Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 431: Volume 17, New Series, April 3, 1852 — John Shaqi
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 431: Volume 17, New Series, April 3, 1852Various
General
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 431: Volume 17, New Series, April 3, 1852
Various
Periodicals
'The body of this novel vessel consists of two covered decks, or
galleries, connected by a series of narrow bridges, thrown across the
open space between them, on a level with their floor; thus forming the
body of the vessel, which looks not unlike a couple of Noah's Arks,
placed parallel to each other, and connected by means of the aforesaid
bridges. Suspended across the upper part of this open space, is a row
of sixteen movable wings, placed one behind the other, and attached,
by means of pivots, to the upper edge of the inner walls of the
galleries; these wings are of oiled sail-cloth, set into oblong iron
frames, and are worked by machinery. They may be opened or closed,
inclined to or from each other, at any angle, upwards or downwards. At
each end of the vessel, near the stem and the stern, is a pair of
screws, similar to the propellers of a steam-ship, and worked by a
couple of small steam-engines of three horse-power each, one being
placed just above and behind each pair of screws. Lastly, attached to
masts projecting horizontally from each end of the ship, are a couple
of triangular or lateen sails; smaller sails are also attached to the
under part of the balloons, which, enclosed in net-work of strong
cord, are fastened to the roof of the galleries, directly over the
wings, beneath which, again, are the bridges from which the crew are
to work the ship.
'These skeleton galleries, which, with the exception of the floors,
and the walls and roof of their central portion, are constructed of
lattice-work, faced with thin bands of iron, in order to render the
whole as light as possible, are 162 feet in length, 8 feet in height
by 4 feet in width in their central portion, but taper off to 18
inches in height and width at their extremities. This mode of building
gives an oval form to the framework of the vessel. The central portion
of the galleries, which is at the same time the highest and the
widest, embraces a length of 66 feet, and is appropriated to the
passengers. The boilers are placed here also, one in each gallery; the
steam being conveyed to the engines by pipes.
'The total length of the ship, including that of the two projecting
masts, is 198 feet; and its total weight, including that of the
machinery, and a crew of eight men, is 14,000 pounds. The balloons are
66 feet in diameter, and will contain 15,000 cubic yards of gas. Their
ascensional force is 20,000 pounds. The wings are 6 feet in length by
15 in width. The screws are made of pitched canvas, rimmed with iron;
they are 6 feet in length.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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