The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-22
THE MONSTER GREAT EASTERN.
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Interesting Historical Sketch Of the
Vessel.
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Mode Of Consruction-Her Dimenhons-Her En-
gines-saloons and Cabins-spsed-Ton-
nage-Accommodation for Passengers.
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ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FIRST mlPs
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OvT OF THE THAMES AND At SEA.
SvT OF THE THAMES AND At SEA.
TIVE ENGLISH AND YANKEE P0RIlANDS,
&C., &e., &cs


and triumph of genius and science-over whose growth
ne whole scientific world has watched with interest,"
anxiety and speculation for nearly three yearss safe out
Of the Thames and LGus Deoi She is longer to
- considered problem Of doubtful solution expert
mont in scientific point Of view. Her success CONNER
siay it s true, remains yet 10 be proved, but who can
doubt that with her AFFINITY 70 the spirit Of the present
AEGEAN age in which gigantic enterprises and lofty
thought, taking shape in vigorous action mark the
vpening of human genius unerringly the passing
hours indicate the progress of tme-she will accomplish
much If ALL that has been predicted for her. in safety
Ia speed and in profit her owners, well as in estab
hshng the practicably of overcoming tho difficulties OF
distance and time in long voyages by the magnitude
Of naval structures like herself
To-day the Great Eastern is looked upon marvel
Many thousands of wondering spectators will witness her
eparture from shores of the Old World and rejoice
that they have lived this triumph of human achieve
ent and many thousands will assuredy welcome her
arrival the shores Of the New World with feelings of
mingled enthusiasm and awe; but in ten years hence
sells Of her dimensions will in all probability have ceased
Ia be wonder To-day she is the proud and solitary
mistress Of the seas, overlapping and outstridng all
rivals In ten years to old ocean will have taken TO
his bosom whole feet Of her kindred, and will have
hnowledged that the power of has vanqushed the
Aespotism of waves and storms.
n view of the fact that the first voyage Of the Great
be made to this country, and that natural
desire exists for information respecting her, proceed
10 suruish readers with description of her consruc
hon capacity and dimensions in as full and popular
We consider may prove useful and comprehen
sfble;-
The Great Eastern steamship constructed for the
Eastern Steam Navigation Company incorporated by
royal charter and is intended the Indian and
Australian route by the Cape of Good Hope though she
30 make her first voyage to America The capital of the
company originally $4,000 900, but has since been
considerably increased and divided into shares of 500
each and is composed of about 200 shareholders
was designed by the celebrated English engineer Isam-
Bard Kingdom Brunei, f. r. s., the same who designed
she Thames tunnel and other great engineering works.
The hull and paddle engines built by Messrs Scott
Russell Co.. at the dockyard at Mllwa on the Thames
and the screw engines manufactured by James
Watts & Co, Soho Works Birmingham. She has been
about three years in construction aud her entire cost will
net fail far short of three millions OF dollars
THE LAUNCH.
Frem the immense size Of the vessel and the small
width Of the Thames at Mlwal Mr. Brunei had deter
mined to launch her beam Sideways and the ways
and cradles constructed according to his own de-
sgn. The launch attended with numerous delays
and difficulties. On the Sd OF November 1857, the mon
er being ready for launching her element,
the FIRST attempt to get her into the water made 1t
was determined this time to change her original name,
ME Great Eastern, to that of the Levathan and
sordingly she named in due FORM by Miss Hope,
daughter of the chairman of the company The attempt
launch her failed that OCCASION in consequence Of
the swapping of of the drawing chains and the hy-
draulic pressure pump getting out of order This time
she was moved six feet down the ways.
Further attempts to her made the 10TH
2eh and 30h of the month and on the Sd of Deem
ber but without On each occasion she made
h,tl IF ,hah ,dr
wmdasses and eamtugs employed, failed get her into
he water The chains snapped the massive wire drums
Of the wndasses crushed in like nuts and the cyln
ders Of the hydraulic burst from the immense pres
cure On the Cd of January, 1858, twenty hydraulic
placed in position ready for renewing the
tempt at launching the Leviathan and on the 9th the
whole machinery put to work her. The monster
moved at the rate of an inch every FIVE minutes. From
This time till Saturday the sls of January, the efforts TO
move her into the river continued which day
she was pushed fairly off into deep water
Her progress into the stream gradual that few
Of 1t until the tugs began steamng ahead
and showed that at last she fairly under way Then
the cheers which from the yard and from the decks
om the the river and the of the ships at
anchor up and down the spread the great news
Ear and wde and thus under the favorable CIR
sumstances the Great Eastern commenced her first voy
age the Thames.
Two powerful tugboats were placed at her bows and
Two fastened astern. AT first the efforts Of those
ahead seemed have little effect and when at length
way made on her. it abruptly checked by
Of the paddlewheels foutng the cradles 1t took
clear her of this obstacle but at last it was
accomplished her head let swing partly round with
tAe tide, and the steamers began moving her slowly bat
very slowly forward clear of the cradles These were
composed Of immense baks of timber which the veg
sells bottom rested, and which her weight alone kent
down The police therefore had to take unusual pre-
sautions 10 keep all boats Of her while the wrecks
Of the cradles plunged up tremendous as each
was released by the onward movement of the Great
Eastern.
short delay took place in consequence OF the Great
eastern getting foul of barge but the obstruction was
coon removed, and the stately again moved
down the river to the government moorings where she
was secured stem and stern
Nearly every one who had been actively engaged abou
the vessel stood on her deck during the launch anxious
sef the honor OF accompanying her in her first trim
aNnoueh " was only across the river. Mr. Hope the
chairman Of the company together with his brother dre
tors and party Of friends, was al the bow A, ,ho
moment when the sinking of the barge announced ,b,
the ship clear Of every obstruction and fairly, aao
the chairman advanced to Mr.. Brunei and shaking hin;
warmly by the hand congratulated him on the fna, sc
cess of his stupendous undertaking.
Similar Fluctuations extended to Captain Harrison
who fairly installed in his command aud the wish
universally expressed that the Of the grca,
ship last auspcously inaugura.cd, might be long
and prosperous.
HER DIMENSIONS.
The huh of the Great Eastern is built entirely of IRON
and $50 feet in length 80 feet in breadth and So feet in
height from keel to deck it is divided into
ten separate compartments Of 90 feet EACH rendered per-
Getty water tight by bukheads, having opening what
ever lower than the second deck whilst two longitudinal
walls OF ron 80 feet apart $50 feet of the length
Of the ship
rerhaps the most prominent feature about her is the
suar construction of the upper deck and the lower part
d tnc null up the water line or about 30 feet from her
oo''om' "h'cn y as Hat as the floor OF a room This
system, WINE II gives greater buoyancy To tho