Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-20
ANcIENT FLoATlva MoNsTERs.
v->s'-i- Built by Egyptians That Would
.lsal Modern St-am~r.

Ilsal Modern St-am~r.-
PeoPl--of the present age are Justly proud
OF the wonderful and magnificent spcci-
mems of naval architecture that crowd the
great ports q the world. II there l. any
thing new under the sun. \ first class ocean
steamer. II j. believed. j. that rarity. In
our conc.-it We recall only the galleys and
trire.nes u The ancients. that scarce ever
ventur-d heyord the coasf line, and the
small barks in which Columbus aud those
that followed him conquered the New
World and gave commerce 81 greatest
Gp!i. But tie an,iruts built many loodly
SOD craft. ana made luxury = study on
some % them. 7 Ear rlgcl confrorerted
raft. the ara. o. an example & higness.
Tier tonnage j. r-iimnf-l AZ about 1900
SMALLER. if i- true. fhan thaf 81 the Great
Ea-;srn. ~ ie-- an alfhorisy fhan Lind
say thinks rila- -lfe was simply raft uf
stup.f aau- ~. having upou if sfruct-
ure It-pfnb.li=s hinge warehouse. A. no
means q If' ..I i-lou uns nr,,4sary. this
description nay le ouruesi. Tie cargo.
however. wa. unique. and a. liaily the
largest anl mot valuable syer carried.
The description of the ark ~ given in
the S-rip;ure- nlake- the v.ssel about go
i,--i IN length. - fe,i in breadth aud a. feet
In depth. proportions similar TO those now
Ia use today for great vessels Bat ~ the
agnostic l. not sure that this llfebuaf of the
human race ever existed. and the mate
rislisi j. sure she never was built. let us
take for example of hig ancient vessels
some other craft vouched for upon the au-
ihority 81 profane and not sacred written
The Egyptians. fond of large things and
D dimensions. made the lig tonnage YES
iels of ancient time. ptoleiny 'hilopaioT)
would have appreciated tie Great Eastern.
lie WA fond of building big boats. One Of
tbese y said 90 have been go feat long. -
feet broad and - feet deep from the high
81 point 81 the stern. This vessel lad four
rndder- or what some would call steering
oars. 81 : they were not fastened. each - fee4
luu=. she carried 400 rowers. besides
a.noo marine, a large body 81 servants un-
der her deck. and stores aud provisions
Her oar were % feet long. and the handles
were weighted with lead There were 2oo0
rOwer- on a side. and IL - supposed that
these were divided into five banks That
this extraordinary vessel ever put 60 sea Il
doubted. bui that she Was launched and
used "a lime Il ouly for display several
historians are agreed.
Anoiber ship ;b- Thaiafne-us built
for one e the I'tulenlIes j. said TO have
been 500 feet long. - feet bruad and 90 feet
de.li. This Wa far more marnincen.
andriau historian. Cai.iNeuus. ia describing
her, speaks 81 her having colonnades.
marble Stair aud gardens Another great
vessel. historical 10y r.asun 81 it, si1e. IL
one built by Hero. k.ns - !Syrsca=e. Her
dimensions are estimated % be large from
the description % her cargo afd the num-
Der 81 her decks aud horses she l. sur-
| posed "a have been shcaihcd with lead. and
accomplished AZ least one successfal voy-
age. she had tbrce entrances. the lowest
leading TO the hold. the ~eooud 20 eating
rooms, and the iEird appropriated 20 the
soldiers. There were thirty rooms. each
having four couches. for the soldiers:
there were fifteen oouches IN the sailors
supper room. aud there were three more
1 cabins. each having ihree conrbcs. The
aoor> q ali thee rooms were laid in stone
mosaic work. There was also . temple Of
| cypress inlaia With ivory aud dedicafed TO
| Venus Tie nla.umasi was cofnTsosed of
single tree. and the vessel carried four
wooden and eight iron anchor.
A. a freight carrier she would rival the
largest q our ocean iramps. Ii j. recorded
that one or two 81 the launches belonging
to her would carry about eighty tons. This
vessel j. said to have carried ''Go.oO0 meas
ures of corn. 1000 Jar of sSicilian salt fish,
30eD talents weight of wool and of other
cargo saeo talents. all q which MAS in ad-
dItion 90 the provisions required for the
crew" These are the notably lig vessels
of aEc!en; time. but the supposition s.
that a. ruler. whether kings or people.
were - emulous in those days - I'm ihese.
other biz craft were also iii-Philadel.
phia Telegraph.