The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-07-10

lhln the deck OI the " fuHheo'
A phuk, however, with some difficulty, wa
soon adjusted, and the gentlemen stepped, onc
, 10y one, fiom the tug on the gangway ladders
and all reached the lofty deck, without &
dreuching in the waves or injury 20 any. one
When stepping upon the deck for he first
time one is slightly disappointca, after wit
Messing the graceful proportions Of her cx,cri
or to see the apparently worn and old looks
Of the decks and companioo-wars. This is
undoubtedly owing to the hNsty departure OF
the Great Eastera, aud 10 the previous doubt
and suspension as to her final destination.
The consignces were immedirtc'Y greeted by
Cap, John Vine Hall, aud several members
of the press by the Other officers; the crowd,
however soon dispersed, anl was soon no
long-r crowd.
THE SCENE on BOARD.
Immediately after the formalitv Of oTr"tng
was oyor, the consirnces and the other guests
descended to the second cabin o. Il tour Of
Inspection. There, in an adjoining room, the
passengers were found n, dinner Tiey
seemed to be startled by the appearance of so
many visitors. a lrass band at the same
time Was aiseoursing some lovely strains.
lors had scattered themselves in all directions
over the wide cxL,ns of deck, some were al
the bow looking down at her crn. others in
the raised grating of tho quarter-dcc' "x m
inrg HE wheels that guide the rudder, and
trying to catch a glimpse at the fans Of tie
screw, sixty feet below; others were peering
into tie immense whe,l-boxeS, whore tive i'm
monso rel frame work was lit ~, when they
were in motion, hy beautiful Iainbow-ccr-
tain'y. nm odd though not unusual .ight-a
rainbow within the wheel of steamship.
And Others were gazing down into the abyss
of the paddle engine machinery, where the
stupendous osoillating engines were III motion
Indeed. this sight was truly grand. The pre-
csion Of the motion of such an immena> mass,
n such 4 depth: :he croaning of the steam in
the bowels of the monster, as 1t were. and the
cssr Of motion Of each strperdous piston. were
calculated to inspire emotions Of awe and
wonder.
The lively scene on the deck was rendered
more pleasing by the bri ght-buttonol uniforms
Of tie courteou, officers, who paced to and fro,
chcertuly explaining everything, and readily
importing all kinds ofnautical information.
THE SCENE AT TIE BATTERY.
The report on the bulletin board of the
nowspap rs that tho tide wouli T. high enough
at | 80 20 float the Great Eastern over the
bar, induced many thousands Of people to as
scmhla ON the battery AT that time to witness
the giant steamship as she passed up the bay
II was not understood, however, that The great
vossol was anchored off the lightship. some
forty miles from the city, and that the actual
passage OF the dangerous bar could only take
place between three and four O'clock.
Very many. after remaining in the boiling
SUI, oyer two hours, and straining their eyes
until they ached loft for home, AMI voted the
monster vessel n humbug. However. at five
o'clock. about which time she hove in sight, a
vast crowd on the Battery. and all the neigh
boring wharves were denscly througed Tele-
scopes, opera and magnifying glasses, of all
kinds We're brought into requisition, most Of
which. it was evident. were more ornamental
than useful, and obscured rather than helped
the sight. A fine view was obtained from
the balcony Of Castle Garden, t. which a ia
yorrl few were admitted.
The first sign Of the Great &usterp which
greeted the anxious watchers on the Battery.
WAS dense cloud of smoke. which made its
appearance over Long Island, aud shortly az
ter h.g tai masts locmel up over the point
which iu's into the lower bay. Presently the
hug hulk hove in sight, and soon darkcned
all of the horizon that can he seen between the
Staten and Long Island coasts. The guns
ia he'd out thunaerous welcome, flags were
hoi-'ed aud dipped, and mvriad~ or >ail and
ro~ boats dashed out into the bay to surround,
survey and plapr the bSraat ypSsal
After passing the Narrows. the great East
er@ "huggeI" the Staten Island shore, ANA AT
that imc, owing to the distarcr AMI the
darkered back. ground. she did not look as
large a. pannle were led to expect aud there
Was some disappointment in consequence. 1t
Wa not until she approached the Battery that
h"l va proportions became manifcs', bat the
best test Of her enormous bulk was the lwatt-
ing Of every large vessel she neared or passed
The steamship Niagara, which was lying in
the stream, hed,ckcd with flags aud stream
ers, >hruuk apparently to the dimensions of
littIo fclry boat, and a good lied revenue cut
ter seemed scarcely above her wator-ine and
one wcdld suppose could hardly survive n rip.
pie from her bow.
a, the great vessel passed the Battery sa-
lutos wDre fired by the As'a from her lcck at
jersey City; by the Niagara and the revenue
cutter; and all the vessels dipped their flags
as ole passed. The beauty of the bay, the
myrads Of boats on the river, the shipping in
the OF ing gaily adorned with flags and stream
ers, and, towering above ALL the great nautic.
al wonder Of the age, was scene not often
witnessed non soon forgotten.
SCENE ALONG THE DOCKS
Long before the time at which she was an
nouuccI by the papers rs likely to arrive the
Gred Easter0 was the principal subject of
CO vcrsa,ion along the North River Every
boly communicated what little he knew about
her to everybody else, and the largo amount
information Of which some invetcrale takers
were Possessed was very marvellous, consider
ing that more Of il was correct.
The chairs were all brought out from the
drinking houses to the sidewalk, aud were oc-
cupcd by the waiting multitude. Some there
were ofpa,icnt individuals, who sat Cor two or
three hours on the docks. in the hot sun, arJ
hi2ing AMI rersPring. waiting and longing for
her approach, determined to see her if ,he
came at al. We presume they had fnc