Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-07-31
rFrom the Scientific American.l


THE ARRIVAL OF THE MAMMOTH
STEAMSHIP ssGR EAT EASTERN" AT
NEW YORK.
This "leviathan' steamship arrived at
this port on the 18th of June, and her
appearance in our waters has created a
much greater national excitement than
the poao-,oo,o got up for the recent re-
ception of "John Japan and his boy
s'Tommy." To this steamer we may
well apply the old aging, 'Long looked
for has came at last for assuredly no
enterprise, excepting, it may be, the lay
ing of the Atlantic cable, has upheaved
the public mind on both sides of the
Atlantic with so many hopes and fears
during, the past four years. But after
many disappointments, the Great E'as-
tern has at last safely and slowly breasted
the billows of the Atlantic and is now
moored IN Manhattan waters. We will
therefore give succinct history of her
construction, previous adventures and
late voyage.
There are three leading features con-
nected with the Great Eastern which
naturally excite attention. These are,
first, her great magnitude-she being
692 feet in extreme length, SO feet beam,
and of $4,000 tons actual capacity;
second, her popularity of construction
being of iron, and double-cased to
about three feet above the water line,
and built on the cellular principle; third,
she is propelled by the combination Of
paddle wheels at the sides and a screw
at the stern. With regard to her mag
nitude, some contend that this exceeds
Noahs ark; but be that as it may, we
know that the clipper ship Great Repub-
lc, the frigate Niagara, and the steamer
Adriatic fully loaded-would make
about a fair cargo, if taken within her
capacious sides. She can carry 1890
passengers, with good and full accommo
dations; or an army of 10000 men, in a
superior manner to any troop ship.
This great ship was planned by the
late distinguished engineer, Mr.. [. K
Brunei, upon the most rational grounds
of success. In the great and increasing
trade between England and Australia, il
was found that common steamships were
incapable of carrying cargo or COM
peting with sailing vessels, owing to the
great amount Of coal required for such
long voyages. Brunei calculated that q
large ship could be built tc carry sufi
cient coal for the entire round trip and
at the same time make quick passages
take a great number of passengers, and
good paying cargo besides. He there.
fore designed the Great Eastern (about
1859 with these objects in view; and a
company of wealthy merchants in Lon
don was formed to furnish the capital to
complete the project. To j. Scott
Russell was given the contract for build
ing the hull; in 1855 the first plate was
laid at his works in MilIwall, London
and in November, 1857, she was ready
to be launched. Great modification
was experienced on Nov. ?, when-'mid
crowd of princes, potentates, sauans
and great array Of wealth and fashion
that had assembled to witness the mighty
event of the "leviathan'' ship rushing
like mountain from its fastenings into
the obedient waters of the Thames-the
iron mammoth, like baulky horse, re-
fused to obey the reins of the driver
and it cost no less than S400, 900, and
constant labor from that day till Jan
31st in the subsequent year, before she
was hoated in the river. When launched
her entire cost was 1881 500, which
exceeded the original estimate by
s1,5OO,OOO, and yet she was then totally
unfit for sea.
the Great Eastern Is now fitted with
eight engines for propulsion, namely,
four for the paddle-wheels, and the
same number for the screw. Their
united nominal power is about 1000
horses. The cylinders of the paddle
engines are each "A inches in diameter
and the stroke is IA feet. These were
illustrated on page 264, Vol. XII. Gold
selies), of the Scientific american. The
screw engines have cylinders of 81 inches
bore and 4 feet stroke. The former
we're built by J. Scott Russell; the latte,
by j. Watts & Co., of Soho. The work
manship is excellent, but they are lot
up to the latest improvements. 1t takes
about $50 tons of coal per diem to sup.
ply them, and if this great ship were tc
be built over again, totally different en-.
gines and boilers would be put in
With all her machinery, her weight is
$4,000 tons-9,OOO being the wei ght OF
the 10000 plates of iron and riyets il
the hull.
On August 8, 1859, the Great East,
e,m was pronounced completed for hel
trial trip, and on that day grand ban
quet was given on board by the direc
tors of the company. She did not, how,
ever, finally depart until the 7th Of Sep,
tember last, when she made very sue
cessful coasting trip of two days, but
she met with the unfortunate accident Of
having her water feed jacket burst
whereby five fremen were killed and
several others severely wounded. This
event was the result of blundering care.
lessness, and caused considerable dam
age to the boilers and main saloon, be-
sides the deaths of the workmen. Just
about this period her great designer
Brunel, was also breathing his last in
London, and dependency seemed tc
settle down upon the public mind
Disagreements now arose among the di
rectors; and Scott Russell was charged
with improper workmanship in fulfill
ing his contract. The directors, how
ever, were men of great capacity; theil
motto was, "never say fail" SO they
raised some more money, and Oh wen
the alterations and repairs, with {
tenacity of purpose and determination
of will which does infinite credit tc
Uncle John Bull.
And now, since the Great Eastern has
actually arrived, she represents a SNUG
little capital of about 81, 1000, 900, which
has been expended upon her; and if any
person ever expects her to be ''payins
institution" we say, with the Moslem