..
Langleys steering apparatus was compile
ted, and worked to perfection. Captain
Comstock was on the previous day, at his
post on the bridge, directing the steering by
the signal Indicator. Capt. Harrison and
the pilot were on the starboard paddlebox,
and Mr.. Scott Russell directed the engines.
Mr.. Campbell, the indefatigable managing
director, as usual, was everywhere. Among
the passengers who started with the vessel
were Mr.. Penn, jr., Mr.. H. Ingram, M. P,
Sir R. w. Garden, Mr.. Appold, Mr.. Oak
ford, Mr.. Hobbs, Mr.. Ayrton, M. P, Mr..
Smith the originator of the screw propeller),
MIR. John Dillon, Sir John Burke, and two
of the ablest of the company's officers, Mr..
Leverson the solicitor, and Mr.. John Yates,
the secretary.
1t is arranged that the Great Eastern is
to leave her present moorings at 7 o'clock
tomorrow and steam away easily to sea. 1t
is probable, If the weather permits that she
may swing at the Foreland to adjust COM
passes, but MIR. Gray, has already effected
so much towards rectifying their slight
deviation that it is scarcely necessary for the
run to Portland. AS matters are arranged
at present, it is expected that the Great
Eastern will enter Portland harbor between
seven and eight o'clock on Saturday morn.
ing.