Home › Miscellaneous Curiosities › Chap. Xc

Chap. Xc

MISCELLANEOUS CURIOSITIES. - (Continued.) The First Steamboat-Steamship "Great Eastern"-Ship "Great Harry" -Pacific Railroad-Great Trestle Bridge on Pacific R.R. - Great Sutro Tunnel-Flying Machine-- Discovery of Gold.

FULTON'S STEAMBOAT. - The first successful steamboat was built by Robert Fulton, a native of Pennsylvania, and called the Clermont.

Mr. Fulton made his trial trip on the Hudson River, from New York to Albany, and thousands of curious spectators thronged the shores to witness the failure of "Fulton the Fanatic."

None believed, few hoped, and everybody jeered.

An old Quaker accosted a young man who had taken passage, old Quaker accosted a young man who had taken passage, in this manner: "John, will thee risk thy life in such a concern? I tell thee she is the most fearful wild-fowl living, and thy father ought to restrain thee." But, on Friday morning, the the 4th of August, 1807, the Clermont left the wharf, and went puffing up the Hudson with every berth, twelve in number, engaged to Albany. The fare was seven dollars. Fulton stood upon the deck and viewed the motley and jeering crowd upon the shore, with silent satisfaction. As she got fairly under way and moved majestically up the stream, there arose a deafening hurrah from ten thousand throats. The passengers returned the cheer, but Fulton, with flashing eyes and manly bearing, remained speechless. He felt this to be his long-sought hour of triumph. They were cheered all along the passage from every hamlet and town, and at West Point the whole garrison were out and cheered most lustily. At Newburg, the whole surrounding country had gathered, and the side-hill city swarmed with curious and excited multitudes. The boat reached Albany safely-150 miles in 32 hours, and returned in 30. The Cler. mont was a success, and Robert Fulton was famous.

THE STEAMSHIP "GREAT EASTERN." - June 28, 1860, arrived at New York the English iron steamship Great Eastern, J. V. Hall, commander, being the largest vessel ever constructed since Noah's Ark it was capable of carrying 10,000 soldiers, besides her crew of 400. Her arrival had been expected, and great interest and excitement was caused upon the an nouncement. The wharves, buildings, adjoining streets, and , indeed, every available spot which afforded a view of the mammoth steamer, was densely crowded with anxious spectators .

The harbor and river were alive with all manner of craft to get a near view of the great and wonderful, world-renowned ship. The passage over the bar, which was considered a very critical undertaking, was conducted by Mr. Murphy, who silently, with a simple wave of the hand, indicating to the helmsman the course to be pursued, safely and skillfully guided this huge monster of the waves over the dangerous bar and into the North River. Grandly and proudly she moved amid a sea of sails, gay with banners and streaming pennants, like a mighty leviathan in the midst of a school of flying fish. The booming of cannon, ringing of bells, and the shrill shrieking of hundreds of steamwhistles, together with the music of brass bands, and the chimes of Trinity Church playing "Rule Britannia," altogether made a scene long to be remembered by those who witnessed it. For many weeks after her arrival the Great Eastern was visited by tens of thousands, who were eager to inspect the marvellous structure. Her length was 680 feet, and she was of about 20,000 tons burden; 10,000 tons of iron were used in constructing her hull. The force used in moving the machinery of this immense ship would drive forty of the largest cotton mills , which give employment to over 30,000 operatives. The Great Eastern was used for laying the Atlantic cable, and proved to be of indispensable value.

THE PACIFIC RAILROAD. - The completion of the Great Pacific Railroad May 10, 1869, was the grandest event of the nineteenth century. Its length, exclusive of branches, is over 2,000 miles , and crosses nine distinct mountain ranges, which are tunneled in several places; also, many wonderful bridges were built , spanning chasms of fearful and precipitous depth. This great enterprise was begun in 1862, and completed in 1869. It was built by two separate companies; the eastern portion by the Union Pacific Company, which built the road to Ogden , and