The San Francisco call., 1907-06-30
A Dutch Method of
Launching a Ship

Launching a Ship
THERE have been many queer
launchings. no doubt. since man
first began to work at the trade OF
shipbuilding. but recent one at Ans
terdam. Holland. about reached the
limit OF the remarkable
It also demonstrated the resourceful-
ness OF the Dutch shipbuilders. Find
ing that a steamer they had constructed
was too big for the available depth OF
water. they calmly opened the seagates
and allowed the Atlantic TO pour in n
sufficient tide to float the vessel
The incoming rush OF waters did not
stop there. however. IL inundated the
lower sections Of the city at o'clock in
the morning, routing out many families
and causing general CONSERVATION. AM
sterdamers hope that vessels built Tiers
hereafter will be smaller.
1t is on account of this unheard ot
episode that the liner Rembrandt OF the
Java fleet is now an object OF more Gu
riosity than any other vessel in the
karbor. Visitors are all anxious to get
a look at the craft which was fioatsd at
the expense Of flooding city.
This seems to have been one or those
strange cases that happen at times-al
though why they should no one can
explain-of experienced and reputable
craftsmen building ar great expense
something which they cannot use after
1t is finished.
rrt,o q
structing an airship in his cellar and
then for the first time thought OF the
problem of getting it out might be ex-
cused on the ground OF eccentricity.
Who, however. would expect the
launching of ship in water too shall
low to hoat the craft?
There was great merriment in "
Amsterdam that day the hull of the
Rembrandt was completed She was
a beautiful two deck ship and was
painted bright yellow. with burnt
sienna trimmings; she was strong and
graceful and in every respect seemed
TO justify the large cost Of construction
Asaay for the launching was set. The
daughter of one of the officers OF the
company was chosen TO break a bottle
of wine over the bow when the props
should be released and the new bride
of old ocean should blushingly trip
down the ways into his loving arms.
Crack. Crack, The sledges. propelled
by sturdy arms. battled with one sup
port after another, until the last one
gave way, and then, with a gentle
movement the Rembrandt slipped from
her cradle into the river below. just as
the little sponsor swung the bottle es
wine and said: II baptize thee Rem
brandt"
But there. at the foot of the cradle
from which she lad slipped. the Rem
brandt stayed. stuck fast in the mud.
Her hull had been made to draw more
water than the canal would supply.
The burghers looked at one another
IN astonishment and the big men of the
company went into executive session
TO think out some remedy.
This brings us to the night OF the
dclusc. Amsterdam was sleeping. A
large number OF the people of Amster- ,
dam, especially in the low districts near
the water front. reside in easements
1t was. OF course. the DasemspSr dwell
ers that first became affected when the
seagate sluices at Gnulden were opened
III order to raise the water In the canal
SunIClSntlE TO nOat the Rembrandt. Inc
middle OF the night had been chosen
for the operation, as that was the hour
of food tide, and consequently it would
not be necessary TO let 50 much of the
sea water in
Imagine the scene in those little
basement sleeping rooms, with their
scant furniture, when through cracks
and crevices in the walls and under
the doors came seeping. then surgins.
the water from the seq
There could be but one explanation
the world was coming 10 an end.
The deluge was here When AmSter-
dam had gone to bed the Say had been
clear. with no Indication Of rain, 50
the floods must have literally descend
cd in sheets. so the terrOr-stricken
people thought
There were sick people in some
homes; infants were sleeplDr IN their
oId-fashioned cradles: II wss an enor-
nous task to get them out to safety s
Lights We're out. IN fear. caused by f
the water and darkness. people ran +
helter skelter-
Here and there I'm the streets were
veritaDle waterspouts, where over
charged sewers had burst and sent
their contents upward.
1t was found that the sewers had
been a prime factor in permitting th7
ingress of water to so many homes -.
Still. a great volume of +. lowed riSM
through the streets.
Amsterdam people are stoical. After
having dried out their provisions ana
their bed clothing and pumped t49
water out of the cellars and first s1o~
ries of their homes they calmly moyed
in again.
Anyhow the Rembrandt had beon
launched---Chicago Chronicle.