On Monday morning the 10th inst., at an early hour, people began to congregate at Mr. Simonson’s ship-yard at Greenpoint, to witness the expected launching of the new steamship Vanderbilt. By nine o’clock, between five and six thousand persons are supposed to have been present, not only occupying the eligible places in the yard, but also filling the adjoining vacant lots. Among the spectators, besides an unusual number of well-dressed ladies, were to be seen Commodore Vanderbilt and family, Ex-Governor Seymour and lady, Ex-Mayor Westervelt, Commander Sands, and other gentlemen distinguished for their enthusiasm in every thing relating to our growing navy. At the early hour of half past nine, the last block was knocked away and the huge hull, heretofore so lifeless, now started forward, instantly there commenced the booming of cannon and the loud huzzas from hundreds of brave men. The vessel, as if animated by the cheering sounds that filled the air, every second accelerated its descent, and finally, reaching her destined element, stooped for a moment like a graceful swan, and then rising in conscious majesty, rushed rapidly across the river. A mighty ship was never more successfully started upon a career of glory. The birth accomplished, five steam-tugs took the still helpless hull under their protection, and brought it to the foot of Market Street, where it was soon lifted out of the water, and secured high and dry in the balance dock. The Vanderbilt is 335 feet long, and the water line is 328 feet; the breadth of beam is 49 feet; the depth of hold 33 feet. 5,100 tone burden, carpenter’s computation, or about 4,000 tons register, and costs $700,000. The water lines are nearly straight, and the centre of displacement amidships—indeed the centre of the ship, the centre of weight and the centre of buoyancy, fall within a distance of eight feet fore and aft. The floor is nearly flat and is formed entirely of solid white oak, each timber being 15 by 21 inches, bolted together lengthwise of the ship, with one and a quarter inch bolts, seven feet long. Sixty tons of these bolts are used. The frame timbers which are principally of white oak, are placed unusually close together, and are strapped diagonally by ninety-four tons of wrought iron straps, which are bolted wherever they cross each other. The hull weighs 2,300 tons. She will carry two marine steam-engines. cylinders are 90 inches in diameter-the stroke of the piston 12 feet. Her paddle wheels (of wrought iron) will be 42 feet across, the largest paddle wheels yet built. She will have 4 boilers, each 28 by 13 feet, and 14 feet high-very respectable parlors in size for small families. She has no bowsprits, and but two masts. The Vanderbilt, when her keel was put down, was intended to be the largest vessel ever built in this port, but so great is competition, that before she was launched, the still larger vessels the Adriatic and the Niagara, under the superintendence of George Steers, have risen from the chaos of mountains of ship timber, and are already preparing to plume their wings. Such are the triumphs of American ship builders, whose enterprise and foresight have made America the acknowledged “Mistress” of the seas, and accomplished this, not amid the waste and gore of battle, but through the peaceful acquisition of commerce alone.
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, New York, NY, December 22, 1855
