, 1891-01-29
ANsgNr FLoArINe MonsrgRs.
Vessehs Built by Egyptians That would
Rival Modern steamen

NEHsCA DulAA oy GEyptAAn. n nOulo
Rival Modern
People OF the present age are justly proud
of the wonderful and magnificent speci-
mems of naval architecture that crowd the
great ports of the world. II there is any
thing new under the sun, a first class ocean
steamer, il 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 barks in which Columbus and those
that followed him conquered the New
World and gave its greatest
field. But the ancients built many goodly
sized craft, and made luxury a study on
some of them. That much controverted
craft, the ark, Is an example of bigness.
Her tonnage is estimated at about Is, 900
smaller, it is true, than that of the Great
Eastern. 70 less an authority than Lind
say thinks that she was simply a raft of
s~tupendous size, having upon it a struct-
ure resembling a huge warehouse. As no
means of propulsion vas necessary, this
description may be correct. The cargo,
however, was unique, and probably the
largest and most luAble ever carried.
The description OF the ark as given in
the Scriptures makes the vessel about $50
feet in length, 30 feet in breadth and As feet
in depth, proportions similar to those now
in use today for great vessels. But as the
agnostic is not sure that this lifeboat of the
human race ever existed, and as the mate
rialist is sure she never was built, let US
take for example of big ancient vessels
SOME other craft Vouehed for upon the au-
thority of profane and not sacred writer's.
The Egyptians, fond of large things and
big dimensions, made the big tonnage YES
sells of ancient time. Ptolemy (Philopator)
would have appreciated the Great Eastern.
He was fond OF building big boats. One of
these is said to have been 40 feet long, 81
feet broad and ~ feet deep from the high
est point of the stern. This vessel had four
rudders, or some woul call steering
oars, as they were not fastened, each IS feet
long. She carried 1000 rowers, besides
5000 marines, a large body Of servants I'M
der her decks, and stores and provisions.
Her oars were 81 feet long, and the handles
were weighted with lead. There were 1000
rowers on a side, and it 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 300 feet long, 40 feet broad and 60 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 ~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 description of her cargo and the num-
beT of her decks and houses. She is sup
posed to have been sheathed with lead, and
accomplished at least one successful voy-
age. She had three entrances, the lowest
leading to the hold, the second to eating
rooms, and the third appropriated to the
soldiers. There were thirty rooms, each
having four couches, for the soldiers;
there were fifteen couches in the sailors
supper room, and there were three moro
cabins, each having three couches. The
floors of 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 a
single tree, aud the vessel carried four
wooden and eight iron anchors.
As a 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 eighty tons. This
vessel is said to have carried 100, 900 meas
ures of corn, 10000 jars of Sicilian salt fish,
10000 talents weight of wool, and of other
cargo 10000 talents, all OF which was in ad-
dition to the provisions required for the
crew" These are the notably big vessels
of ancient times, but the supposition is
that as rulers, whether kings or people,
were as emulous in those days as in these,
other big craft were also built.-Philadel.
phia Telegraph.