The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-27


sufficient 10 mention the captains daughter, iitte
girl Of eleven or twelve years OF age, was playing in the
ladies' cabin adjoining the grand saloon when the expo>
SION occurred and was totally annjured
But have gone little ahead Of the correct starting
point to give you brief account of the peseut state Of
the ship since the occurrence Of the unforurat accident
As the Great Eastern not launched at the time origi.
naly announced for the important baptism SO neither
was sho sent abroad on her commercial errand the day
first stated she advertised start on the morning
Of Tuesday the 9th of September and thousands Of people
connected on 10th banks OF ne Thames 10 witness the
aus Of tins modern ark. Everything was ready, how
ever, until The morning of tho It'll, and the large baby
walked ouoi his swaodlng clothes under the charge OF
very emeent and cagaoe nurses godfahers tutors and
parents There stood Mr.. Scott RUSSELL the fond father
on the bridge, 10 transmit orders to the engineers Capt
Harrison, and Mr. Atkinson the pilot the starbcard
paddseoox, and Capt Comssock--in the words Of the
Tnes-'one Of the aolest Of American navgators,"
sseca aft On The deck, TO transmit messages TO
the men at tho wheel Mr. Prouse, the chief
cer took charge Vf the fore part the vessel between
thirty and forty rods or very long rife shot from The
station OF Captain Comsock, the after part Of the
deck Bear ~ mind that os the Great Eastern requires
little army OF four fiye hundred men TO manage her,
the arrangements Tor transmitting orders her
Of decks, and through her thousands Of yards Of pipes,
tubes conduts and signal passages, must be nearly
extensive as ne employed by general on Geld
Of battle 10 set his platoons il motion Finally the
anchors drawn up the moongs cast on the rudder
he'd Alright ,he 6res blazing and the steam up, at pre-
cisey quarter past seven O'Clock the huge began
turning and the Great Eastern commenced her
Soon the paddles ocgan 10 move, and while
shouts hurrahs the air every SIDE the great
ship moved majesticaly down the stream.
shall forget the feeling Of eXhieraton and
element at that moment. ] fanced ] could hear the
beating of Mr. Scott Russels hear. in unison with the
motion of the engines as his great work proclaimed
unmisIakeabe language the triumph OF its success 1t
certainly was important moment in the history Of
commerce The Tip down the Thames a trumphal
march Every foot Of ground the quay at Greenwich
in front Of the Naval Hospital, and for long distance
below, was black with people. Though the hour
rather nconveneny early, the den2ens OF this crowded
Suburb ofIondon, and in fact large numbers from Lon
don ITSELF nocked down to the waters edge witness
spectacle shat perhaps will not be again the
Thames during tho present generation. lnnumerable
water crsft, varying IN size from steamers
down the smallest OF skAs, gathered like young ducks
round stately swan, and the swan harmed them not
though stupid and refractory ducklng bark got
before the monster, seeming TO dispute her passage Fad
this insignificant craft been worthy Of it's name-the
Kingfshert would have Owed TO the bottom and dsap-
peared at least for season. for having presumptously
dared occupy the channel, every foot of which was
required by ths modern mistress of the The bark
and email schooner lay directly the way at Blackwell
Point the most difficult part Of the channel that the great
steamer had to pass It critical moment. Four
powerful sleamtugs had the Groa Eastern in tow and
her course be checked she would run down the
unfortunate bark. The tide strong, the hawsers
fastening Of the steamtugs to the great steamer
which her engines welied the great ship
would have ashore by the strong tide and the
Great Ship Company would have been in the Gaate
bankrupt concern. But her engines, like six pairs Of
powerful horses, pulled her through.
The crowd shore seemed 10 increase as the vessel
proceeded on her way. Every train the Greenwich
and wooWch lines south OF the river and the North
Woolwich railway, the Essex shore brought down
thousands witness the trumphal march OF this monster
of the deep No water craft that hoaed not Cleo
patras barge, received the homage that paid the
commercial tevathan. We had got by the
dangerous point than cheer cheer the arr
noticed doves pigeons Ey away apparently from
the after part of the steamer deck. They carrier
pigeons sent by Of the directors, carrying tiny
messages slken papera swer fight than the Queens
postso friends in London. announcing the safe passage
OF the Great Eastern through the most difficult Of the
Thames At Purfee came to halt, and of Irot-
mans anchors of only six weight, dropped the
bows, brought the ship up, Notwithstanding the strong
tide in less than minutes Every single mortal on
board the Great Eastern in the boats Alongside and on
shore seemed feel vested interest in the magnificent
craft Looking the national of the undertaking.
we may say the propretors Of the Great Eastern are the
entire English nation. Nearly every vessel that was
passed displayed flags, and the bands played Rule
Britannia and "See the CoDquerjng Hero Comesn
with other welcome The ship lay all night off
Purfeet, and started her further journey at
hali-pas eight o'clock next morning. AT Gravesend
was collected the largest crowd seen the
river banks after passing Greenwich Several nobemen
came Oh the morning accompany the ship to
Portland At Chapman Head another marked
in the of the Great Eastern The little tugs that &C
companed her loose and here approaching the
salt water the big ship stood and for all upon her
own resources The speed increased though only to
limited extent and while the paddles making FIVE
or six revolutions per minute, and the sixteen or
seventeen she ran fifteen miles hour equal to
thirteen knots Looking the fact that the ordinary rate
of her engines will be fifty three revolutions per minute
for the screw and fourteen revolutions for the paddle
wheels there would seem 70 be no difficulty in her making
from eighteen TO nineteen knots hour We may then
conclude without any chance OF being deceived that the
Great Eastern is not only by far the largest but the
swftest vessel built for navigation am ready
20 acknow ledge that her speed quite beyond what
tcipated.
We have had jolly and rather distinguished lot pas
sengers aboard fair sprnklng Of noblemcn, severaof
the directors, and many distinguished members of the
eross Among the latter A. B, Richards, ESQ.,. who
represents the Daily Advertiser, Augustus Saa Esq., of
the Daily Telegraph Mr. Woods, Of the Times; Mr. Murphy
OF the Daily Nous, and a number more.
Yesterday rday) the real nautical trial day Of the
Great We had fortunately, rough weather.
though not enough test fairly her going rather
floating qualities. Dull, hazy, drzzy weather in the
mornng was succeeded by rough blow that soon
amounted to a gale Everything FAR and near in the
shape Of a vessel went bobbing up and down waves
that ran ten twelve feet above the trough Of the
Could a man at that moment have stood on a rock an
island or lighthouse the great ship and sighted
across her deck 70 another fixed object, he would not