1955-04-30 — Page 7

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CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1955.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S

NGEST STORIES

N

The directors resigned and. Daniel Gooch, Brunel's old

loco superintendent on the Great

Western Ballway, took charge.

INTTINË years a boy were drowned while going

aga the engineer son ashore. of a French emigre pondcred on A problem that has recently become familiar to all of us. and which we now call metal fatigue.

Concurrently he was also suggesting to the Admiralty a design for armoured gun- boats to subdue the Russian forts in the Baltic. In his memorandum he wrote:

"The mode of propelling may be by screw, but I

pre fer the 'jet.'

- The Board of Admiralty con- tentedly procrastinated until the Russian war was over, and there was no further need for Isam- bard Kingdom Brunel's Jet- propelled gunboat.

Gooch sent her to New York in June, 1860, with only 35 passengers occupying space for 2,000 and little cargo. New York feted the monster, but Portland,

Maine, which had built a £25,- 000 pier to accommodate her,

HOODOO SHIP

sued for this ouany without

success.

The owners lacked proper good business acumen and a

Ater

public relations officer.

first flush of enthusiasm New Yorkers complained at the

Micanwhile he had returned to high cost of boarding this new

cf

yet chother vinture.

Brunel

many of whose bridges and other works are still

ahead in use, was well

officlaliem. But private enter priva enriched and slightly tipsy from the strong draught of steam bottled in iron cylind- with

ere,

to

strove keep pace

It eagerly gave up the

him. initial capital for a scheme that wes fantastic even for those imaginative times.

Stubbed by the admirals, the swarthy little engineer devoted his energy to the rearing of his favourite child the Great Easi- een steamship building at M wull.

The Biggest

It

The vesszi

was the bigges; aspidistra in the marine world, Large enough to carry its own

to India or Australia. fuel was just what the merchants thought they wanted a ship to avoid the long delays at coaling stations that racketed freight and passenger charges,

though in

different way

for different reasons.

sideshow and of the intolerant

attimde of the stuny Britishers

Their to gentlemen in Liquor. affections were properly alon ated when the ship took 2,000 Yankees for a two days' cruise and put them ashore again un- unbedded and covered with fed, unt

ave funnels. sco: from her five

The New York Times wor

warned: Great Eastern has re- turned to the City and

adver- tised to start immediately for Annapolis Roads, Don't

Ko."

"The

to

Two of the enw drowned in the North River; oge died in an hot bed-room fight. an- other was murdered by a fire- man and a quartermaster drank himself to death in his bunk

returned Great Eastern

Havin heavily in dib A broken propeller shaft added to the repairs bill. In the Pem brokeshire port the fatality hist was increased by two sight- SCIs whose boat was swamped.

reat ship sung The

in the tide and Gooch was slated with an-

against H.M.S. Blenheim the: £350 damages to the man o' war's figurehead.

At

Too Cold.

By MICHAEL

GANNON

Perhaps

Gossips recalled the story of a riveter who was supposed 10

after

The Great Eastern on her 'first voyage' to America,

foot lettering, to shop at Lewis's Bon Marche, Lewis's i still going strong: Lord Woolton was its boss until he became Minister of Food..

have been trapped alive be tween the inner and outer skins National types in the Lanca-

shire seaport were indignant a during building. Paton proved that an unshackled chain had such treatment of the old lady. caused the spectral, tapping, but times, but she still retained a lot but She may have been witch "at ever

the ghost of the mater was accorded of affection. She was still the dockyard

for the responsibility

Great biggest aspidistra, though droop Eastern's troubles. There were ing visibly. many who declared his frantic hammering had risen above the sounds of the ship during storms and moments of danger.

