Year: 1860

PEAK h.


(Concluded.)


THOUGHTS ON BOARD.


Your correspondent, having been up since half
past three, thought it very extraordinary that
everybody on board of the "Iron MonsterR was not
out of bed by five, and like all early risers felt very
strong contempt for, and Indignation against slug
CARDS in general, and these Engishmen in particu-
lar. "The early bird fndeth the worm,' and the
early correspondent soon thinks of his breakfast.
In spite Of what the reporters of Gotham had said
of the culinary arrangements the Cape May trip,
and the unfav vatcinations and the prepara-
tions of his fair FRIEND he had made up his mind
to be "agreeably disappointed, as the phrase goes,
and was secretly indulging in hopes of meal
worthy of Hampton Roads. He had fancied long
perspective of mahogany, in some splendid saloon,
covered with the fairest linen, ornamented with
the clearest of cut glass, the whitest of English
china, and the brightest of cutlery and plate. He
had mental bill of fare, including hog fish, sheep
head, soft crabs, stewed clans, and possibly
stewed oysters from the salt coves There would
be hot rolls and mullins, cold bread and toast. Be
ing on English ground, he felt perfectly sure of
beefsteak and chop, hot coffee and English break
fast tea, of course. Your correspondent had made
such spread this in his mind, but
did not imagine that he was able to do full Justice
to the names and numbers of the coming dishes,
though he felt that he could play the part of
man in the discussion thereof. He expected every
moment to hear a gong about thirty feet in diane
ter, worked by the donkey engine, announce the
titanic treat. Possibly they were loading that six
pounder for the purpose. The absence of servants
on deck was accounted for in the same way. They
were all employed below, aided by machinery in
arranging the table Alas for your correspondent!
1t was not long before he heard that breakfast
would be served at nine, and not a minute sooner,
and that the cook and all his mates were even now
nhuhI e1n
hours hard to kill it is those between an early rising
and late breakfast, and here four of them to be
disposed of. Your correspondent of course
membered his carpet bag, but he thought it efemi-
reserves so soon. Besides, it might be doing great
injustice to the coming breakfast. He therefore
resolved that he would employ the interval in


LEARNING THE ROPES.


All the above reflections passed through your
"speciaPs" mind much sooner than he has been able
to write them. He must not be imagined to have
stood still until all this mental operation per-
formed. On the contrary, he was strolling about,
making use of bis eyes, while something with.
in him, or possibly nothing within him,
prompting these speculations. He turned his eyes
in every direction-to the bow and the stern-he
looked up into the rigging, and down upon the
deck, and he saw what, the Lord forbid he shall
undertake to describe. He fully realized then and
there, and subsequently, and promscuously, that he
was at last on board of the "Great EASTERN" the
'Leviathan," the "Great Ship" the "Big Ship"





moth" the elephant" the "Ark," ST. Peters of
the Waves, ''the "Wonder of the Age" the "Float-
ing Island" To these well chosen terms he is now
prepared to add two more; one suggested by po-
etical friend well up in his mythology, to wit,
"Neptune's Yacht" and the other overheard in
soliloquy, pronounced by (your Especial believes)
an Eastern Shore-man, "she is a GaU-bmsterp'-
This last epihet is perhaps the best of all, in its
fgurative indicating something truly tre-
mendous, and in its literal acceptation a great
spiller oil bile, which hits the case exactly.


Your correspondent counted the masts several
times and ascertained there were six-one of them
he imagines playing the part of kitchen Chin
ney, which being hollow iron tube it may well
do, without interference with its more obvious
functions. At all events, he saw reek coming
out of it near the round top, and in the condition
of his mind he naturally though possibly incorrectly
connected the smoke with the preparation of
breakfast.


THE SAILING OF THE GREAT EASTERN.


Every furnace on board was now in full blast
The steam up and your correspondent is graft
fled to state that steam may be got up. in quanti
ties sufficient for the purpose of this ship of 25 900
tons, without any fzzng, whising, turi ing of the
cranks and noises and confusions Of other kinds The
screw had made few turns before we came on
board, and the side wheels were prepared to move
as soon as the signal might be given. In the dim
perspective of the region of the bows, large par
ty were perceived engaged in some circular per-
formance On reaching the spot he found they
were working the capstan to get up the anchor.
The appearance of the handspikes with which the
men were heaving, indicated scarcity of tim
Der quite as much as their pautaloons, shirts and
countenances showed want of soap. A most un-
calmly and dirty party of fifty theywere. One your
specials "crowd' pointed out particularly nasty
pair, as the ships pastry cook and mate but your
correspondent suspected a SELL and trusted not the
tale. Your correspondent admits the anchors to
be unprecedented" but he did not see the cable
each link of which is thick as a mans thigh.


