Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-31
LnrCe Ships of the AncienIs.


wonderful and magnificent specimens
of naval architecture that crowd the
great ports of the world. If there is
any thing new under the sun, first class
ocean steamer, it is beloved, is that rar-
ity. In our conceit we recall only the
galleys and triremes of the ancients
that scarce ever yentured beyond the
coast line, and the small barks in which
Columbus and those that followed him
conquered q new world and gave COM
merce its greatest field. But the an
clients built many goodIy 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 tons, smaller,
it is true, than that of the Great East
ern. No less an authority than Lindsay
thinks that she was simply raft of stu
penaous size, having upon it Il structure
resembling a huge warehouse. As no
means of propulsion were necessary,
this description may be correct The
cargo, however, was unique and prob
ably the largest and most valuable ever
carried. The description Of the ark, as
given in the scriptures, makes the YES
sci about 450 feet in leng h, IS feet in
breadth, and IS feet in depth, proper
tons similar to tlio5' now in use to-day
for great vessels. But as the agnostic is
not sure that this life b at OF the hu-
man race ever existed, and as the ma
teriaIst is sure she never was built let
us take for example of big ancient YES
Il E 81
authority of profane and MOI sacred
writers.
The Egyptians, fond of large things
and big dimensions, mada tie big ton
mage vessels of anc rnt times. P,olemy
(Philopatoi) woui have "p. rcciated the
Great Eastern. II" was lond Of build
ing big boats. One of these is said to
have been 4?0 feet long, 81 feet broad,
and ~ feet deep from the highest point
of the stern. This vessel had four rud =
ders, or what some would call steering
oars, as they We're not fastened, each 40
feet long. She carried 4, 600 POWERS, be-
sides 3, geo marines, large body of serv-
ants under her decks, and stores and
provisions. Her oars were 81 feet long,
and the handles we're weighted with
lead. There were 1000 rowers on a
side, and it is supposed that these We're
divided into five banks. That this eX-
traordinary 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 Ptolemes, is said to
have been 800 feet long, 40 feet wide,
and 60 feet deep This was a far more
magnificent vessel that any previous
one. An AleXandrian historian, Cat
lixenus, in describing her speaks of her
having colonnades, marble stairs, and
gardens. Another great vessel, his
torical by reason of its size, is one built
by Hero, king of Syracuse. Her di-
mansions are estimated to be large
from the description of her cargo, and
the number of her decks and houses.
She is supposed to have been sheathed
with lead, and accomplished at least
one success ,ful voyage. a full descrip.
| ton of her would read somewhat like
| that of one of our Long Island Sound or
| Hudson River steamboats, She had
| lhIce cHlldlCcS, tlc lONcoU IcttulIlS W
the hold, the second to the eating rooms,
and the third appropriated to the SOL
| diers. There was 80 rooms, each hav-
| ing four couches for the soldiers; there
| were Is cOuches in the sailors upper
rooms, and there We're three more
cabins, each having three couches. The
| floors of all these rooms We're laid in
stone mosaic work. There was also a
temple of cypress inlaid with ivory, and
dedicated to Venus. The mainmast
was composed of single tree, and the
vessel carried four wooden and eight
iron anchors. As freight carrier she
would rival the largest of our ocean
| tramrs 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 80 900 measures of
corn, TO- 900 jars of Sicilian salt fish, 90
| 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, without king or people, We're
rs emulous in those days as these, other
| big craft were also built From the
| foregoing description the thought is
! suggested that the first designers of our
river steamboats, may have heard of the
| e ryptian and Syracusan vessels and
! ken hint from them in building
/ floating palaces. Il Maritime Register