Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-22
OESEREF EVENING NEWS.
BIG VESSELS OF THE ASCIExrs.
COMPARED WITH OUR MODERN
STEAMSHIPS.

We moderns are justly proud OF
the wonderful anu magnificent
specimens Of naval architecture
that crowd the great ports OF the
world II there is anything seg
under the SUI, a first-ciass ocean
steamer. it is believed, is that rarity.
In our conceit We recall ouly-the
gaileys and tTiremes of the ancients,
that scarce ever venturei beyond
the. coast line, and the small barks
in which Columbus and those that
followed him conquered the new
world, ami gave commerce its great-
est field. But the ancients buiit
many goodiy sized crafts, and
made luxury a study on some Of
them.
That much controverted craft, the
ark. l. an example OF biguess. Her
tonnage is estimated at about Is, 900
tons, smaller, Il is true, than that OF
the Greut E0stera. No less an au-
thority than Lindsay thinks tEat
she was simply raft Of stupendors
size. having upon it Structure re-
sembling n huge warehouse. AS no
means OF propulsion were necessary,
this description may he correct. The
cargo. however, was unique, aud
probably the largest ami must vaiu-
able ever carried
The description of the ark, Is
given in the Scriptures, makes the
vessel about $50 feet in length, %
feet in breadth, and IS feet in depth
proportions similar TO those nov
in use today for great vessels. But
as the agnostic is not sure that this
lifeiloat Of the human race ever ex-
listed, and "a the material;ss Is sure
she never WAS built, let us take for
example Of big ancient vessels some
other icraft vOuched for upon the,
authority OF profane and not sacred
" riters. The Egyptians, fond of
large things and big dimensions.
made the big tonnage vessels Of an
| cient times.
Ptolenly tPhilopsterl would
have appreciated the Great Eastern.
He was fond Of building big boats
| One Of these Is said 20 have been $50
feet long, 81 feet broad. ami - feet
4 deep from the highest point Of the
| stern. This vessel had four rudders,
or what some would call steering
cars, as they were not fastened,
each Is feet long. She carried 900
roweis, besides 800 mariners. q
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 200 rowers on a side,
and IT is supposed that these
were divided into five banks. That
this extraordinary vessel ever put to
sea IL doubted, but that she was
launched and used at times, il only
for display, several historians are
agreed.
Another ship, the T0iaDisgSs-
built for ne Of the Ptolemies, Is
said TO have been 900 feet long. -
feet broad, and 40 feet deep. This
was a far more magnificent vessel
than any previous one. An Alex
andrian historian, Catlixenus, in
describing her, speaks of her having
colonnaies, marble stairs and gar
dens. Another great vessel, hi>tori-
cal by reason Of liz size, is one buiii
| by Hero. King OF Syracuse. Hell
dimensions are estimated 10 be large
| from the description of her cargo,
and the number OF her decks anc
houses. She is supposed TO nave
been sheathed with lead, and &C
-nmplishei al least one successiu
trip. :,
a full description of her would
| resd somewhat like that OF one o
/ Our Long Island Sound or Huds
| river steamboats,. She had thre'
entrances. the lowest leading to thu
| hold. the second to the eating looms
| and the third was appropriated q
the soidic.s. There were thirt,
! rooms, each having four conches
Tor the soldiers; there were t.tee'
| pouches in the sailors' upper room
ami there were three more cabins
-ach having three couch-s. Th'
| doors of all these rooms were laid II
l stone mosaic work. There was nj,
Ia temple CT oypres, inlaid viii
iiyory and dedicated 10 Venus In
l maiumast was COMPOSED at 9 singh
ltree, and tie vessel carried io1
wooden and eight iron anchors. =,
| As a freight carrier abe ~oui'
rival the largest Of our ocea'
ramps. 1t is recorded that one o
| two OF the launches belonging q
| her would carry about eighty tons
| rhis vessel "a ssii 10 have clrrie'
go 900 measures Of corr. II, ey
Jars Of sicilian salt fish, -, COO tai
| ents' weight OF wool, aud Of othe
cargo 20 90 talents, al OF whici
was in addition 10 tue provision ne
1uired for the crew." These are tn
notably big vessels Of ancient TINES
out the supposition is that, as ruler
whether king or people, were Q
emulous ia those days as These
other big craft wero also bull
From the foregoing description IN
thought is suggested that the M
designers Of our own river steam
! boats may have heard o! the Egyp
| tinu and Syra-usan vessels ant
,sken a hint from them in buildin
| foating palaces.-Mritinie Rs9t'