Year: 1859

the managing directors, both of whom had been inces
al G s s asp %


Tie point was safely passed carrier pigeons cere sent up
from TIE rese and ne shore spread e ,celcome


At Woolwich there Of course q tremendous con
Of spectators Every spot which could and doubt
less many which could not command view Of the ship,
were throngcd The dockyard the arsenal every place
was covered. The Fsgard had her in the shrouds,
who welcomed the safe arrival Of the vessel with regu
lar "three times three, which was echoed back from
II Is very probable that another such ship may pass down
the Thames, but seems not possible that the same
amount Of interest be manifested in any other vessel
aeaip, matter what her size.


Once past Woolwich, all the difficulties
perfectly under control that while the tide against
her their assistance might have been easily dispensed
with But for the delay at Backwall, Gravcscnd
would have been reached by eleven o'clock. AS
it was, however, the tide turned and set with
the ship before that hour. when the vessel
at the Long Reach, Off Purdeet An immediate halt
was therefore necessary, in turning few sharp cor
with the tide the vessels whole broadside would be-
come exposed to the full force of the stream and not all
the tugs in the river would prevent her going ashore at
II therefore determined 70 anchor of Purleet
till TO morrow Thursday morning single one Of Trot-
mans anchors let go at the bows and the course or
the ship which said anchors could hold,
at checked and the Great Eastern actually be-
gan 70 swing round inc Thames as much unaer con- CON-
she swung and remained broadsidc to the stream she
seemed literally to bridge across the river. There was
room enough for her 70 swing, but not foot TO spare
The vessel round TO the full force of the tide and
her chain cable taughtened up out Of the water for


moment like iron bar, but the single anchor never
yielded inch from the spot where 1t first dropped.


This day Thursday the Great Eastern will her
course and arrive OF the More aer twelve o'clock
Our readers may be interested to know that there


single seaman board the Great Eastern during this
river trip Of the having joined when she left
and the on board with the exception Of sokers and
officers, being all riegers from Mr.. Westhorps yard.


More Light (Sep 81 Correspondence Of London Times


After her first short run the Great Eastern remained at
her anchor OF Puree for the rest of the night and slowly
resumed her progress down the river at quarter to nine
o'clock this morning Her stoppage at purfeet sad
disappointment TO many thousands who had been collect
ing at Gravesend all day In the firm belief that she could
or would stop nowhere else. Her slight detention at
e state o s tide 0
bring at once at Long Reach The distinguished arr
val threw Purfoe into state of uncommon excitement.
Every within moderate reach of by road or rail
hurried TO the little village till thronged to the
waters edge Gravesend also, seemed most unwilling TO
and before long crowded boats stored round and round
the ship the passengers cheering themselves till they
were hoarse again. while the bands played see the Con-
querng Hero Comes" "Rule Britannia and all sorts of
musical welcomes For the rest of the evening there
constant repetition Of such visits. Not vessel
passed that did not turn up hands to cheer, while
many, as they came down the river, dressed in flags
from stem to stern. It not till night had fallen
that the great ship was fairly left alone and began swing
ing round 10 her anchor with the rising tide The night
little puffy, and seemed inclined TO become more 30,
but the wind fell as the moon and the weather





hour for the tide to turn the ship fully round and at
low water, she lay the river for hort time in
turning she might almost be said TO have stopped the
navigation with her colossal bulk. During the night she
swung twice again, and by daylight was lying with her
head fair for the resumption Of her course down the
river seems almost incredible that ship OF such
size could have swung in any part Of the Thames but
only nautical men appreciate the fact Of her doing
in a strong tide way with a single six anchor, which
crossed and recrossed less than three times with
out the chah foulng or the anchor being disturbed in
its hold


AT about hafpas eight this morning the vessel was
again under way. The Marquis Of Stafford had Joined
during the night having travelled all the way from Scot
land to witness the great ships first efforts Lord Alfred
Paget also board before starting One turn lit
tie below Long Reach required TO be carefully rounded
but with the depth Of the water and greater breadth Of
Just after passing it little brig, which was quite safe
when she sailing up appeared frightened at the sight
of the huge vessel and altering her stOO0 almost
the path Of the Great Eastern and was within
being down. AS the vessel approached Graves
end multudes of people could be distinguished along the
shore. Gradually she and nearer, the
rung with their cheers, and the river covered
all shouting waving hats and hapdkerchiefs.


There something almost affecting in the spontane
enthusiasm and delight with which all seemed to hail
the release of the noble ship from her long thradom In
the river. No matter whether it was a Hamburg or
Rotterdam steamer with half foreigners board,
seemed high low do her honor and her voy
age down the river continued scene Of voclerous
welcome OF Gravesend and in front Of the thronging
piers and terraces several large roopshps with de-
tachments on board for India. The crews were in the
shrouds Of hese the soldiers, grouped in picturesque
got welcome which was worth a long journey
to see and which, triumphant as may be her recep-
ton in the States, is likely TO be surpassed,
nor often equalled. With the parting cheers still
floating across the water, Gravesend was left
behind, and the two tugs ahead began TO- 80 at
began to change its tint from dirty black to muddy
green the cool air fresher the reaches and
those board rcOced at last at the long wished for
proach Of sea water.


The transaction marked in the usual disagreeable
ey the boilers o sp
all the deck This unpleasant inauguration, how
ever, sea water was fairly gained and


preparations made for casting OF the tugs and tdring
the Great Eastern for once and for all upon her own re-
sources


The change as may be readily imagined, made no diff
ference the wanderer thus cast adr being better able to
take Of herself than any vessel that has
yet foated the world seem. Still, as the event
marked the commencement of what we believe
will be long and triumphant career, and
one which will inaugurate in ocean
steamships and ocean navigation, deserved to be
marked The tugs cast of the Chapman s Head,
at the top of Sea Reach the passengers with the ships
band being assembled aft, and the crew forward The
national anthem played the smoky auxilares left
her head to her CONTROL the passengers cheering
from end Of the vessel while the swarmed into
the shrouds forward TO return the compliment Thus the
tugs let go, after having performed their arduous
duty, under the most difficult circumstances a way
that commanded the admiration Of the most experienced
pilots board As the vessel left to herself
increased amount Of speed was got on her. This
DONE not in the least with view of testing her power,
but literally only to give her good seerae way and move
her engines easily.


Throughout the whole down the river the paddle
engines had been moved at greater speed than
from four TO six revolutions per minute and the
from twelve to eighteen In fact, neither engine
moved till became actually necessary to assist the tugs
Yesterday, however, when valuable little aids, which
had realised the fable of the and the lion and freed
the Great Eastern from all her river tolls cast
adrft at Chapmans Head, speed put upon the
uesse and ten minutes she set at rest for all doubt
TO her being the fastest peel beyond comparison in the ord
1t has already been stated that the proper going trim
of the Great Eastern little four feet down by the
stern Instead Of this she is at present six inches down
by the head nhie her aohole drdtht Of odter light
TO aoo the proper immersion to her paddle floats and
less than four feet Of her blades out Of ,odter


Any at all acquainted with steamships will that
attempt at the real speed under such circumstances
was out of the question Yet in this trim enough
done to show the marvellous power which this yes
sci will possess when fully ready for sea. At sea the
Great Eastern is intended to work twenty five pounds
Of stea the paddles going fourteen revolutions and the
screw fifty three To-day the pressure of steam