The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-22
Tho Infancy OF Navigation.

The infancy Of the art Of naval archi-
lecture, is enveloped in obscurity. T.
Is quite certain, however, that the first
vessels in use were not large for the
largest vessel OF the Grecian fleet at.
the siege OF Troy, b. G.. 1884. carrieI
only 12U men. The sails of these yes.
sells were OF small dimensions and
auxiliary to the oars, which were the
Chief propelling power. There appe
to have been little need for war vessels
at that period, AZ the fashion of fight
Ing at SCI: had not yet come in. It was
not until some 5OO years later that YES.
sels were Dullt with view to marine
warfare. By this time the oars had
Increased Ill number and we're arranged
Ill banks one above the other in the
central part Of the ships, the fighting
mon occupying platforms at the bow
anu stern. THESE vessels were called
galleys. About 47O b. G. the Athen-
IAN commander-in-chief caused these
platforms To De connected, thus form
ing deck which served the double
duty OF protecting the oarsmen and
providing room for greater number of
soldiers. Still, the sails were yery
small and were only Of use in q fair
wind. There is 10 ground for main
talning, says the. writer, that the arn
OF navigation was entirely unknown to
The Inhabitants Of the world before tbe
Hood. There Is no circumstance men
toned to Indicate that the ark WAS the
first OF its kind.
1t would, therefore, be fruitless TO
endeaYOr to investigate Tie first inyeu-
lor of marine architecture, and it seem,
reasonable 10 suppose that the idea of
ships originated III the minis OF man
at the same time in u variety of places
The nations which appear 10 be iolnt
claimants for the invention of shipsure
the Egyptiuns and PnDnicilns. Ac-
cording to Grecitn fables, Pyrrhon dis.
covered the ART vi bending blanks nv
nfo f0r the purpose OF ship.buildinv.
Ihe Deak-head, the rudder and tie
anchor are ali claimed as the devices of
Egyptians. Crete claims the invention
ol masts and crOss.yards; Tneseus.
lcafus and Dirdalus Tie application oi
sails, Wuile " Syrian is ascrlbud the
honor OF devising vessels OF traIIlc,
ISIS, Queen OF Egypt, about the year OF
INC world 2Z3O, is accredited with first
having taught the use OF sails. 80
great was her fame in the world OF i'm
ycnLlons that The Emperor Julian
caused medals to be struck, Wherein
she Is represented as a snip. Jason is
Shown to have built the first long ship.
Inc ships used PRIOR to this w ire round
Inc Argonautic eXpeditiOn-whichw was
Che nfSC mercantile voyage Of which we
nave any accOunt-LoUK place about
1853 Is. =. 1t was then that this shlp
or Jason's was employed. Copper and
brass were substituted for iron used
Tor tastenlngs about tic time or Nero.
The first sails were probably made OF
the SKINS or animals, IL Material still in
use Ill some countries for the same pur-
pose. In this connection tho writer
Calls attention TO the strong resemb.
lance between the nautical nloyehents
OF unciyIlized people now and those Of
remote antiquity. According to some
accounts sea navigation was first under
taken ny the inhabitants Of the island
OF Crete. Usons, a Phenician, Ia re-
presented AZ the first person who ven.
Lureu TO sea III a canoe followed out
from tie trunk Of q tree. A variety of
small boats were soon invented to suit
the needs OF different nations. The