The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-29
NOah's Ark.

Mr. James Napier devOtes one seq
ton OF his Manufacturing Arts in
Ancient Times to consideration Of the
particulars given in connection with
the ark of Noah. According to the
length of the cUbt' (either l8, II. or
25.O25 inches) the length of the vessel
was from $50 to 625 feet. the breadth
from 70 to lO4, the depth from h to 62.
The result given by calculations founded
on the longest unit Indicate a vessel
only % feet shorter than the Great
Eastern, her length being $50 feet; even.
the lowest dimensions equal those of
any vessel which we build ut present
for long sea VOYAGES. He holds the
opinion that the directions given in the
sacred record were given in an age in
which the art of ship-buiIding had re-
ceived considerable development The
proportion indicated-length six times
the breadth-is that at present in favor
in the construction of vessels designed
to carry large cargOes with the greatest
speed, and to be capable of encounter
inc heavy seas. Looking at the
whole structure from workman point
of view," Mr.. Napier remarks, - there
would be required not less that %, 900.
loads of timber for its construction.
The cutting down of such a number of
trees as would be required, their con-
veyance to the building yard, the prep
aratiOn of the wood for the timbers, of
whatever shape they were. and the fit
great amount of skill ON the part OF the
were of wood or metal we, of course.
cannot decide; but considering what
we have seen of the knowledge of met
ais in ancient times, it is more than
likely both were used. He con-
cIudes that the vessel was built
upon some inland plain contiguous
to a plentiful supply Of wood an ar
rangement which would facilitate the
collection OF the cargo to be saved in
the ark, and account for the door in
the side: rs also for much of the derisiOn
of those who needed not the preachers 5,
warning. Nj. Napier challenges the
popular notion that the waters rose
gradually and steadily, the words trans
lated, the waters prevailed indicat-
inc that they bore down everything be-
fore them. Mr. Steinmelz in his book
on Meteorolo9y," concludes, from the
statement that the water rose, in forty
days and nights, to the height of fifteen
cubits above the highest mountain -
that the rate of rising was five inches
per minute, or twenty-five feet per
hour-sufficient to destroy every living
thing in the space of half an hour. But
suppOsing the rate reduced to less than
half, two inches pers hour, No oppOr-
tunity would even then have been af-
fOrded for hill climbing, as such q
shower would have swept down every
thing movable before it. Ordinary
going vessels would not have fur
nished means of escape. Even within
our own day. in South America, earth
quakes near the sea have been destruc-
tive to everything near than and all
vessels within the influence of the great
wave have been destroyed, and these
were but light compared with the
Flood" The fact must also be con-
sidered that those which escaped would
not have been likely, except in eXpecta-
ton of such a catastrophe, tOhaye been
prOVisioned for twelve months. The
Ill Hdu pIOiJtiDly UACu 10 ouCOuuLCl
wind, waves and currents. and rs q.
vessel without rudder in currents and
wind always drifts side on, to the,
serious discomfort and jeopardy of ev-'
cry living creature on board, Mr.. Napier
infers that the vessel was provided
with steering gear and means of pro-
pulsion> The phrase, ''God shat him
In" does not preclude the idea that
Noah might have wrought his vessel
as any Captain would his ship" and
''thaTe being no apparent destination,
the guidance would only be to keep it
in tile most favorable position for the
comfort of the Inmates" 70 the OBJ
lection, 'sHow could Noah and his
three sons and their wives-eight per-
sons in all-manage such a vessel by
the ordinary Means Mr.. Napier re-
plies. The simplest explanation of the
d fficulty is, that Noah and his sons,
Ike Abraham and the other patriarchs,
are named as representing their house,
holds, and these inc uded a great many
servants, both mile and female. In
deed, the invitation into the ark ('Thou
ard all thy house suggeststhis. There
! ara MANY instances of misuse Of Ian