The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-02

one on each side ait to strong cast-iron bits
upon the fore end OF the bottom platform of
tic deck, about go feet apart. The size Of
these tarred cables was alH inches, the tow
lines from the bow Of the first vessel to the
stern OF the second were 12iS inches, one on
each side. The first vessel was about 26O
feet from the dock, aud the vessels were
asunder about the same distance, having
| SUFFICIENT length of havser on board to
freshen the nip on each end during the pas
sage. Experience showed that this arrange
ment was the most advantageous that could
have been adopted.
The two floating gates were placed inside,
one on each side, a little abaft the middle,
and fastened securely to the side floats.
Two anchors Of IL, 500 pounds each, with
I-inch chains, were placed on the fore
end Of the eide floats, and two anchors of
6,l00 pounds each, with suitable chains, on
the after end to be used for mooring If neces-
| sary.
The crew consisted Of 20 seamen, a boats
vain and the captain; besides a steam en-
CINE, two workmen and two flremen In case
II should be necessary to work the pumps or
operate the sluices.
The dock fitted In this way accomplished
the voyage with generally smooth sea, not
outstanding there were some windy days.
There was found TO be no necessity to i'm
merse the structure, so that only 10 feet OF
the side plates should be out Of water In
order to lessen the action Of the sea and
wind, as was directed TO be done in case bad
weather forced the towing vessel to abandon
the dock.
REPORT OF THE PASSAGE BY THE CAPTAIN OF
THE DOCK.
Tho floating dock built at Seyne, by the
Mediterranean Forge and Machine Shop, for
the Viceroy Of Egypt, was to be delivered by
the company In the port of Alexandria.
In taking charge OF this expedition did
not overlook the Inconvenience to be ex.
perienced, but felt that the choice of good
towing vessels, and particularly avorablc
season, were necessary to success.
The departure was fixed for the latter part
OF June, but unavoidable circumstances pre-.
vented the starting until carly In July.
The measures taken to secure the arrival
of the dock at Its destination were of two
kinds-one mainly In the construction OF the
| dock itself and the other In the quality OF the
towing vessels and the means within their
power for the undertaking.
The dock, by its construction, could be
preserved from wreck and shelter itself from
| the wind and the sea, as, being abandoned by
the two towing vessels and driven towards
the land, 1t could be moored by two heavy
anchors and sunk to any given depth, In
| which situation neither the wind nor tho sea
could have much effect on II.
For the towing, the Imperial Mail Steam
ship Company placed at the disposal Of tie
contractors two steamers-onc OF 400 and
the other Of 800 horse power. These two
vessels, OF known good nautical quality, and
commanded by experienced officers, were
properly fitted out. Very strong bits were
placed on the decks for securing the hawsers.
The vessel, Of 800 horse power, at the head
OF the line, was provided with two 1871 Inch
hawsers, and the vessel of 400 horse power,
attached to the dock, was provided with two
2lIf-lnch cables, and spare one In case OF
need; also with two 12-inch hawsers. Ar
rangements were also made for day and
night Signals.
On the Sd Of July, at s o'clock in the
morning, the dock left Toulon Roads in tow
OF the 400 horse power vessel, to which the
two cables from the dock were secured, the
other vessel being then attached to her.
The weather was very fine, but soon after
leaving the gut Of Toulon the wind came
from the westward, and very soon increased
in force. About II O'Clock 1t was no longer
q strong breeze but regular summer squall,
the vessels following the coast outside Of the
Hyeres Islands. In a short time the sea
became very rough, and at o'clock, p. M,
the dock signalled damage to the starboard
rudder In the breaking of the cast-iron
quadrant on the rudder head.
This accident deprlvlng us Of one ruddcr
rendered the towing very difficult, and being
DESTROYS of knowing the condition of the
other rudder, We ran into Hyeres roads and
anchored for the night, having run pretty
long distance against head wind. Work
men soon came from Seyne, and the repairs
were made; also, some other work ofstrength-
ening them was done. On the 9th of July,
at II o'clock at night, we left the roads Of
lIyeres In the same order Of towing as be-
fore. The course was given to pass close 10
| IA ha ALL ind linz,
at this season, being sometimes very heavy,
would not permit Of passing to the west OF
, that island to the great channel between
Sardinia md hfrina
, The dock kept In perfect line with the
towing vessels. On the 18th, at O'Clock in
, the morning, having good weather, We
, passed at q little distance from Cape Corsc
and communicated to the telegraph on the
: cape "all goes well, notify them at Mar.
, settles" From this point our course was tc
I sight the Island Of Maritime, to the south
3 Of Sicily. This course was the only ono
c that suited our convoy. The route by the
1 Straight OF Messlua would have been little
+ shorter, but 1t would have been imprudent &c
) have attempted 1t; to be exposed TO the VIC
lcnce Of the Irregular currents that are there
l met with by two vessels connected with q
i fabric having a surface of aotation Of 4,Sil
, square feet, with draft OF water OF feet Z
inches, would have been to risk the whole.
In continuing our course towards Marltti-
mo, OH the 18th, at o'clock, p. m, the sea
was little rough, and we had speed of 5
knots; when, 10 our great regret, the false
bow on the fore end Of the dock, placed
there to divide the waves, separated and
sunk. This loss, without affecting the
dock itself, had considerable influence on the
towing; after that the speed never exceeded
81 knots and that only with great effort. II
, Is true on the other hand that the shock 10
the dock caused by the waves was much re.
, duced.
This reduction In speed necessarily would
increase the time OF the passage, and ] cal.
culated that the towing vessels would not
, have sufficient coal for the passage from
Sicily to Alexandria. As by the course We
had to take there would be no possibility Of
renewing our supply, decided to stop, aud
: without losing time directed our course to
Syracuse, preferring that port to Malta,
which was too small and too much fire..
quented. On the 17th we found ourselves
near Cape Morio-dl-Porca, and | gave orders
to one OF the vessels that as soon as he cast
of In the harbor to continue on to Messina,
and there take In coal for eighteen days. A
dispatch was sent to the agent of the Forge
and Machine Company" that on the arrival
of the vessel the coal might be ready.
On the 18th, having placed the dock In
safety, the other vessel left for Messlna TO
|
/ On the 2lst, early in the morning, we put
| to sea, In the same order as before and In
good condition, the weather being favorable
c On the morning of the Goth, the wind wal
/ north.northwcst, the sky cloudy, w
being in latitude IS deg. north and 20 deg
: east longitude; about midday the wine
/ hauled to the north and Increased In force
5 with u heavy sea, and the pitching of thu
towing vessels, and the lurches Of the docl
was very trying to them. Not wishing them
TO leave the dock, took the only practical
means, that Of placing them head "a
wind and moving very slowly; In thus lay
ing the vessels to, the dock held much less
wind and the cables were less strained, but
the sea sometimes struck the dock M
though it was a rock, throwing the water
past the middle of III but the relative POSI-
lions of the three vessels were not changed.
We lay to until the morning Of the 2sth,
when, the wind ceaslng, the sea fell and we
resumed our course to Alexandria with
; pleasant weather and nice breeze from the
north-northwcst.
/ On the 3lst, at 10 O'Clock at night, VIC saw
the Alexandria light, and arranged to reach
the passes by daylight. On the I'd, at
o'clock in the morning, We saw the lights
OF the city and sent up rockets to call the at
tention of the pilots. AT sunrise, being close