Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-03-12
SHIPS OF THE ANCIENTS.
were IN Many Instances Large .u,

were in Many Instances Large enc
Luxurious.
we moderns are justly proud of the
WONDERFUL and magnificent specimens
vi naval architecture that crowd the
great ports of the world. If there is
any thlng new under the sun. a first
Grass ocean steamer, it is believed. is
that rarity.
IN our conceit we recall only the gal
ieys and trlremes of the ancients that
scarce ever ventured beyond the coast
ilne, and the small banks in which Co
Auihous and those that followed him
conquered the new world and gave COM
Inerce its greatest field
hut the ancients built MANY pood-
sized crafts. and made luxury a study
on some of them. The Maritime Reg
lister has collected some samples for the
euIhcatlon OF modern wonder lovers.
he ark of Noah is marked example
Oh DlSness Her tonnage is estimated
at ABOUT 10000 tons-smaller, it is true
IMAM 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 resem-
bling huge warehouse
Asno means of propulsion We're neces-
sary, this description may be correct.
The cargo however, was unique. and
probably the largest and most valuable
ever carried.
Inc description of the ark, as given
IN the Scriptures, makes the vessel
about $50 feet in length. IS feet in
breadth and 10 feet in depth-propor-
tons similar to those in use to-day for
great vessels.
he Egyptians. always fond of big
things, We're renowned for building
monster ships. Ptolemy would have APP
preciated the Great Eastern. He was
fond of building big boats. One OF
these is said to have been 42O feet long.
81 feet broad and - feet deep from the
highest point of the stern.
This vessel had four rudders. or what
some would call steering-oars, as they
were not fastened. each - feet long
She carried 1000 rOwers, besides j. ZOO
marines, large body of servants under
her decks and stores and provisions.
Her oars We're 81 feet long. and the
handles We're weighted with lead
There We're 1000 rowers on side and
1t is supposed that these were divided
into five banks
That this extraordinary vessel ever
put to sea is doubted, but that she was
launched and used at times, if only for
display. several historians are agreed.
Another ship" the '.Thalamegus.'
built for one of the Ptolemies is said to
have been 800 feet long. 40 feet broad
and go feet deep. This was Il far more
magnificent vessel than any previous
one. An Alexandrian historian, Cat
Hxenus. in describing her, speaks of her
having colonnades, marble stairs and
gardens.
Another great vessel. historical by
reason of its size. is one built by Hero.
king OF Syracuse. Her dimensions are
estimated to be large, from the descrip-
ton of her cargo and the number of her
decks and houses. She is supposed to
have been sheathed with lead and ac-
complished at least one successful trip.
\ full description of her would read
somewhat like that of one of the Long
Island sound or Hudson river steam
boats She had three entrances, the
lowest leading to the hold. the second
to the eating-rooms and the third was
appropriated to the soldiers. There
were thirty rooms, each having four
touches. for the soldiers; there were fif-
teen touches in the sailors supper-room.
and there were three more ca DlnS. each
having three touches. The floors of all
these rooms were laid in stone mosaic
work There was also temple OF
cypress. inlaid with ivory and dedicated
to Venus. The mainmast was composed
of a single tree. and the vessel carried
four wooden and eight iron anchors.
As freight-carrier she would rival
the largest of our ocean tramps. 1t is
recorded that one or two of the launches
belonging to her would carry about SO
tons.
This vessel is said to have carried
go. 900 measures of corn, 10. 600 jars OF
SiciIian salt fish. 20 600 talents weight
of wool, and of other cargo 10000
talents, all of which was in addition
to the provision required for the crew.
These are the notably big vessels OF
ancient times. but the supposition is
that as rulers, whether king or people.
were as emulous in those days as these,
other big crafts were also built.
From the foregoing description the
thought is suggested that the first de
sirners of our own river steamboats,
NAV have heard of the Egyptian and
Svracusan vessels and taken a hint from
them in building floating palaces
Golden Days.
Two Singular Showers.