Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-12-20

article delivered first, and quiet was
not restored until all the strange stock
bad been taken away.
Large Ships of the Ancients
From the Mayatime Register.
We moderns are justly proud of the
wonderful and magnificent specimen of
naval architecture that crowd the great
ports of the world. If there is anything
new under the sun, frst-class ocean
steamer, it is believed, is that rarity. In
our conceit we recall only the galleys
and triremes of the ancients, that scarce
ever ventured beyond the coast line,
and the small banks in which Columbus
and those that followed him conquered
the new world and gave commerce its
greatest field. But the ancents built
many goodly sized craft and made lux
ury a study on some of them. That
much controverted craft, the ark, is an
example of bigncss. Her tonnage is es-
timated at about fifteen thousand tons,
smaller, it is true, than that of the Great
Eastern. No less an authority than
Lindsay thinks that she was simply a
raft of stupendous size, having upon it a
structure resembling a huge warehouse.
AS no means of propulsion were neces-
sary, this description may be correct.
The cargo, however, was unique, and
probably the largest and most valuable
ever carried.
The description of the ark, as given in
the Scriptures, makes the vessel about
$50 feet in length, IS feet in breadth,
and 45 feet depth, proportions SINH
lar to those now III use to-day Tor great
vessels. But as the agnOstic is not sure
that this lifeboat Of the human race ever
existed, and az the materialist is sure
she never was built, let us take for ex-
ample of big ancient vessels some other
craft vouched for upon the authority of
prOfane and not sacred writers. The
Egg ptians, fond of large things and big
dimensions, made the big tonnage yes
sells of ancient times. Ptolemy (Philo-
pator) would have appreciated the
Great Eastern. He was fond OF building
big boats. One of these is said to have
been 420 feet long, 81 feet broad and 72
feet deep from the highest point of the
stern. The vessel had four rudders, or
what some would call steering oars, as
they were not fastened, each As feet
long. She carried 1900 rowers, besides
5000 marines, a large body of servants
under her decks, aud stores and pro-
visions. Her oars were 81 feet long, and
the handles were weighted with lead.
There were 1000 r0Wers on a side, anu
it IS supposed that these were divided
into five banks. That this extraordinary
veese! ever put to sea is doubted, but
that she was launched and used at
times, if only for display, several histo-
rians are agreed.
Another "ship,' the Thalamegus,
built for one Of the Ptolemies, is said to
have been 800 feet long, 40 feet broad
and SO feet deep. This was far more
magnificent vessel than any previous
one. An Alexardrian historian, Catiix-
enus, in describing her, speaks of her
having colonnades, marble stairs and
gardens. Another great vessel, histo-
rical by reason Of its size, is one built by
Hero, King of Syracuse. Ter oimen-
sions are estimated to be .,e from the
description of her cargo ana the number
of her decks and houses. She is sup
posed to have been sheathed with lead,
and accomplished at least one successful
voyage A full description OF her would
read somewhat like that of one of our
Long Island Sound or Hudson River
steamboats,. She had three entrances,
the lowest leading to the hold, the sec
ond TO the eating rooms and the third
appropriated to the soldiers. There
were thirty rooms, each having four
COuChGS, 1OT the SOLDIERS: Lnere were
fifteen touches in the sailors supper
room, and there were three more cab
ms, each having three couches. The
floors of all these rooms were laid IN
stone mosaic work There was also a
temple2of cypress inlaid with ivory and
dedicated to Venus. The mainmaSt was
composed of single tree, and the ves-
sci carried four wooden and eight iron
anchors.
As a freight carrier she would rival
the largest of our ocean tramDs. 1t is
recorded that one or two OF the launch
es belonging to her would carry about
eighty tons. This vessel is said to have
| carried 100000 measures of corn, 10000
Jars of Sicilian salt fish, 10000 talents
weight of wool, and of other cargo 90
600 talents, all of which was in addition
to the provisions required for the crew"
These are the notably big vessels of an
cient times, but the supposition is that
rulers, whether king or people, were as
emulous III those days as these, other
big craft were also built. From the
foregoing description, the thought is
suggested that the first designers of our
own river steamboats, may have heard
of the Egyptian and Syracusan vessels,
and taken hint from them III building
floating palaces.
y Very Queer Old Hen.
"Hens are funny critters" says an
II 7 houa ono on INV