The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-22
CleOpatra's Needle in London.

The celebrated Egyptian obelisk which
was presented to George ~, in 1920. by
Mehemet Ali, has at last, after many vicis-
situdes, reached England, and reposes peace
fully in its iron cylinder, in the East India
Dock. Mr.. Du Plat Taylor, the Secretary
of the East and West India Dock Company
authorized by Sir Walter Baynes, the Chair
man, having offered a friendly shelter to the
cylinder ship free from all charges.
The abandonment of the obelisk ship Gle
ship Olga, after losing boats crew Of six
men in an Intellectual attempt to take off Gle
opatra's crew, took place on October Is. The
Cleopatra was found the following day by
an outward bound steamer, the Fitzmaurice,
and taken into Ferrol on October IS. Here
she remained until the morning of Tuesday,
the 18th inst the last three weeks of the
stay being occupied with refitting and ad-
justing ballast under the supervision of her
original commander. The ballast consist
ing OF railway iron, was secured by being
built down into the ship, so as to form an in
tegral part .of the structure. A new mast
and sails were provided, but the water-tight
compartments were found to be perfectly se-
cure, and OH arriving at Gravesend the cap
tain remarked that there wss "not enough
water shipped to fill wine glass"
Leaving Ferrol att o'clock on the morn
ing of the 10Th in tow of the ANGELA, an ex-
cellent run was made, the Needles being
passed at o'clock on Saturday afternoon,
and Dungeness at about 10 clock on Sun
day morning. the two vessels arrived with
out 'accident or incident at the Chapman
Light by 10 o'clock at night, where the tug
boat anchored the Cleopatra hanging astern
by the tow rope. There was steady breeze
all night, and yesterday morning start was
made for Gravesend, the latter place being
reached shortly before II o'clock. Here Mr..
and Mrs. Dixon went on board and congrat-
ulated the Captains of the two vessels upon
their safe arrival. The Custom House off
GERS next boarded and proceeded to clear
the vessels, which being completed, the an
chor of the ANGELA was raised, and the
Cleopatra cast off from the buoy to which
she had beer moored precisely at 1850.
The news having spread that the obelisk
was coming up the river, at nearly every
wharf and pier crowds were gathered, who
enthusiastically cheered as the ships passed
The various training ships exchanged the
compliment of dipping their flags, the boys
of the Chinchester manning yards.
Some time had to elapse before the obe-
lisk could be placed in the East India Dock
as large outward bound steamer was being
towed through the dock gates, but the road
once clear she was brought around by the
tug, and a hawsei being passed ashore, no
time was lost 10 berthng her in one Of the
inner basins. A goodly gathering of friends
of Mr.. Dixon was assembled on the pier,
and on that gentleman landing, he was
overwhelmed with congratulations.
The peculiar construction Of the Cleopatra
cylinder, which is about ninety-two feet 10
length and sixteen feet in diameter, makes
it appear smaller than it really is, especially
as it i. more an two-thirds submerged. In
appearance it resembles huge Cornish
boiler, with small deck house and mast =
London Standard