The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-12

slip mad occurred near FL Guisr winch mad almost
filed the canal Another press gentleman said that
rock had been found near OhaOuf Ill Terraba, in
the very centre OF the canal, which had ccasoned
vi oil rumors was that DE Lesseps had blown his
brains out because OF his inability OF enduring the
suspense.
large t0nnage) mad been inscribed t, pass through
the canal to anu from india. Among these were
two OF the Messagerles lmperae's dine indian steam
packets, which were waiting at Sdez and were TO
return to Marseilles TO be relieved BY others.
30 lar as was known the programme or the naugu.
ration W ds as l0lOws:-
On the 10th the benediction would be pronounced
BY the Predicate OF the 1uieries Rev. Father Bauer
Conlessor TO the Empress, the Bishop OF Alexandria
pronouncing II In Arabic. On the following morn
ing. 18th. at eight O'Clock the procession would be-
GIN moving. headed by the Empress Of the French
N the AlRle, and the other vessels would follow at
intervals OF nve minutes, 30 as to arrive the same
afternoon at Ismaia, where q grand dinner and
ball would be given by the khedve and grand iliu-
limitations ana fireworks would take place. On the
following morning the 18th, tine procession OF yes.
Bels would resume their course for SueZ, where, on
LIE arrival the same evening, new festivities would
take place after salute OF lOl guns IRON the bat
terteH and ships present. The order OF return was
not decided, rs IL was expected that some or the
was said That the knedive would assemble ali along
the shores OF the canal thousands OF fellow work.
men, who would shout "hurrahSh' during the pass
ing Of the procession.
LEAVING ALEXANDRIA FOR THE RENDEZVOUS.
On The l4th the steamer on which your correspond
ent had found an excellent berth left Alexandria,
IN company wiSn tue Neefoys steamer the Fayonne,
both bound for Port Said. The Europe was a strong
new stea er OF 1900 Ions burden, The second OF a
line OF steamers which Marc Frai5sinet Sons are
constructing 70 run rom Marsellle, 10 Port said and
SueZ heavy gale was blowing, and the oar at
alexandra harDor - a most dangerous pace 10
cross IN rough weather, rs there are only twenty
seven feet OF water, ana below are reefs. Every
body on board was in the greatest suspense while
crossing, but luckny nothing parted, and excepting
few very heavy snakes we ex aerienced nothing
very remarkable. The tay0Dne on the other hand,
was 10 be the scene OF great Iohty and banqaeting
wines were set on the CABIN tables, which were to
be drank .er crossing the bar; but wnle crossing,
the nuge waves almost turned her completely over,
and though the vessel damaged lii the least,
the supper and wines were IrretrIevably lost
Dametta was sighted at ten the following morn.
ing aud In an hour afterwards the masts OF the I'M
m0nse neet gathered at Port said were seen. AT
noon we passed the English iron-cad neet. consist
ing Of the following vessels living outside the road
stead OF P0rG Said:-Belleroph0n, Captain Francis
Norton APO tons l,OvO horse power IA guns; Gaze
donia, Captain Thomas Cochrane, sl25 tons, 200
horse power. 80 guns; Lord v arden Captain Thos.
Brandreth, 1850 tons. 1880 horse power, Is guns,
carrying the nag Of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander
Mine, X. q. b., C0mmander-ln- Chief Of the Medi-
terrenean squadron; Prince Consort, Captain VIII
ham Armytage, 4,045 tons, LOCO horse power, "a
guns; Royal oak, Captain II. S. Hilyar, c. b. 4,056
tons, 500 horse power, "a guns; and the wooden
ships Newport, Commander George Mares, survey
Ing vessel, 4a5 tons, 10 horse power, guns;
ing Mr.. Elliott, the English Ambassador at
Constantinope; the Rapid, Commander the Hon.
power, II guns. 1t was quite sight to see this
proud feet Of England assembled to DO honor to the
inauguration OF Inc suez Canal. On account of
tner great draugnt the iron-cads found it mpossl-
bic 70 enter even the roadstead Of Port SAID, and
were consequently Obliged to lie at anchor at the
distance Of three miles out at sea
The Europe closely followed by the Fayonne,
steamed towards Port SAD, entered the fine, capa-
cious roadstead and anchored alongside OF the outer
quay amidst the assembled fleets of Europe, all Of
VIII en- we're dressed IN gayest bunting.
