Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-22
SHIP-RAILWAYS.

The most successful and formidable
expeditions ever undertaken for the
transportation Of heavily freighted
vessels overland were those Of the
Venetian Republic in 1889, under
the engineer Sorbolo. The city of
Breseia, which had given its adhesion
to the Venetians, was closely besieged
by the Milanese, and every device for
its relief seemed 10 be hopeless, as the
enemy had intrenched himself in win-
ter quarters upon the intervening
mountains, and had formidable flo.
tilla in possession of Lake Garda, the
largest of the Italian lakes, some 35
miles in length by about in width.
and $50 feet above the sea. To send
an army by land the Venetians would
be compelled to make detour around
the northern end of the lake. and then
force their way through the mount
aims. But such was their well-known
prowess upon the seas that to possess
themselves of Lake Garda would be
to throw dismay into the camp of their
enemies, and open up an unobstructed
route to the beleaguered city.
The most learned and experienced
engineers of Venice had discussed for
many days, in the presence of the Sem
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 80 well-armed ships bodily
over the mountains and launch it upon
the lake, unobserved by the enemy.
Everything was in readiness by the
middle of December. The command
of the feet was given to Pietro Zeno,
but the operations on land we're in
trusted entirely to Sorbolo. On reach
ing the mouth of the Adige ample
water was found, but so swift was the
current that six weeks were occupied
in moving the fleet so miles. And
then the labor began of transporting
the ships across the country, the sol
diers and sailors of the expedition be-
ing ignorant up to this time of any
such intention, and regarding it now
with incredulity, But Sorbolo's meas
ures were carefully matured, and he
set quietly to work to put them into
operation. The platforms 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 number were
sufficient to move them on the land.
Their appearance ON the shore, with
their tails masts towering far above
the trees of the forest, presented re-
markable spectacle. The singular
procession was soon in motion, how
ever, marching slowly and steadily
through the country, levelling road
before it as it proceeded, until at the
base of Mount Peneda, which rose
abruptly in the way, and seemed to in-
terdlct all further progress. Here ap-
peared to be an insurmountable OBJ
stacle. But Sorbolo's plans had taken
it all in, and with small party of his
peasants and soldiers, armed with
picks, spades and axes, he proceeded
to the bed of small mountain tor
rent, and having diverted the stream,
soon levelled road to less abrupt
activity, and after few days of need
full rest the expedition were again
cheerfully in motion, singing their
songs of triumph as they went. The
windlasses were now put into requisi-
ton, and the oxen driven around by
another route. One mile only of this
ascent was to be accomplished, and
the men soon discovered that there
was nothing impossible in the plans of
Sorbolo. One by one the fleet were
assembled upon the crest of the mount
ain, 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 II more miles of level coun-
try to be traversed. The windlasses
had now to be peculiarly braced, and
their action reversed with great cau-
tion. One vessel only met with a dis
aster, 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 under
taking depended solely upon him, and
the orders of Sorbolo, which entered
into every detail, were implicitly re-
spected and obeyed. Before the close
OF February every vessel tioated quiet
ly in tine harbor of Torbole, less than
three months having been consumed
in the journey, half of which, it must
be observed, were occupied in en-
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