A Useful Period

return During the delayed veyage, on January 15, 1863, Captain Paton's wife gave birth to a boy, who was called Jimmy,

somfert and safety the ship

None waxed more wrathfully than Jimmy Paton, who had served a marine apprenticeship

Sir Henry Bishop, composer of "Home, Sweet Home! “Lo, Here, the, Gentle Lark” died 100 years ago today

N

He Was Popular But Died In Poverty

T

h-”;

By Gerard Bourke

salons throughout the

of a

the

HE sentimental ballad: It was then customary for of the German composer, who "Home, Sweet Home" opera: to be presented in Lon had crossed to London for his den consisting largely of songs premiere. Whereas, “Obston,” a has spun nostalgic and ensembles set to poems by delightful fairy opera, was at memories for exiles for various authors. Often the once acclaimed - two moaths more than a century, and music was hybrid teo, bring before Weber's death-Bishop's had been arranged for all adapted from the classics or "Alladin" was stillborn, and it

from popular

foreign operna was the last opera he attempted musical combinations. Yet "Home Sweet Home first ip-

"Bishop is certainly a man of it brought Henry Bishop, peared in such a work who died in London. 100 Bishop's "Clari,: the Maid

talent, but without any origin- years ago on April 30, nei of Milan" was produced at ality or invention, Weber e

`on_"hearing it, adding generously, "I wish him the best ther a serene home life nor Covent Garden in 1823, and the marked

song-an early example wealth. -

theme song was set to words success. We all have room In

the world." Payne, Deserted by his second by an American. John wife, he died almost in the Sadler's Wells Theatre is

who later became manager of By that time, Bishop had be-

come the most popular "of poverty, having been paid London. It was immediately early Victorian English com- only twenty pounds for the published independently, d posers and received several song that sold more than established Bishop's fame in Important musical posts He 100,000

country was a founder of the (Royal) copies within a and abroad.

Society whosa medal is still the highest year. More than 900 other songs, duets and choruses,

British award โค music, and as well as 13 operas are

was later appointed director of the fashionable Vauxhall Gar- But he is remembered in less among his listed works.

dens. In addition, he was among The son of a London watch favourable light

those who started London's maker, Henry Bishop lived most adaptor of other men's

his boyhood with a rich and werde. He presented out Royal Academy of Music, and rageously adapted versions of he died Professor of Music at Newmarket racehorse owner. Mart's

оретая in

on Oxford. At first he had hoped the boy

1832, Bishop's first wife might become a jockey, pa do so than to leave the works, died, and only four weeks later even regaining the Derby unheard. "My sole object in he married a 21-year-old pupil honours which he had Won

so doing," he wrote,

was to at the Academy again one of 1788, the year of Bishop's Не

the national taste for his musical projects provided a But although of slight build, impreve of

by

bride. But this time his choice rendering English the boy was too delicate to ride opera

audiences

I was unwise although she bare more familiar with arduous races, and, in any case,

truly dramatic music," interested was much more music than in horses. at Millwall nearly forty years loss, his kindly astro Neverted arranged for

him to

to have a sound musical education, so that when only 13 he was partner in a drm of music publishers, launching his Arst compositions.

and then sotiled ashore in a successful business. Unless this nonsense ceased, he threatened, he would fill his natal shell with Bunpowder and blow her up.

At lost the shipbreakers claimed her for a decent end. In

Despite this happy proof that 1890 she was taken apart. When even pregnant women

could they reached the lower parts of Journey in the Great Eastern in the inner double skin a shaken workman dropped his tools and a hush fell over the ship. had uncovered the skeleton the ghostly riveter and more,

Alongside I were the bones of his mate. a mere boy who had been entombed alive with him

never made good as a passenger carrier or as a freighter. The owners were th deeper water than ever, and the ship auctioned for £20,000.

Atlantic the first real "Press photograph" ever taken Isambard K. Brunei (left) at the launching of the Great

Eastern.

one

was

before.

Too Advanced

The

When

WAS

First Opera

23

103

birth.

Bird Imitation

R 19

free music

pleading that it was better to London,

13

with

him three children, she deserted him after eight years in favour

Recognition

in "Don Giovanni" appea

"The Libertine," including music of. Bechsa, & French Capis from other Mozart operas, and even some of Bishop's own. Не also tampered Shakespeare's texts to suit his Soon afterwards, Bishop re- music. The famous bird ceived official recognition, being imitating

song.

here 'the called to Windsor Castle to gentle lark WES first heard in become the first English re- Bishop's

Comedy of ErrǝTS. vices to

•

Years old, Bishop spearo'sation of Shake- cipient of a knighthood for sex-

be

his

hud

Then came a useful period as a cable-layer. Her proportions and steadiness made her ideal

The Great Eastern bankrupted for the job of accommodating

A seven

and lost companies and paying out thousands of £2,000,000. It is said she claim- miles of wire.