Port sad may be called the maritime capital OF
opu.ent and popuous hive Of industry Is entirely The
creation oil the Suez canal Company; for not YES
hge OF dwelling existed within mses OF the spot
when M. DE LcsSeps and his few adventurous CON-
panions first pcned their tent upon this barren coast.
narrow strip OF land rising Dut few Ieei above
tho sea served to divide the Lake OF Menzaleh from
the Mediterranean and on this In the centre of an
amphiolous region OF lagoons amid bare patches or
moist sand, much frequented by peiicans, sporIive
fish and fishermen. sprang up the thriving city OF
Port Said 1t counts already $4,000 inhabitants, but
VINO shall say what tue population VIII be fifty
years henceY People hYpercflticaly say that Porl
Said Will never become great city, because there
IL no land to support 1t Or TO invite strangers to live
near 1t. TO those 1 would say, reclaim the land
overlooked by The lagoon OF Menzalen. which was
once called the "Fleds of Zoan," ana you have an
area OF the richest land twenty-five miles long by
twenty broad In extent.
Az Port sad the great workshops OF the company
are found. All the steam machinery, foundrics,
iOrges &C., are stationed on the left OF the harbor,
Whe the city proper occupies the right OF the har
Dor. This Is also the great entrepo or the dreQes
the barges and lighters and all other material that
were required the Excavations along slnmuS.
All the machinery and ronwoik were brought IN
pieces from France, and were here put together In
the workshops These workshops and beach wharves
necessary for the use OF The company cover an area
OIL twenty acres From the ship IN the haroor taeso
buildings with their tall chlmaeys Of brick and
stone and IRON smokestacks, appear as If a part OF
Plttsbur2 had been planted mere. TO your right lies
the wei built city, with no very remarkable aren't
tectural characteristics about It, TWO modest church
spires peer above the compact mass Of buildings
but the harbor and wharyes would be credit to ANY
large city, especially the wharves, which are EN-
banked with solid blocks OF concrete and granite,
lad with sucn regularity and nlcety that command
unqualified admiration.
The attention OF visitors is always drawn to the
concrete clock mandatory on the companys side
OF the narDor These large blocks were made out OF
lime FROM Tneil near Marsees, sand and water,
by Messrs. Dussaud for the construction or the Jet
ties necessary Ior the protection OF the harbor 1ter
allowed 10 DE dried In the sun, the heat Of which Ii
very powerful IN summer the beach, the blocks,
n aep we're into the
have proved capable OF resisting the action OF the
waves IS well as the hardest stone. The company
contracted With Messrs. Dussaud for 250,0 cubic
metres OF these blocks The two lettes required for
the protection OF the harbor form excellent road.
stead being 1890 feet from the other. narrowing
tho space between them at the entrance tC
ton viii be erected lighthouse, and
inat when entirely completed they viii form I'D,
mlrable pr0menades IN calm weather. As u proof
OF the safety OF the anchorage THIS roadstead AFFORDS
since the foundation Of Port Said, IN April 1884, the
toLal losses OF vessels In the roadstead during the
ten years have been only fifteen out Of 1000 which
have entered and departed from Port Said.
The port has an extensive quay, rendered arm by
asphate, on which are sean at regular intervals
strong granite mooring columns, which lead from
the embouchures OF the canal away through the
cty, and along the southernnost jctty to about hall
OF its length. Close TO this vessels may moor In
perfect safety In thirty feet OF The port itself
Is divided into three basins, eacn capable or contain
ing 100 vessels OF large size. From the end Oh the
piers which separate the basins to tho other
side Of the port are some 1000 feet and along that
NAV be mOOred from the entrance OF the port
70 the entrance Of the canal 100 more vessels. The
harbor OF Port SAID being 500 acres in extent, we
may say that 500 vesscs may easily find room within
It. But when the northern and southern jettles arc
fully concluded with lighthouse at each end broad
promenades running along the top, the roadstcad
Will contain 1000 merchant ships with ease AT
present, however the concrete blocks are merely
piled upon another loosely to the height OF ten
feet above the water. against which the surf beats
increasingly.
the town OF Port Said I have said contains 20 900
inhabitants mostly engaged In Keeping small shops
AND hotels. Especially are the hotels numerous, for
/ counted during my pecambulations through the
sandy streets twenty, named principally alter the
Dart Hat Ix 40