Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-07-13
THE GREAT EASTERN.

THE GREAT EASTERN.
TIE Second and Third pays 9t tas voyaoe The Gras
IN the ~ Y. 1riosae of Tie 29tA ell.
SECOND pAY-MoNDAY, JUNE 1s.
was awoke this morning by the sun shin
ing brightly through my port-hole Il should
rather use the plural, for my sumptuous
apartment was lit by two,) and rose to en-
joy the luxury Of dressing in carpcted space
as large almost as room in the st. Nicholas.
Before | got up, however, l hay for few min
utes to observe the silence and quiet of the
vessel. In fact, there seemed to be no mo-
ton to her at all, and had it not been for the
barely pcrccptible buzz of her bow, to which
| was near, as it split the water and passed
il, hunming along the vessels beautiful wave
line, should have not been able to decide
with certainty whether she were going on or
standing still. Vibration there was none,
and as for the usual clatter of machinery
whichlis the distinguishing feature of steam.
ship, it could not be heard at all. Moreover,
there was not any of the squcaking and
squealing Of timbers and tortured woodwork,
which makes up hideous serenadc on all
other vessels, for our party walls, our state
room floors and ceilings are of iron, and so
ribbed and morticed, and joined stiffiy with
the hull, that the ship, while passing through
still water, seems to be one solid tube or
beam. Indeed, could not make it certain
to my senses that she had not stopped, until
looking out Of my porthole saw the ocean
passing by, and our vast mass moving gradu-
ally through it like floating castle. When
| went on deck found the air cool and 5rac-
ing, but all there was Of wind was caused by
our own motion. ss sa
now took my first promenade around the
deck, and, though well instructed in its vast
proportions, could not help wondering, as l
went on, to see the space unroll before me
as it did. Standing at the STERN and looking
forward, the vessel seems almost amidships
but when you reach that point, there appears
to open up another ship before you. This
illusion proceeds from the fact that two large
life-boats, which had hung outside toward
the bow, had been brought in at the request
OF the board of trade, and set on blocks in
the center of the ship, to divide the view
These, however, will be removed as soon as
the vessel gets into port, and then there will
be restored clean, unobstructed double
avenue through which our friend Hiram
Woodruff might drive double team, and 90
only four times around to make mile. The
deck is flush from stem to stern, and its only
distractions are six .masts, five smoke fun
nels in between, the raised skylights for cabin
ventilation, and seven low structures all of
which run in a line with the masts and
smoke-stacks. The two outerlnost of these
gtprr and vfpry, choJ. Eor H. Iorl~n., -
auxiliary engines; two are erections for main
center of the quarter deck is allotted to the
Captain; another of like character is the
double residence Of the first and second Off
GERS, and another still Of tolerable size, is Civ
to the passengers as smoking-room. These
are the only distractions which are found on
the deck, while around them runs clean
twelve foot promenade, one side of which has
been named Broadway and the other the IF
tn Avenue. The floor Of the deck, like the
hull Of the ship, is Of iron, and built, like the
sides, on the tubular principle, with 2l inch
es space between its walls and interlaccd
and strapped, crossed and recrosscd with
welded bars, 30 as to give it not only the
buoyancy of a life-preserver, but almost in
calculable strength. The facing of the floor
is pine, and it isto bc'regretted that it is pine
of a most execrable quality, and only fit for
firewood. In this feature of the construction
the Company were grossly swindled, and it
is much to be regretted, as tho course knot
ted wood cannot possibly be made clean and
white. The New York visitor therefore,
who is accustomed to behold American ships
SO beautiful and sweet in this respect, must
be content to see the great nautical promcn-
ade well sandcd. The masts are all iron, ex-
cept the last, which is Of wood, in order that
it may carry at its head a compass sufficient
ly isolated from the great mass of iron below
to be independent Of its perturbing influences.
Tie last object to be noticed on the deck is
the steering apparatus at the stern, and this
consists of four huge wheels instead of one,
separated from each other about three feet
apart, but all attached to the same axle
Two men are usually placed at each Of these
wheels, so that eight are enabled to steer her
and four auxiliary wheels can be added, by
which force of thirty two men can be bro't
to bear. Only four however are now guild
ing her through the calm, mild weather Of
this morning. The course is given by the
first officer, the man next the compass guides
the motions Of the rest, and if the direction
OF the ship requires any sudden change an
compass, or indicator, which 'recei-
YES its impulse from the central bridge.
directs them Immediately what to do. But
for this device it wouldj be difficult to guide
the ship with out great loss Of time; but now
ordershrc cOmmunicatedlfrom end to end with
the speed Of light, and the lcviathan answers
to her rudder and points it's nose Is readily
as if" drawn with hook y or led |" by its
tongue with cord.'