Great

cd total of 35 lives. There are, Eastern put down the first

those who blame it cable tron Ireland: course,

all on the hoodoo of the riveter when the far shore was reached

** a telegraphist tapped out a and his mate.

music. The Prince new-fangled expression, "OK"

saw his first goera, "The Circas- Only one went of Shakespeare's Consert and the Duke of Well- before Queen Victoria seat

Fan Bride,"

were among his staged at London's lines was altered here.

Meanwhile, Johnson. greeting to President Joh

Bishop and Drury Lane Theatre, Although

andy, and he was The ship laid a second cable

chosen to compose it was acclaimed on the opening wife had visited the Continent cho

1 for march from France to the United

London James Paton, who became a night, he could not judge Its Back in

Duke's funeral · He was the States, then

across

Waterlos Ode." the knight and died only six years lasing value, since the theatre asked to stage his new opera, also written

Alladin," Indian Ocean. She seemed well go, thought differently.

immediately was burned down

is remem at the rebuilt Drury Sir Henry Bishop behaved and happy in her work, trouble with the ship, he reck- after the performance and even Lane

a counter bered today "in London by his Theatre then somebody built

the new score was lost. a cried was that Brunel's design

For

Weber's and

attraction

new portrait on the Albert Memoria was proper cable-laying ship.

too advanced for the tunately, he was able to rewrite "Oberon, which the composer in Kensington Gardens and, less In 1874 the grea. ship had materials available at the time. it. from memory.

was preparing for its first per- effectively, by a

monument ended her really useful life. The little engineer never got And the new opera gave him formance at Covent

Garden his

grave in Finchley Cemetery, Thereafter ber fortunes

de- round to solving the problem of something else, his bride, Eliza Bishop felt free to accept the on which are engraved Incor clined rapidly. One set of own- metal fatigue that caused the beth Lyon, who had sung the offer, since he had recently rect dates for both his birth and ers refused to allow her to

related resigned his post as musical death. But people in almost ers run

ier shaft. There is a fairly close to Lady Hamliten, through director of "Covent Garden on every land stil know him mere.... became a gambling hell off New ses shaon and broke the propel- leading part. She was On

Orleans, but another set turned parallel in the aircraft industry whom Elshop had

increase met her, failing to win an

inly as the gifted composer of Lo her her into something equally ob of today.eless, James Paton be-day sang for her daughter,

having already written a birth- salary.

hers the gentle ark!" and corrainer for a serious

noxious-a

of But Bishop's talents were, of especially "Home Sweet Beved that but for the cost of Horatia Nelson.

course, y much interior to those Home." repairs and loss through time wasted after the affair with the uncharted rock his father could have turned the ship into a success.

It was 892ft. long and of 19,- 000 tons, five times larger than anything afloat. Not until the -fated Lugitania was launched

there anything in 1906

She was too cold a ship for was vester. Like the Lusitania, the the Atlantic. in winter and the second trip was not made unil Great Eastern was also. ill-fated,

and May, 1861. Meanwhile the £24,000 courts had awarded the to the builder who made repairs just 100 after the water-jocket explosion. Gooch felt better when the Government

real' Grea. Eastern to transport 2,000 troops

lies to Canada. and families made a record crossing of 8 days 6 hours to Cape Pine, but the charter was not repeated. the next voyage 27 fare-paying

sustained Passengers

Construction alongside Thames was begun. years ago.

Though pt slender graceful form the liner was no lady but fascinating jade, who lured men on and then viciously alde- swiped them to ruin or destrup-

1:00.

While her frames and plates were rising above the Millwall roofine wo man tell to their death, another was killed by a falling riveter (who survived), and an inquisitive visitor to the yard expired when at steam hammer smote his head. Those were the reported fatalities of the pre-launch construction period.

