Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-02-09
vENErlAn rn1ERpRlsE.
The FIrst ship Railway OF which We Hav'
IIlalnrI..nl Hnnnulnlnn.

transportation Of heavily freighted vcs-
sells overland were those Of The Nene'
tan Republic in 1889, under tho
engineer Sorbolo. The city Of Btcscial
which had given It's adhesion 10 the
Ycnctiahs was closely besicged by the
Milancsc, and every device for lis re-
lief seemed TO be hopeless. rs the enc
my had intfenehnd himself IN winter
quarters Upon the intervening mount
aims, and had a formidable fo'''ta IN
possession of Lake Garda, tht lar est
Of the Italian lakes. some TIN > five
miles in length by about eight in width,
and three hundred and twenty 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 ueir
way Through the mountains. But suee
was their well-known prowess upon
the seas that 10 possess themselves OF
Lake Garda would be to throw dismay
into the camp Of their enemies, and
open up an unobstruotod route TO the
bcleaguercd city.
The most learned and experienced
engineers of Venice had discussed for
many days, In the presence Of the Sem
ate, IL variety of expedlcnts for effect
ing the desired object, and the one
finally adopted surpassed in boldness
any thing Of the kind that had ever
before been attempted. 1t was nothing
less than 10 convey formidable fleet
Of some thirty well-armed ships bodily
over the mountains and launch IL upon
the lake, unobservcd by the enemy. -
Every thing was in readiness by the
middle OF December The command
Of the fleet was given to Pietro Zeno,
but the operations on land were in
trusted entirely 10 Sorbolo. On reach
ing the mouth Of the Adige ample wa
ter was found, but so swift was the cur
rent 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 ig-
norant up to this time of any such in
tention. and regarding it now with in
crcdulity. But Sorbolo's measures
were carefully matured, and he set
quietly to work to put them into opera
ton. The platforms and cribs were
put together and secured under the
vessels and 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 ahorc. 1t required 600 oxen to
draw each of the large galleys out of
the water, but half the number were
sufficient to move them on the land.
Their appearance on tho shore, with
their tall masts towering far above the
trees Of the forest presented a remark
able spectacle. The singular process
sion was soon In motion, however,
marching slowly and steadily through
the country, leveling a road before il
as IL proceeded, until at the base of
Mount Peneda, which rose abruptly
in the way, and seemed to interlict
all further progress. Here appeared
to be an insurmountable obstacle. But
Sorbolo's plans had taken it all in, and
with n small party of his peasants and
soldiers, armed with picks, spades and
axes, he proceeded TO the bed Of n
small mountain torrent, and, having
diverted the stream, soon leveled
road to a less abrupt acclivity, and
after n few days of needful rest the
expedition was again cheerfully in mo-
tion, the men singing songs of triumph
rs they went. The windlasses were
now put into requisition, and the oxen
driven around by another route. One
mile only Of this ascent was TO be
accomplished, and the men soon dis
covered that there was nothing impos-
sible 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
twelve more miles Of level country TO
be traversed. The windlasses had now
to be peculiarly braced, and their
action reversed with great caution.
One vessel only met with a 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 undertaking de-
pended solely upon him, and the orders
Of Sorbolo, which entered into every
detail, were implicitly respected and
obeycd. Before the close of February
every vessel floated quietly in the
harbor Of Torbole, less than three
months having been consumed In the
journey, half Of which, it must be
observed, were occupied IN encounter
ing the adverse currents Of the Adige.
p i. HdgaioTH, ia Harper'S Maga- |