The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-29

SHEET.
for the large steamer built in that neghbOrhood, and
giving me details the mode of proceeding and the
precautions used am anxious TO take this occasion 10
express my thanks to my correspondent Mr. Bull and TO
acknowledge the American claim 10 priority The plan
pursued that Of two iron shod cradles which the
ship rested these railways having incline Of
one in twelve The only novelty in the proceeding the
fact that two iron surfaces would be in contact during the
period OF lowering the vessel into the The Ame-
rican plan was TO have two creased surfaces Of
wood This, with inclination of the ways Of in
twelve IL was known from long experience, would
ship " launch readily, in fact, readily that
ives always bad 10 system Of checks on the velocity
Tho nme incline 10 be employed but il was not
known what would be the effect Of the two iron surfaces
being in contact under such conditions. II is believed
that the expense and difficulty Of launching entirely
from this innovation. Hydraulic rams were used to start
the huge mass, end chain cables and drums TO
check her, when il became necessary. Very
little difficulty was experienced In giving the
necessary impetus 70 the vessel with the hydraulic
and she slid six feet In two seconds she could
lave been allowed to 90 in her own way Tho launch
wsuld undoubtedly have been success, but ndepeu-
IDENTIFY Of the damage which would have been occasoned
TO property by her rushing with constantly Increasing
velocity into the Thames, numerous were tho spectas
tors, who covered the river in small wherres, and Who
in spite Of the efforts Of the police penetrated 10 the
ends Of the ways, that large sacrifice Of human life
must necessarily have resulted The powerful machinery
for stopping the ship therefore put in notion but
not until the enormous strain acting the storn drum
had hurled unfortunate laborers who were working
the capsan, high into the air producing fatal result in
two cases. After the lapse OF hour another attempt
was made, when the rams got out Of order and launch
ing chain snapped thss the operation had % BE-
pended Ascend trial took place sixteen days after the
nrst but was entirely unsuccessful Chains broke in all
directions and the png, against which the hydraulic
rams exerted their force yielded The vessel itself never
budged an inch. lp ~
Having largely increased his powerful launching tackle
Mr. Brunei succeeded the third trial in impeng the
ship twenty i've feet 10 the river On renewing
operations next day, the vessel suddenly slipped i've
inches forward and nine inches an then became i'm
movabiy fixed Efforts redoublcd to overcome her
but Of the hydraulic BURST and tho
attempt had 10 be suspended. Five rams being OBJ
taiucd the attempt TO launch continued and some
little progress made The day thirtyone feet
gained by little slips Of eight and ten inches q.
time and the vessel brought to the ycr that at
high water four feet Of her keel was Immersed Here,
however, she destined TO remain for three weeks
Having reached reduced gradient the ways and tho
iron launching surfaces having become rusted the fric
ton to be overcome was great that power in the
possession Of Mr. Brunei could induce the slightest move
meDt in the mpracticable monster which appeared
10 laugh man puny eorts An increased num-
Der Of hydraulic had to be obtained and by the "a
Of January, 1885, twenty OF these powerful engines
were placed in position, including monster weighing
thirty eight TONS which had been employed to raise tho
Britannia Bridge With these appliances success At last
attained Amer unremittng exertons the Great Eastern
was inch by nch mpelled the river, until the
3lst Of Januarythree months from the first attempt
she got aoat and towed TO moorngs at Deptord Ia
be finished Here she remained for seven months until
the 7h Of September she slipped her moorings and
started down the river on her hrYIoa
c-I THE FIRST TRIAL TRIP ar3g i
TO Portland. II required much careful management and
the assistance Of half dozen powerful steam tugs TO take
the vessel safely round the sharp curves in the Thames
1t Greenwich, Blackwell and woolwich and 10 guard
against casualties 70 the numerous cram passing up and
down this crowded stream The nrst days journey was
only to Pureet Here the great ship cast anchor and
NAMED for the night The next morning she got under
weigh having st &c assistance Of some steam tugs, and
proceeded down tho river sea reach where the tugs
were cast of and the Great Eastern ie 70 her
Everywhere, she passed along, tho greatest
ehIhuSw1w~ nAAzhatsd With the screw making
twenty seven rcyolussns, and ths paddles nine pyou.
tons minssA ihe .hhip ran fsPn he lower Hope
light TO tho More, distance Or ntees
statute miles, IN nnyeght minssss, the engines work,
ine with the greatest smoothncss Tho dram n water
wus zoo little TO allow of The proper immersion Of
the screw and paddles and the shp slightly down BY
the head, her proper trim being on even keel Her
performance under these circumstances Of this trang
looked upon favorable indication OF her full
mg the intention Of her designers She was intended
10 work with pressure Of twenty ve pounds Of sea
with the paddles making fourteen revolutions and the
screw nfty to afy-nvc. r,. o
9.rrs SPEED OF THE GREAT EASTERN.
II may be as well here 10 correct very false impress.
son received both sides OF the Atlantic, 10 the
speed which the Great Eastern To attain Az already
mentioned Tho design Of Mr. Brunei TO build ship
capable Of running Port Philip from thtysh 10
thirty six days. The distance from the Lands Ind In
England is about II 900 miles. 10 accomplish this voy-
age thirty days. the ship must steam 137 knots
hour while the shorter period Of thirty three days would
necessi,atc specd Of 14e knots hour. So widely
spread the notion Of the ships doing % knots hoo
that only few days before the death Of Mr. Brunei
d his friends talking in his presence Of
her attaining this speed He STOPPED them short how
ever by stating decidedly and distinctly that she would
do nothing Of the kind that she designed for
90 high rate OF speed and that hin calculations were
that che would make the voyage 70 India Australia 10
from ,hr'ytwo 70 thirty six days THIS he stated in tho
most confident manner shs would accomplish the speed
required FOR that purpose only from fourteen to four
teen and half knots an hour. fa ri-ia
fa c- n THE ACCIDENT on DoAKp. 'gmo9
During the down the Channel occurred The unf6tu
accident which has done much 70 destroy tho
tge Of The undertaking. In opposition to the experience
Afforded by the Collins and Cunard lines feed pipe casing
had been Constructed around the lower ends ofhc funnch
Of thepsdde engines capable Of containing eight ten
tons Of water Tho cold water feed ppc Il Of these
circular tanks being shut instead OF opened circulation
stopped, strong pressure Of steam generated and
an oxnlosion tonk MACE Ihrca or fnur unf,rfu.