The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-04
the GREAT NAVAL EVENT.
Launch of the Great War Vessel,
the Dunderberg.

the DunderDerg.
From the New York World July a.
The great naval event of the age-the
launch of the Dunderberg-took place on
Saturday morning at 8 o'clock, in the
presence of at least twenty-five thousand
spectators.
Unfortunately the weather was unpleas-
ant. the morning had been ushered in with
heavy raia-showers which deferred thous-
ands from being present, many of whom
thought the launch would be postponed
until fine day. Mr.. Webb and the tide
wait for no man on launching day, and at
early dawn the final preparations were
made for the ceremony. At daylight the
vessel was dressed off in national colors,
the jack being at the bow.
Alta quarter past eight Admiral Gregory,
accompanied by Commodore Ringgold and
staff, came on the ground and occupied
special stand, near the PROV of the vessel
from whence they were enabled to over
look the whole ground and see the vessel
glide off the ways and across the river.
At precisely nine o'clock there were
about nine hundred persons on board and
more ascending the gangway ladder, tick
cts in hand, urging forward for admit
lance, which was gained through one of
the amidship ports. An immense throng
filled the yard, and the dull, heavy sound
of the hundred wedge drivers under her
bottom, thugged out upon the dull, heavy
atmosphere. Two minutes past nine nine,
a hum ran along the edge of the throng
next the ways. Three minutes past nine,
q wild huzza rang out-she had started
and as she slowly started down the ways,
the scene became intensely exciting; the
widest enthusiasm prevailed on board and
on shore. Steam whistles screamed, bells
rang, men hurrahed, boys shouted, ladies
waved their handkerchiefs, and all seemed
to enter into the spirit of the great spec
tacle presented to them. 1t was a mag
nifcent sight, such as is rarely witnessed.
The scene was novel and interesting. The
motion of the vessel was scarcely percept-
ible, and SO gentle that the most timid Ia
dies felt at perfect ease.
The Dunderberg entered the water in
manner surprising everybody conversant
with launches. She cut the water like
knife, and did not raise swell of a foot
in height. This fact proves how beautiful
are her lines and faultless her form This
fact was the subject of common remark
among the experienced ship-builders and
ship-masters, who know the importance of
this demonstration.
Before the ship had been one hundred
feet on her sliding trip, large volumes of
smoke came rolling up from under her
bows, and were blown by the light easterly
wind back over the multitude assembled
in the yard. This smoke was caused by
the friction of the heavy weight-2, 800
tons-going at such speed over the ways,
which were fabricated with tallow and
CASTLE soap. The effect was beautiful
in the extreme, and attracted much atten-
ton. No ship ever entered the water with
more ease and grace, and amid such thun-
dering plaudits, and no man could receive
more commentator than did Mr.. Webb
on this occasion.
As the vessel reached the river she was
closely followed by five large and power
full tugs, four of which were soon checking
her by means of two large hawsers, but
before she was drought too A" she was
quite close to the Long Island shore.
Capt J. J. Comstock and Pilot John Ma.
gin, under whose superintendent she was
handled, soon had one tug on each quar-
ter, one on each bow, and one ahead, and
in few minutes che was turned around
and headed for the foot of Sixth street,
New York. The arrangements of these
two gentlemen were carried out as they
always do, and not a rope yarn was broke,
or an egg-shell cracked in launching this
great ship of seven thousand tons. No
accident of the most trifling character oc-
Cured to mar the pleasure or enjoyment
of the occasion, and in less than an hour
from the time she started from her cradle
in New York she had crossed the East
river twice and was at her berth safe and
sound as nut.
1t will be several months before the
Dunderberg will be ready for service, now
that we have no pressing need of her, but
should her services be required it would
not take long to fit her out for active
duty. In her we have truly great ship,
one that has, perhaps, no equal in the