The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-21
CYeenasrw,s Needle.
ARRIVAL or THE FAMOUS ALEXANDRIA,
OBELISK.
Herald. yesterdsy.1

OBELIsK.
Herald, yesterday.1
The steamer Dessouk. under command OF
Lieutenant Commander Henry II. Cor
ripve, United States navy, came into this
barbor late last night. She was first sighted
of Fire Island at quarter past O'Clock,
and reached quarantine some hve bours
later. She has brought TO New York the
now famous obelisk that Is to be erected
probably in Central Park, and for the i'm
mediate acquisition OF which The city Is ln-
debied 10 the generosity OF MIR. william n q.
Vanderbilt. 1t is one o. the two needles
OF Cleopatra that stood for centuries on The
shores OF the Leyant. near the ely OF Alex.
andria, and that for centuries before guarded
the doors OF the Temple OF the Setting
Sun at Heliopolis. Its mate. which had
fallen from It's pedestal in Alcxan-
drja, was granted to England In
1910. and only received there in 1878,
through the efforts and personal sacrifices
Of Professor Erasmus Wilson. The present
obelisk, so say the Greek and Latin inscrip-
lions on It's base, was built by Engineer
Pontia, at The order OF Barbarus, Project o.
Egypt. in the eighth year OF Augustus C1.
sar's reign. or twenty-five years before the
beginning Of the Christian era. 1t was re-
moved from Heliopolis TO Alexandria du-
ring the reign OF Tiberius, but wss erro-
ncous,y believed 10 have been removed in
the time Of Cleopatra, and hence 1t was
called f" Cleopatrs's Needle" 1t is by far
the most peerless treasure OF the kind that
ever came 10 the New World from the Old.
The remarkable emblems found engraved
upon the stones at the base OF the monolith
have stirred the Masonic fraternity all over
the world, and arc likely to excite the atten-
ton OF the MasoDs OF America for many
days 10 come.
The programme for unshipping and erect
ing il here has not been completed, but Ma
sons In all parts Of the country have eX-
messed a desire TO share in the perform
auce. 1t is said that the unshpping will he
ACCOMPLISHED by the same means employed
Ia placing it on board the Dessouk. The
steamer will be first lowered on a dry dock,
and then the obeisk will be Slid upon two
MoaIs, one under either end. The machinery
made in Trenton last fall and used at Alex
andria for lowering the column will be en-
ployed again for its r,erection. il mainly
consists OF Two great trunDions that are EN-
ployed for suspendiDg The weight Of the
needle.
Lieutenant-C Commander Gorringe sailed
from New York on his mission TO Egypt on
August %, 1879. The obeiisk was formally
coded TO himself and Lieutenant Schroeder
by the Governor OF Alexandria on October
22d, aud the work Of removal began the
same day. During the accomplishment OF
this task the citizens Of Alexandria mani
Tested considerable opposition, and the ere
ditors OF the Egyptian Government threat
eDed TO seize the Needle. Commander G or
riDge flung the American flag from his trea-
sure on the 30th OF October, and on the 4th
and 9Th days Of December, when it was
being lowered, the Russian sailors in that
port came generously forward to his assist
ance.
The Dessouk is a pessel.oi i ,o61 tons and
carries about {, 600 tons. she was butt in
England and bought by the Egyptian q ov-
ernment while yet on the stacks. She was
purchased from Egypt for Rer present use
by Commander Gorrsnge. AMI she left Alex
andria on the 18th of j une and Gibraltar on
the 18th. Though several days overdue no
anxiety was felt for her safety, as she was
reported TO be strong vessel though slow
one.