The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-09-04
Launching a Ship.

Boys anu girls VINO live Inianu can
hardly understand how much interest
is awakened in u seaport town by the
OF vessel. 1t is a novel
and thrilling sight, and isthus graphic
ally described by u writer in Harper's
Young People:
To begin with, ship is, of course,
built on land, aud generally close to
some river or arm OF the sea, into
which 1t can be launched when fin
ished. Not always, though. When
Noah built the ark, he did not care
whether 1t was near the t-ater or not,
but waited for the water to come to it
and you all know what time poor
Robinson Crusoe had with the great
boat that he built, SO far from the
water that, after all his pains and
with all his efforts, he failed to get
afloat, and had to give it up as a bad
Job. / once knew man down in
Maine who spent all his leisure time
for years In building q schooner just
back Of his house, on the top of hill,
half mile from the water. He had a
curious theory as to how he was going
to launch it, but, when the schooner
was completed, the theory failed to
work and he finally rooted his vessel
over, cut q big hole for doorway in
it's bottom, aHd turned it into u barn.
Generally, however, ships are built
close 10 the water, aud are supported
by frame work of heavy timbers that
raises them above the ground suffi-
cien,iy to allow The worknen to walk
beneath them, and thus get at every
part of their keeis. This timber frame
t.spsle Ia, hat sgy
the part of il farihest from the water is
much higher than that close to the
waters edge, so the ship, while rests
ing on, 1t, looks ready TO coast beck
ward down hill. And that is just
what she does. When ready for
launching, and before her mas,s or
machinery have been put in, she rests
in a huge timber cradle, which, in
turn, is supported Oh two solid timber
railway tracks that extend from the
shlpyard, along the bottom of the
river, far out into the water. These
are called "ways," and it is on these
that ship, cradle, and all will slide
down with a mighty plunge into the
water.
While the ship is building it is sur.
rounded by tier after tier of scatfolding
from which the carpenters work but
finally this is all taken away, the great
bare hull is gayIy decked with flags;
and Just before high tide on the day set
tor the launch select party of in
vited guests Chamber up the high sides
and station themselves about the
decks, prepared to be launc'. cd with
the ship. In the meantime the ways
have been coated thickly with grease
the hundreds of sshores," CIR timbers
that have held the ship in place and
kept it from sliding into the water
before it was ready for swimming
have been knocked away, and only 6
single stick of timber holds the
gigantic cradle in place. AT last all Is
ready man with saw begins t.
cut through this timber, and every
body awaits the great event in breath
less silence.
Suddenly cracking of wood il
heard, and the great ship trembles Il:
Though 1t had just become conscious o
existence. Then, still resting in it:
cradle it begins to move slowly toward
the water, sliding easily along thu
creased ways Faster and taste it goes
the grease melts and Kisses with tn,
heat of the friction, until at length
amid the wild cheering of perhap
thousands of spectators, and thu
shrill whistles with which waiting tug
and steamers greet the birth OF thei
new sister, the stately craft plunge
into the water, and glides majesticall,
far out on the bosom of the river.
/ yictoria's dislike for Gladstone
said by the ST. Stephens Gazette t
date back to the passage of the Iris
church establishment bill in 1865
The queen expressed to Gladstone he
aversion to the essential principles c
the bill, and he replied: 'Bu'
madam, you must sigu." The queen
flushed with indignation: "Sir, q
vou know who am?" ayes, madaL