The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-26
BIG SHIPS OF THE ANCIENTS.

In the Matter Of size They Were Up to
Modern Vessels.
We moderns are justly proud of the won
derful and magnificent specimens of naval
architecture that crowd the great ports of
world. If there is anything new under the
sun, first class ocean steamer. it 10 be-
lieved. is that rarity. In our conceit we re-
call only the galleys and triremes of the
ancients, that scarce ever ventured beyond
the coast line, and the small barks in which
Columbus and those that followed him con.
quered the new world. and gave commerce
its greatest field. But the ancients built
MANY good sized craft, and made luxury
study on some of them.
That much controverted craft, the ark, is
an example of bigness. Her tonnage is
estimated at about fifteen Thousand tons,
smaller, it is true, than that of the Great
Eastern. No less an authority than Lind
say thinks that she was simply raft of
Etupendous size, having upon it structure
resembling huge warehouse. As no means
of propulsion were necessary, this desciip-
ton may be correct. The cargo, however,
was unique, and probably the largest and
most valuable ever carried.
Tho description of the ark. as given in
the Scriptures, makes the vessel about $50
in length, rs feet in breadth, and As feet in
depth-propostions similar to those now in
use to-day for great vessels. But rs the ag-
nostic is not sure that this lifeboat of the
human race ever existed, and as the materi-
aEsS is sure she never was built let us take
for example of big ancient vessels some
other craft voucled for upon the authority
OF profane and not sacred writer's. The
Egyptians, fond of large things and big
dimensions. made the, big tonnage vessels
Of ancient times.
Ptolemy (Philopator) would have appre-
cinted the Great Eastern. He was fond of
building big boats. One of these is said to
have been APO feet long, 81 feet broad, and
" feet deep from the highest point of the
stern. This vessel had rudders, or what
some would call steering oars, as they were
not fastened, each 45 feet long. She car
Iled cog rowers, besides 5000 marines,
large body of servants under her decks, and
stores and provisions. Her oars were 81
feet long, and the handles were weighted
with lead. There were 1900 rowers on a
side. and it is supposed that these were
divided into five banks. That this extraor-
that she was launched and used at times,
If only for display, several historians are
nereed. 8,
Another ship" the Thalmegus, built for
one of the Ptolemies, is said to have been
300 feet long, forty feet broad and sixty
feet deep. This was q far moremagnifcent
vessel then any previous one. An Alexan-
andrian Historian. Catlixenus. in describing
her, speaks of her having colonnades. mar
bic stairs, and gardens. Another great
one built by Hero, king of Syracuse. Her
dimensions are estimated to be large, from
the description of her cargo and the num-
Der OF her decks and houses. She is sup
posed to have been sheathed with lead, and
accomplished at least one successful trip
fr1n ><>f1,z IL i
what like that of one of our Long Island
sound or Hudson river steamboats,. She
had three entrances, the lowest leading To
the hold the second TO the eating rooms
and the third was appropriated to tho SOL
diers There were thirty rooms each hav-
were fifteen couches in the sailors sumner
room, and there were three more cabins
each having three couches. The doors ~
all these rooms were laid in stone mosaic
work. There was also a temple of cypress
inlaid with ivory and dedicated to Venus.
The mainmast was composed of SINGLE
tree, and the vessel carried four wooden /
and eight iron anchors.
AS freight carrier she would rivnl tha
largest of our ocean trampss It ia recorded
that one or two of the launches belonging
10 ne5 y; would carry about eighty tons. This
ures OF corn 10000 Jars of Sicilian salt fish.
2O,OOO talents weight of wool and of other
cargo $4,000 talents, all of which was in adj |
dltlon to the provision required for the |
crew." These are the notably big vessels |
OF ancient times, but the superstition il |
that, as rulers, whether king or people, were |
as emulous in those days as these, other big |
craft were also built. From the foregoing
description the thought is suggested that !
the hrst designers Of our own river steam j
boats may have heard of the Egyptian and
oylacusan vessels and taken a hint from
them IN building floating palaces.