One Dicd

When Brunel began thc launch inta thei

broadside Thames on November 3, 1857, the ship took charge of a short- side windlass and spun its lover bars like flails. The windlass flung among the crew were crowd, and one of them died

from his injuries. Brunei and a

way

devil into the water. The extra

fractures during a storm and

Fac passengers' committee took over the engine-room, alleging incom- petence of the professionals. more repairs; another bill-fer

£60,000.

In 1882 Captain Walter Paton took command-and this genial callor looked like making the She carried 1,500 ship pay. passengers on one trip and be- gan to be popularly regarded on both sides of the Atlantic.

But even Paton could not kill

the jinx. On her second voyage under him Great Eastern hit Long an uncharted rock of Island. The double bottom saved ner, but repairs in America cost £70,000 and a diver in charge of them surfaced hurriedly one day looking as white and cheer- ful as a codish and swearing that he had heard a ghost,

floating raree show, with clog- dancers and all, in the Mersey, And for a period, in 1888, she was moored off Liverpool as an advertising hoarding, her sides exhorting Liverpudlians, in 25-

ار با موگر

SATURDAY SHORT STORY

.

Nevertheless,

THE LITTLE WOMAN

T was crisis hour in

Walnut Row.

The children were in school,

By BERT

KO.

and her

COOMBES

never.

alled

loaders icoked at the bath; then turned away for lighter liftings. Elsie watched silently until they had passed by a dozen yards and all the Row marvelled at her for- bearance. Joe Jenkins peeped from behind his curtains.

Then Elsie called gently, and pointed the bath. Both fillers waved their hands in re- fusal and farewell The watch- ing women moved forward in their excitement.::

foreman shipwright braked the

We don't get paid for straining windlass

the ship's slide was and their chanting of lessons buckets. Elsie watched it.

ourselves: I'm a man, I am, stopped. She settled on the slip-sounded out into the valley Her face was flushed

Got a crane." and refused to budge as the chill wind blew along dark curls danced as the wind

lifted them..

"A man are you?" Elsie Yor her. IL took three more that row of grey stone and

"It'll be

here again to- sounded dubicus, "Well, 1 months to get the stubborn she slated houses. Some of the morrow, "she called after the

Fine sort of man I work entailed accounted for a housewives had hurried dustmen.

must say. The only weight you "And It'll stay there," the likes lifting is a jug of beer. £100,000 addition to her bill their cleaning and were

Man, he calls himself!" biggest dustman replied. and broke the owners,

standing at open doors, con- After her father had helped The driver Increased speed a The Great Eastern. uncom-

"You louts!" Elsie shouted. pleted, was in disgrace. She had fident that all inside was her drag the bath inside the little, but Elsie followed up.

a time you've been "I'll show you up." cost close en 1,000,000 presentable. Others had gate, Elsie received the suppert

to the Elsie continued. "and She walked across Victorian pounds, and a third of postponed that problem by and sympathy of most women in having, as per mates for the bath, grabbed both handles and

again was nerded to it shutting the door and stand- men, and especially dustmen, likes of you."

lifted it. She walked quickly out The shareholders lost

folded were becoming too tired for £600,0000, and the vessel was ing outside with

The driver increased speed after the dust, lorry. Reaching taken over by a new company | arms. It was half-past anything in the nature of hard just a little more and the allers its side, she gave a little juthp for £160,000.

pretended they had not heard. tipped the contents Inside, and had swung the bath down. She cf rates morning, the loaded That mention her on the Atlantic run, and second round of the battle bath was outside again. So was brought a loud murmer of sup- bowed slightly to the amazed

and almost everyone port from the other women and dustmen,

this

work

nine in the morning. The

The new directors proposed to

&exi

put

Brunel protested in vain

that between Elsie Walters and Ele

the ship would prove unecono- mical on such short hauls, He. took his huff and his recently diagnosed Bright's disease off to Egypt,

A Stroke

start..

up

then walked, with

the dustmen was "due to living in the Row. Elsie's had also given sie an idea. swinging hips, back to her own 2ther leant against the doorway. She hurried a few doors higher door. Every pair of eyes in the

where Joe Jenkins, the Row followed her actions. happily, content It seemed that the dusimen and smoked

that this excitement had some Councilor, lived. had won the first round. Elsic

The dodgers!"* Elsie was had not been ready for their thing to do with his home.

shrill i teraper, "1411 show refusal. Since she had a large

them. Mr Jenkins!, Mr Jenkins! amount of rubbish and ashes

I want you" -;'

it to the curb and rested con-

Two

and

Joe

a small

The dustmen had no words no thought of excuse, They Looked at the women on the waiting, zisie had loaded them. The dust lorry turned the

Desplie her calling

doorsteps, then furtively at one Brunel returned in a better into a small bath which had not corner and came slowly up the

since a leak had Row. frame of mind and boarded the been used

men tipped the knocking Joe Jenkins did not another. They were shamed.

