Paddleducks
Old Yahoo Group => Yahoo Messages => Topic started by: Dallinson on June 16, 2005, 05:31:55 PM
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Gentlemen paddlers.
A quick note to fill in on some points regarding the Comet, from my new
(1904!!) book " The Clyde Passenger Steamer" by Capt James Williamson.
Firstly it was called the "Comet" because of a meteor that appeared in the
heavens at this period.
It was built by John Wood to the order of Henry Bell at Port Glasgow.
She was 43 feet 6inches long and 11ft 4inches beam.
The engine was made by John Robertson. It was rated at just 4 nominal
horsepower. It had a single upright cylinder of 12 1/2 inches dia and 16inch
stroke. There were then a number of levers and side arms to get it to the
paddle shaft and flywheel.
The boiler was built by David Napier.
The funnel was also the mast, as she was also fitted with a large square
sail.
The two paddle wheels on each side were driven by a spur gear located
between, and meshing with gears on the two paddle shafts. In the picture in
the book, the paddles appear to be rather like short oars, sticking out of a
central hub.
This arrangement quickly gave trouble and the ship went back to builders
where she was lengthened by 20 ft and had the paddles reduced to one on each
side. She was then reputed to travel at about 5 miles per hour.
In those days it seems anyone could become a Captain. The first Captain of
the Comet was William Mackenzie, a school master from Helensburgh.
She was eventually wrecked in 13th Dec 1820 while on passage from Fort
William to Glasgow at Doris-Mhor outside Crinan.
Remember all this was happening 13 years before the first railway to carry
members of the public started running!!
I have also just finished reading another book of the same period, called
"Mr Roosevelt's Steamboat". This describes the trip down the upper rivers,
thence to the Mississippi, from Pittsburgh (where he built the ship) to New
Orleans. The trip took from October 1811 to January 1812. It was an amazing
trip, as it coincided with the comet (which scared everyone, as portent of
something) and then the "something" which turned out to be the greatest
earthquake ever to strike the region, which tore the land to pieces. How he
ever made it to New Orleans is indeed quite a story, full of adventure. The
book is a rather highly dramatised version. Even so it is well worth a read.
The ship was a side paddler called the " New Orleans". The problems
presented by "snags" in the river, appear regularly!!!
That's all for now.
Regards
David