The MACHINERY IN MOTION.


Those who make the excursion to ANNAPOLIS and
w Uat vorth nf thair bpt tbo,,
will not see the machinery in motion, which your
correspondent congratuates himself that he did
There is first rate opportunity for inspection,
it is fixed in open space near the centre of the
ship, guarded by brass railing, over which you
look down upon its movements. There is also a
stairway by which you may descend to closer
view, an investigation which, in the present state
OF the thermometer, most people will decline The
engines working the paddle-shaft are osclating
dispensing altogether with the tall, gallowso looking
apparatus which is so conspicuous in our common
boats: Although of the most ponderous weight
and size, they move almost without nose and are
under instantaneous and perfect control Further
aft are placed those which work the screw. These
can only be approached by tunnel, which passes
along through the centre of the vessel, somewhere
near the waterline or below it, and your Especial"
supposes right between the furnaces The
plates on each side too hot to touch, and
if the D-l ever comes aboard the Great Eastern he
will make this tunnel his favorite promenade. All
the jar which is felt 10 the ship grows out of the
screw engines. They are very powerful. but work
in rapid and jerking manner, very unlike the os-
cillators The vessel passes from state of perfect
repose into the most rapid motion almost uncon-
sciOusy to the passenger. She rolls up no water in
front, and leaves no waves in her wake. She
moves through water as large and dignifed people
are apt to move in society, without the fuss and
swell of smaller ones.


THE BARBER's SHOP AND THE WASHING ARRANGEMENTS


Your special correspondent turns now from such
matters to details of which he was part and
which he therefore attcrs himself will be of great
er interest. 1t did not take him long to discover
that he was in an iron labyrinth to which he had no
clue AS general rule on steamboats, he avoids
the"Captain's office, as place connected with what
Rabelais calls the most painful moments of mans
existence, those of quidation-payment ofbills. He
would now, however, have hailed such an nstitu-
tIon, but none was in sight, if any existed. The
streets, lanes, and alleys were not properly
lettered at the corners and crossings. He
could not readily find his way, and the
population was so thin that he found nobody
shop or "dressing salOOn," whatever it should
be termed He inquired of some functionaries
but he discovered that these individuals had each
"department,' and that the ''barber's shop was
not IN any OF them, nor was general information
their especially" Your correspondent was, how
ever, fortunate enough to meet with courteous
countryman, who introduced him to a Baltimore
detective, who, in his professional character, had
your correspondent to it. He had not yet divested
himself of illusions The dressing saloon of the
Great Eastern would be, as he expected to dit. an
institution of itself. If steamboat 200 feet long,
40 feet wide, 20 feet deep, and of 1000 tons bur
then have barber's shop 10 feet by II, with
seats, and dressing glasses, and wash. stands
and 100 towels, what kind of a "barber's shop
should steamer 700 feet long, so feet wide,
GO feet deep and 25, 900 tons burthen have
Your correspondent takes this to be question in
the double rule of three, capable OF solution
which although he is not prepared to work it out,
would produce a result altogether different from
the which the detective had so ceverly discoy-
cred. Your special chiefly interested in the
water supply, having been compelled to leave his
bucket at home as hereinbefore stated. He found
permanent water-stand fed by cocks of curious
construction, whereby the fluid came in and went
out of the same hole. There was beside, tin
wash hand basin OF great size, supplied by a small
hose with a rose nozzle. To this your correspon-
dent addressed himself, turning on the water and
rejoicing therein. He had got quite a quart
and half in the large bowl when the chef stepped
up and turnedit off saying, with pathetic poiteness
'beg pardon sir; but ave to hexercise q
little economy" Your correspondent afterwards
learned that the water then on boa;d was brought
out from Eng land, and presumes tn 4 care was ne
cessary to it to last until that blessed land
shall be reached again. If it should give out be-
fore leaving New York, the consequences would be
truly painful as the Directors would be compelled
in that case to resort to the Croton. "Hexercise
little economy to be the KEY note to the
whole management of the ship. There being no real
leaks in the ship to stop Directors seem TO devote
themselves to the fguratve ones. They are keep
ing starp look out for the pence. Your CORES
pondent having frightened his countenance
bv this copious abluton, ventured to
seek his way alone tn the unpar daok