Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-05-05
AN ANCIENT SHIP RAILWAY.



Over Mountains.
The most successful and formidable
expeditions ever undertaken for the
transportation of heavy freighted YES
sells overland were those of the Venetian
Republic in 1882, under the engineer
Sorbolo. The city of Brescin, which
had given its adhesion to the Nenetians,
was closely besieged by the Milanese,
and every device for its relief seemed to
be hopeless, and the enemy had in
trenched himself in winter quarters
upon the Intervening mountains, and
had formidable fotllla in possession
of Lake Garda, the largest of the
Italian lakes, some thirty-tive miles in
length by about eight in width, and
$40 feet above the sea. To send an
army by land the Nenetians would be
compelled to make detour around the
northern end of the lake, and then
force their way through the mountains.
ut such was their well-known PROV
ess upon the seas that to possess them
selves of Lake G arda would be to throw
dismay into the camp Of their enemies,
and open up an unrestricted route to
the beleaguered city.
The most learned and experienced
engineers of Venice had discussed for
many days, in the presence of the Sen
ate, variety of expedients for effect
ing the desired object, and the one
finally adopted surpassed in boldness
anything of the kind that had ever be-
fore been attempted. 1t was nothing
less than to convey formidable feet
of some thirty well-armed ships bodily
over the mountains and launch it upon
the lake, unolserved by the enemy.
Everything was In readiness by the
middle of December. The command of
the fleet was given to Pietro Zeno, but
the operat .ons on land were intrusted
entirely to Sorbolo. On reaching the
mouth of the Adige ample water was
found, but so swift was the current that
six weeks were occupied in moving the
fleet fifty miles. And then the labor
began of transporting the ships across
the country, the soldiers and sailors of
the expedition being ignorant up to
this time of any such intention, and re-
garding it now with incredibly. But
) orbolo's measures were carefully ma
tured, and he set quietly to work to
put them into operation. The plat
forms and cribs were put together and
secured under the vessels as they rode
at anchor, the oxen were attached to
the cables, and one after another the
largest of the vessels were hauled high
and dry upon the shore. 1t required
600 oxen to draw each of the larger
galleys out of the water, but half the
Ia, 70
on the land Their appearance on the
shore, with their tall masts towering
far above the trees of the forest, pre-
scented remarkable spectacle. The
singular procession was soon in motion,
however, marching slowly and steadily
through the country, leveling road
before it as it proceeded, until at the
base of Mount Peneda, which rose alb
ruptly in the way, and seemed to inter
dict all further progress. Here APP
peared to be an insurmountable OBJ
stacle. But Sorbolo's plans had taken
it all in, and with small party o. his
peasants and soldiers, armed with
picks, spades and axes, he proceeded
to the bed of small mountain torrent,
and having diverted the stream, soon
leveled a road to a less abrupt &C.
clivity, and after few days of needful
rest the expedition were again cheer
fully in motion, singing their songs Of
triumph as they went. The windlasses
were now put into re luisition, and the
oxen driven around by another route.
Cne mile only of this ascent was to be
accomplished, and the men discovered
that there was nothing imposs BILE in
the plans of Sorbolo. One by one the
fleet were assembled upon the crest OF
the mountain, and now the perils of the
descent were before them. The oxen
were again employed in bringing the
vessels to the rocky verge whence the
descent was made, and from the base
of which there were twel e more miles
of level country to BE- traversed The
windlases had now to be peculiarly
braced, and their action reversed with
great caution. One vessel only met
with disaster, but this was so complete
that safety was insured to all the rest.
From this time forth every man seemed
to act as if the success of the undertake
ing depended solely upon him, and the
orders of Sorbolo, which entered into
every detail, were impl. city respected
and obeved. Before the close of Feb
ruary every vessel toated quietly in
the harbor of Brescia, less titan three
months having been consumed in the
journey, hal OF which, it must be oh.
served, were occupied in encounterine
the adverse currents OF the Adj ge.-
Hdri er'S Mdgazin