The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-02-20
Boaohing the Great Eastern.

Alter her recent arduous performan
yes The Great Eastern has become more
than ever an object Of interest, and now
that she is bodily ont Of tho water she
IS in still greater degree sight to be
seen. Her projected duty for the ensu.
ing summer-thnt Of conveying passen,
gers from New York to the Paris Ex.
hibtion--l,as rendered throughout
overhanling and reiitting necessary.
Part OF this rcft has been in progress
for como weeks, but to render it com.
plete an outside survey was necessary,
aud TO that cnd it was requisite that sllo
should be placed ON a gridiron.
Liverpool, or rather Blrkcnhcad, can
dock the Great Eastern, but the effort
would bavo been attended with some
risk, and moro Inconvenience and it
was therefore decided to place her on n
gridiron specially constructed for her
OH the foro-shorc about 200 yards South
Of New Ferry, Oh the Cheshire side Of
the river. 1t is placed about ono third
OF the distance b.twcen w.water mark
of spring tides and the high water mark,
end is about 400 feet long by GO fces
broad, resting OH firm bed Of clay and
single. The operation Of placing SO
huge mass on this frume must Of ncccs
sity have been ono Of considerable deli
cacy and skill, and some doubt was
expressed whether il could bc safely
performed. The risk certainly appear
cd to be great. The first and only
attempt was made with the morning
tide on Saturday, and as the monster
gldcd quietly and easily to her resting
place it seemed to be the simplest thing
in the world.
TIC Great Eastern moved from her
moorngs shortly after 8 o'clock, draw.
ing Is lcct inches of water She was
propelled by her screw, and was assisted
by tug or two. Tho tide was at
ito height at 1920, and registered ls
feet ! inch. Captain Sir James Andcr.
son commanded, and wss assisted by
Mr.. Brecrlon, G. ]i. successor to the
late Mr.. Brunei, and Mr.. locking. She
was put side OH, and came smoothly and
easily to the bed prepared for her with.
out single hitch. She was at once
secured in her position by powerful
anchors and Chain cables, and in tho
carly afternoon was high and dry:
The glance at distance Of 90 yards
or see was disappointing, for the long,
low line Of beach had the effect OF
making her appear much shorter and
altogether smaller than size is. On get
ting underneath her, however her vast
$40 was at once apparent. H. WINS
quite an exercise, especially with the
mud ankle deep, to walk round her. For
l3 or 20 feet her plates wcrc covered
with a peculiar kind Of gray weeds like
course hair, which, to any one standing
quite nndernca,h, gave her shell tho
appearance OF the skin Of II huge Polar
bear just emerged from his icy bath in
an Arctic sea. The wintry surround,
ings gave strength to tliis comparison.
Myriads of mussels ond bamacles had
found home among this weed, and
though her bottom is much cleaner than
was expected, it will take much labo,
to thoroughly clean tho vast surface
Her screw appears to be very small III
proportion to her sizo, and il is marvel
oes how it can have any command over
her enormous l.ulk. Her paddle. whoel.
are OF course, immense. but, rs she nov
lies, the lowest paddles fully IL feet OF
Ii feet above the head of the spectator
on the beach. There is now full com
I'plement Of wrrkmen engaged upon her
and she will no doubt DO ready to onlel
upon hor duties IN good time.-Livcr
poo5 ADion.