Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-09-28
Trial "trip of the Great Eastern Terri
Bile Accident.

|
| BILE Accident.
The telegraph informed ns Of terrible accident TO
the Great Eastern the 9Th inst. fuller dispatch
TO the Louisville papers than we received, says the
explosion occurred the 9th inst, aud was terrific,
but the ship resisted the sheck the frame sustain
iug no injury. The accident made so little differ
ence in the movement of the ship that her engines
we're not stopped ill she reached Portland, her
place of destination. The coroner's inquest on the
fremen killed showed that the supply OF water to the
boilers, through the jacket was stopped; because OF
the failure of the auxiliary pumping power, second
y that top in the stand pipe which acts As safety
valve was turned, apparently internally so that the
pipe was useless. During the trip the Great East
srn was almost without motion, while other vessels
met with, were tossing on stormy sea II will re-
1 qure about $4,000 to repair the injury
! The English papers By The Arabia eOatain full
accounts of the sailing Of the Great Eastern upon
| her trial trip. The correspondent of the Timss
writing from Puriesi, September eth, after describ
ing the busy sciences connected with the closing pre-
parsIons the ststiOniDg of officers at various points
| &c, says:
Then vas the order given to 60 ahead slowly
notion and with the slow majestic beat of her huge
paddles moved grsndly down the river. Then en-
sued an extraordinary scene. Thousands upon
thousands OF people were seen rushing to the river
side from all points Boats of every kind end size
were launched, crowded to the waters edge, and
the stream and its banks seemed suddenly iastinet
with life There not 20 much cheers as contin
nous shouting-a genuine oulburst of enthusiasm
and delight BSeR the wan add siekly inmates of
the Seamen's Hospital ship turned cut upon the
deck or crowded the ports with their worn faces
to give one shout or wave cap 10 the vessel which
swept grandly by.
The noble vessel now seemed TO be instinct with
life. She had cast off her little Membranes aud
was gradually putting forth her own powers in
eleaving the waters. The screw now worked thirty
revolutions minute and the paddles niue and
half the force used being about two thirds of her
maximum power Under these circumstances she
gave thirteen and half knots SO that. taking
into consideration her Insufficient immersion. and
the consequent imperfect working of The paddle
aad screw, her aatRlna speed aaay be caicuisted at
nineteen knots or frenf -fros MEASURED mites hour
being dogLls he acreage o. any Of lie subsidized
stedfaeTs ga r 81 .......
During the time thai the vessel was going at the
speed Of thirteen and half kLots, or fifteen miles
the engines worked with that, when their
size and power are considered, perfectly as
founding. There was scarcely any vibration on the
vessel, and as far could be gathered from out
ward objects, one might much easier have imagined
ones self writing in Partisan saloon than in the
state cabin Of the Great Eastern, flying down the
Eore. 0ne thing connected with the vessel is as
remarkable as her other characteristics Even when
going thirteen knots hour there all utter alb
senee Of "sWell' in her Wake-eVen less as far as
could 5e 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. Even pail Of
water standing On one end Of the psddle-boxes did
not show the least symptoms of vibration.
The Manchester guardian is not altogether satis-
fed with the success of the ship. 1t says:
ItisneW asserted that the length of the Great East
ern being only equal TO the shortest line between the
crests of two wsges. and a ships being usu
| ally in Oblique line from wave to another,
she will not glide through the WstSr quietly has
bean calculated, but will often ROLL 10 exceeding
| " disagreeable manner The demonstration by e1-
perience who i7 right and who is wrong in this mat
ter will be looked for with interest, only
ecoun OF the principle involved but because on ii
depends the future passenger traffic OF the Great
| Eastern.
It appears that to the latest moment an endeavor
was made by AR. Lever 10 the charter for the
fist trip OF the Great Eastern, aad that although
the terms offered were advanced to $50 00G the ii
! rectors considered it desirable to decline the pro
| D6sal.