The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-11-24
commercial Advertiser.
scorrsspenssnee London rim<,.
,,;sI Trip of the "Great Eastern. :"

ulsn.th. after having encountered every vicissi-
II 70 which a commercial speculation could be ex-
- and endured every danger most calculated tn
= tbe strength and stability Of the ship itself, the
c.,,t Eas,srs. for the frst time, cast of her moor
= Yesterday morning, and in the course of a few
,srs vas safely towed TO Purfeet
NJ Atkinson. the pilot. to whose well known care
nj skill this noble vessel was entrusted, came on
ri the previous night, and his assistants soon
.s,r dawn yesterday. just a faint gray light be-
=, N break upon the river, the preparations for get,
- under weigh were made. Several powerful tugs
,,rs ia attendance, the four principal ones being
,susl esriously enough. the 'Tfcforia, NAPOLEON.
gLsacs and True Britoa- Moving the Great
r,szra however, was not an affair of casting out
No npe and going ahead There was, Of course the
xu,I rOuIine amount Of shouting, and fussng about
|. tugs before all was in readiness Mooring after
ssany then slipped of. Captain Harrison and
I, ui.ot took their places on the starboard paddle
~ Mr. Scott Russell remained the bridge to
nc, the action Of the engines, both OF which (screw
ri paddle) were under steam- Capt. Comstock,
-e eof the sblest American navigators, who brought
!. GsnsraI ffBsirai to this country, stood aft
.ansmt directions TO the men at the wheel, as Mr.
LAsgieys new steering apparatus was not completely
;-ei Mr. Perouse. the chief officer took charge of
ne part Of the ship; and all the other officers
ss allotted stations either TO transmit directions
sElsls to the tugs
Precisely at quarter past seven the last moorings
d turned the great ships bows in, so as to point
5her in shore of the Sesmen's Hospital ship, il was
xassary TO turn her slowly astern to get sufficient
zsn round the very sharp curve of the river be-
ss Greenwich The engines started first,
syksg beautifully, without noise, heat even ap-
srsat vibration; and when the paddle machinery
zns into play, few revolutions sufhced to get her
lsi round to the point required.
Then vas the or'ier given to go ahead slowly, and
the first time the Great Eastern started into mo-
IN, and With the slow majestic beat of her huge
Fiiles moved gra lually down the river. The gene
j public had evidently put but little faith in the
Enoaneement that she would leave the river yester
b, thar until the preparations we're made for
kGly leaving there was little stir upon the river.
fsdaaly, however, as the steamrugs began TO move
S1f and get their ropes in, il seemed suddenly
; arsak upon the amphibious population, at both
ss Of the stream, that they were at last about to
vessel whose presence has made Deptforu and
Isle Of Dogs famous throughout the world
Ihen ensued an extraordinary scene Thousands
pa thousands of people we're seen rushing to the
ssT side frum all points Boats of every kind and
Z launched, crowded to the waters edge, and
stream and its banks seemed suddenly instinct
IN life. There we're not so much cheers as continu-
o. h0uring-a genuine outburst OF enthusiasm and
k5g,f Even the and sickly inmates Of the
anen's Hospital Ship turned out upon tine deck or
rsied the ports with their wan faces, TO give one
nut wave a cap to the vessel which swept 80
rHdy BY The very 6rst turn at Greenwich show
EAf the great ship thoroughly under command
"a river steamhoat. and that the only difficulty to
0vercone, rather to be contended against, was
<agh in turning tbe sharp curves Of the river at
-nwich, Backuall and WooIvIch.
he vessels draught It feet 10 inches ait, and
fet inches forward-anout the very worst trim
shich she could have left her moorings, being
BY the head five inches, instead OF some five feet
N by the stern: q "a feet may appear great
9th Of water but when il is recoIiected that this
.sh and
engh of 800 feet which is more than the breadth
The Thames Westminster, it will be seen at once
f these angles were at FIRST regarded with certain
nuant Of anxiety and distrust- few moves OF the
=ei, however, showed that she was perfectly in
md She steered as easily as q wager-boat, and
rngnes we're found capable Of starting her into
1n arresting her progress, literally, almost by
angle Ovement Of the hand
Il Greenwich, on both sides Of the river, an i'm |
zs mulrituie had collected, but il was at Black |
y that the first really great ovation was made
Pc ness OF her departure bad spread far and fast,
p rtu the deck Of the great chip the shores could
seen at Blackwell Point literally blackened
people Esery house was crowded, and the roofs |
srei with Spectators; fhe mast house was occu-
ID the pier swarmed, the tops and yards OF the YES
= n The docks seemed alive As the great ship aP-
oasbei the enthusiasm seemed to pass the bounds
aea ordinarily mark such displays with English |
e. The dense mass cheered, shouted, waved hats,
ass, handkerchefs. with an abandon OF gratihca-
that was heart stirring. IL was really almost q
snal reception and all seemed to have, as English
a. 4 share in the finest, swiftest, strongest ana /
.sisOnest ship which the world has yet seen
here vas but one dTaw back on the enthusiasm ana
Aspiness Of those who on board, which was
asi oy the absence Of the eminent man to whom
~ ~soeePsiOn Of the ship was dne-Nr brunei.
ssere Illness prevented his being present at the
Triumph Of the grandest idea which has ever been
SaA'ei N naval architecture.
ssscxvall Point was indeed the turning point IN
kfiaaes Of th= Great Eastern. The river at tins
~ pflss an acute angle. roun1 whicn tne uae
<e sah strong bat most unequal force Inc ao-
20: manner in which Capt. Harrison and the
Mr. Atkinson, managed the ship. the power
egliarity with which the engines worked. wouid.
"a anuostructed, have soon got the vessei rouno
pace But, Of cnurse, right IN the center OF tne
bark 1.-THE RingfsAer) Vas moored' wnlle
e oeJOnd her schooner in s1ch q manner as
eAay to block the "fairway" down the stream.
sp we're sgnaIed to get the Great EdsfeTns
'and and tried do 90, but the STRAIN was TOO
- az the most critical moment two OF tne nav, |
s'1l, and tor few minutes the noo's se.ssi
~Jond q doubt, in Q perilous position, as 'he
~ d the tide was strong, and in an Instant drove
"sards shore Nothing but the great power Oh
sne saved her here. though II Vas y oenc.'e
.,I. use them properly. IL Was necessary in
sounteract the influence OF the uoe anu 81
'aa ot shore; bat, at the same time, to DO 30 N
manner rs would not give way enough 70
..' scr % shore on the opposite side OF the nver.
eiy this Effected, fresh havseS "ee
the tug, the bark, the cause Of all the Peri:
:, ~ aer anchor. and sfer an anxious oelay =.
sn or fifteen minutes, the Gredf Sd"er"
- slowly round and turned the point Of danger.
"n - great relief to al ON board, and TO none
than Messrs- Campbell and jackson. tne
Ssns directors. both Of whom bad been inces
= sn Snsap'ed the previous day and night IN ioo.-
:" ne arrangements for the hrst oepartu.e:
Moment the point vss salely passed, carrier
sere SEM up from the vessel and the shore TO