The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
THE SHIP IN THE hottie.
A wonder TO the Beholder TIL He Learns
How IL Got In There.

A wonder TO the 'Beholder TIL He Learns
How IL Got In There.
Here, lying uponits side, wired to a little
wooden platform for a base and support,
was a bottle. an ordinary white glass bottle,
with a ship completely rugged inside Of 1t.
The bottle was about nine inches in length
and three and half inches in diameter,
straight sided and cylindrical in form,
and having a high shoulder and a narrow
neck.
AS the bottle lay on its side, the hull Of
the ship inside rested on the lower eide,
while the masts Rose all but to the top, and
the yards spread almost from side to side.
From keelson to main truck would measure
about three inches, while the spread OF the
mHinyard was more than two. and the other
masts and yards lowered and spread ac-
cordingly, so that the ship practically filled
the whole interior Of the bottle. How was
it ever got through the bottles neck. an
opening whose diameter measured less than
an inch?
And il was a very complete little ship
indeed Its hull was about five inches
in length. with its bowsprit projecting
beyond that forward, while its spanker
boom projected in due form over the taft
rail aft. Altogether il extended the whole
length of the bottle below the shoulder.
On deck here we're a ca pstan and the usual
deck houses. and there were also the regu-
lation matches. A. 10 spars and az to rig
ging, both standing and running, all three
masts we're crossed with their full com
plement cf yards and there were all the
regular shrouds and stays, and the yards
were fully equipped with braces.
It was wonderful little ship, with every
thing shipshape and in order and il COM
pletely filed the bottles interior. How
could it ever have been got through the
bottles narrow neck?
The ship was built, and II was first com
pletely set up. outside of the bottle with
every spar and rope adjusted to a nicety;
and il was 70 made that when everything
had been set up In place II could all be
knocked down, or folded fiat, o lie in small
compass along The ships deck
Every yard was attached To It's mast by
tiny peg on which the yard could be turned
in line with the mast These pegs are so
small that they would never be not iced
except by looking closely for them All the
various part S OF the rigging, nicely adjusted
10 start with, could be laid down. with the
spars, and so laid that they would all come
right and true again when the ship was n gain
sci up.
Then, when the ship Is ready for launch
ing so 10 speak-inside the bottle-with
everything 50 knowSed down and slowed
that it can he got through the bottles neck,
the builder runs into the bottle along the
lower side or floor or bottom of il, as it lies
on It's side. sufficient pitch TO form a bed
for the bottom Of the boat 10 rost in, The
pitch sticks 10 the bottle and the ship. when
IL has been sunk in II 70 ats water line. Will be
firmly held in place
When he has got this little sea Of pitch
ready for it inside the bottle. the ship
builder gets the Bnocked-down ship through
the neck Of the bottle and with the aid OF a
little rod works the hull down into the pitch
and gets II in a true line with the bottle.
and drawing just the right amount every
where in the pitch 30 that she will float all
right and proper. and then he lets II rest
there until the pitch Is thoroughly hardened
and the ship IS fast in It.
Before putting the ship In her knocked
down form. through the neck OF the bottle.
the builder had looped around her forema At
at about the level Of the foretopsail yard a
cord whose ends be kept to himself. out
side the bottle. this TO be used IN setting up
the ship, and he Uses also for this work a
forked and hooked wire. Tiny holes have
been bored in the ships deck into which 10
step the ml-t~. and when the ships hull is
firmly set in II bed or sea of pitch inside
the bottle and everything * ready, the
builder by the aid of his pulling string and
his wire proceeds 10 set up her spars and
rigging. When he pulls on the foremost,
he pulls through the connecting STAYS on
all Of the rnasts and so raises ALL and with
the wire he work. the lower ends Of the
masts into their places.
With the masts up all the shroud- and
stays come exactly into their proper perIna-
nent positions But the yards -till remain
ranging up and down the ma-is. These
now one after another. by the aid Of his
handy wire. the shipbuider proceeds 10
bring down into place until all are properly
crossed and then there stands the ship in
the bottle, with all her spars and rigging
complete, and filing the bottles interior
completely. a most curious and interesting
object, and one causing many an observer
10 wonder how it over rot there.
Sailors make these ships IN bottles. with
patient and painstaking labor, in their spare
moments on long voyages at sea. The
one here described was made recently on
the voyage Of a sailing ship from san Fran
cisco around tho Horn to New York.