The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-28
LAUNCHING A GREAT VESSEL.
An Army of Men start the ship Down
the Creased Ways.
From ST. Nicholas.

From st. Nicholas
1t has often been said that man begins
to die the moment that he begins to live
1t might also be said that a ship begins
to be launched the moment she begins
to be built. The first thing in the actual
construction is to arrange the keel-blocks
on which the ship is to rest while she is
building. They must be placed at GER
tain distances apart, and each must be a
little higher that its neighbor nearer the
water. These blocks are usually of the
stoutest oak, and are placed from two TO
three feet apart. They must have regu-
lar Inclination, or the ship cannot be
launcned. In vessels like the St Louis
the incline is about one-half an inch in
night to a foot in length. In smaller vessels
II Is oIten more than one inch to the foot.
Larger vessels have so much weight that
a sharp incline is not as necessary as with
smaller ones. The keel of the ship is laid
on these blocks, and as fast as the sides
OF the vessel are built up great props are
placed against them to make sure that
by no accident viii the vessel topple over.
AT length the hull Of the ship is com
pleted. Then it is that the launching
apparatus is prepared. This consists OF
two parts, one that remains fixed on the
ground and one that glides into the water
with the snip. The part that goes into the
water IS the cradle. 1t is that part in
which the hull of the vessel rests snugly,
and probably that is why it is called a
launch, long row of blocks is built un-
der each side of the ship at an equal dis
lance from the keel-blocks, and of the
same inclination. on these blocks rest
first the stationary ways" These con-
sist of broad planks of oak from three
to four feet wide, capable of sustaining
weight of from two TO two and One-half
tons to the square foot. On top of these
ways are the sliding ways" of nearly
the same breadth, and between the two
the tallOW is placed.
A narrow cleat runs along the edge of
the stationary ways so that the sliding
ways shall not slip off as they carry
the ship along. Above the sliding ways is
what is called the packing" This con-
sists of pieces of timber packed close
to hold it firm to the sliding ways be-
meath. The curves in the hull vary so
much that it would be impossible to
fit the sliding ways to Them and so, by
the ways instead. The packing and the
sliding ways constitute the cradle, and
1t is fastened to the ship by stout ropes.
Along its length, at intervals of about
eighteen inches, are big wedges, the points
OF which are inserted between the slid
ing ways and the packing. A rope about
the thickness of a clothes-line runs from
wedge to wedge, so that none may be
lost when they float into the water
We are now ready for the launch. Tai
low to the thickness of about an inch
has been spread between the ways as they
We're put in position, nearly sixty barrels
being necessary for a ship like the st.
Louis. The cradle sets snugly against
the ships bottom The vessel, however,
is still resting on the keel-blocks The
task now is to transfer the ship from
those keel-blocks to the launching sup
ports, and to take away the keel-blocks.
Then, when the weight of the ship rests
on the launching ways alone, all that is
necessary is to saw away the "solepiece"
at the bow, where the stationary and
sliding ways are fastened together, and
the ship by her own weight will probably
slide into the water. If she needs a start,
several Jacks" using hydraulic power
are ready beneath the keel to lift her
trife and give her push.
All the props have been taken down ex-
cept a few that reach only a little way
up the Sides A platform with a railing
on which the staiwart workmen may rest
the stout pieces of timber they use as
battering-rams when they are driving
home the wedges, has been erected along
the sides of the ship. There are nearly
six hundred workmen, distributed along
the sides, in gangs of four each. Each
gang has five wedges to look after The
time set for the launch is usually lust
before high water, where the stream has
a tide. A dredge has been used directly
in the path the vessel will take when
she makes her plunge, so that she may
strike no obstruction. Every part of the
ways has been inspected. If the weather
is cold, lard-oil has been mingled with
the tallow to make it soft; and if the
weather is warm, stearine has been mix
ed with it to make it hard.
1t is about an hour before the time for
the ship to move The workmen are sum
moned and the signal is given for the
first rally" All at once a great din
arises. 1t is as If an army of street.
PAYERS were at work beneath the shin.
If you peer through the crowd you will
see the men drawing back the battering-
rams and then projecting them sharply
against wedge after wedge. This work
continues for four or five minutes and
then an inspection is made 1t is neces-
sary that the wedges be driven in uni
formly. The effect of this rally seems
imperceptible. 1t has resulted, however.
in driving the packing close up against
the sides of the ship, and when that
was accomplished, has driven the Sliding
ways down hard upon the stationary
ways, squeezing out the tallow here and
there. But the ship still rests upon the
After a rest Of fifteen or twenty minutes
a second rally comes. This is more spir-
tied than the first. In go the wedges. and
the great hull seems to tremble lust the
least bit. She is beginning 10 rest on the
launching ways. At last she is raised the
smallest fraction of an inch above the
keel blocks. Now comes the time for auicJ<
work. Here is where the "pioneers'' be-
gin to swing their axes. One gang of men
rushes up to the few props that are still
resting against the sides of the hull
Quick blows are given. timbers and chips
begin to fly, and prop after prop falls to
the ground. Another gang of men is rush
ing after the pioneers. They are the
painters, and with long brushes on the
ends Of poles, they daub over the places
where the props rested which could not
be painted until the props were taken
away.
Underneath the ship another gang Of
men is making havoc with the keel blocks |
Sharp chisels are being inserted on the
sides of the blocks and sledges are used
as the workmen come up from the river to-
ward the bow, knocking this way and
that the blocks which have been the sup
port Of the ship ever since she was first
laid down. At last, apparently after much |
confusion, but really in accordance with |
a careful system, all the keel clocks are
knocked away, and the supreme moment |
has arrived. All the wedges have been
driven home. and their outer edges are