Then

door of Joe om. To Elsie,

appear.

He knew what was ship to watch her paddlewheel shown in the bottom.

and happening outside, but his Jenkins's house opened and the driver moved onwards at a position was and screw, engines turn for the it had seemed a most suitable buckets over the deep sides and

strode out, Joc, was au- dificult, He first time on September

5. 1859. receptacle, doing away with the slow walking pace. Walnut wanted to be an active champion thoritive. What did they mean? They carried him ashore with a need for several buckets.

Row was as silent and eager as for the Row because an election Two strong men shirking a paralytic stroke and he died ten With some slight help from if a thriller him were being was almost cue, but he also tank that a young girl, days later at his hous: in Duke her aged father, she had dragged shown. At number 20. Elsie

girl, had done so tasily, He Strect, St James's. He was 53.

On September 7, 1859, the ship tent until she saw that the dust sood silently, bare arms folded. knew the power of the trade would bring it up at the next

One dustman paused to look union. He did not want it said

Such a bap steamed 12 knots in the Thames men had tested it, and left it

that be forced men beyond their Council meeting. at the bath. His male crossed

more than he pening could not be allowed to estuary and commenced the full

to him and each caught in a strength any voyage to Holyhead where the

handle. They had surrendered. wanted complaints about ashes Pass Joe became excited over

the injustice. owners intended to put her on

The Row was jubilant. Then not being collected in the Row. the Kent coast chowof water-jacket exploded and

a dozen yards the biggest dustman shook his Joe stayed quietly indoors," six They Bremen died.

the crew re away when Elsie called to them, head, and both straightened up. to tholystone the decks, and pointed to the loaded bath. They left the loaded bah. Elsie, Elsie was twenty-one, small in hands on slim hips, walked up figure and good-looking Owing the Row after them, belittling verdict plainly. Afraid to ple of laughter followed them to these attributes the nearest their energy and their intention show himself. Let him watch in their silent retreat. dustman. explained in quite a The big man sicod to defend out at the election." Exumphant at her own door- Impotent, Ebie watched the way Elafe assured the neigh- friendly tone that the bath was the cause. too heavy for their combined "It's 100 big, he stated. dust lorry pass from sight. She bours

had lost round two also, but row, Youthakalike it tomor lifting. Elsie's voice was strong "Use something straller"

her supporters were more numerous and vocals Next: momins,

doors the were again occupied. The dust

Halt

#

the ringlenders were tried for

the first of the Great Eastern's four 1

mutinies pentenced

But Holyhead was reached and the Prince Consort added tones to the throng of sight sects who boarded her.

and three of them

back

were

Huh!" Joe heard Elsie's

in proportion to her size and Too big, my hats Elsie was At Holyhead the ship code out she was no slotich at mswering emphatle You're big enough

to cat i fierce storm, but repairs put

Walnut Row brightened up The dustmen considered that the

owners in the red. They applies for Government assist with the knowledge that excile suggestion fer a few seconds lorry came round the arce, but what Gladstone said ment was abroad The dust then mouted. That's how loaded, baby was placed rear In 59 was "No abady. Captain lorry moved slowly forward, men gets sizained that is the curbstone Elsie Han1900, the fret master and receiving the contents of other Tarting things the like of that father, was wal

and her

Dejected, as if a great disaster had overwhelmed them, the dasizmen and lorry moved away. No more would, they be res pected in Walnut Row. A rip-

With the smoke curling

up from his pipe, Elsie's father. boked-proudly at his girl. : He the time, she had spent Allings the bath, with paper and putting thist a thin coating at ashes over the top had been well worth while,

09

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