an autobiography-第55节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
burnt up and ruined。 Almost every field at the base of Vesuvius contains a neat little oratory； with a statue of the Virgin and Child； to which the cultivators repair in times of peril and calamity。 But chapel； statue； and gardens are alike swept away by the tremendous descent of the molten lava。
As the night was growing dark； I made my way from these riskful farms to Rosina； a little village on the way back to Naples。 As I had had nothing to eat or drink during this thirst…producing journey； I went into a wine shop and asked for some refreshment。 The wine shop was a sort of vault； with a door like that of a coach…house； but with a bench and narrow table。 The good woman brought me a great green glass bottle like a vitriol carboy！ It contained more than six gallons of wine； and she left me with a big glass to satisfy my wants。 The wine was the veritable Lachryma； Christia delightful light claretfor producing which the vineyards at the base of Vesuvius are famous。 After some most glorious swigs from this generous and jovial carboy； accompanied with some delightful fresh made bread； I felt myself up to anything。 After washing down the dust that I had swallowed during the day； I settled with my liberal landlady （indeed she was mightily pleased with only tenpence）； and started for Naples。
I had still an eight…mile walk before me； but that was nothing to my vigorous powers at that time。 The moon had risen during my stay in the wine house； and it shone with a bright clear light。 After a few miles' walking I felt a little tired； for the day's exercise had been rather toilsome。 A fine carriage passed me on the road with a most tempting platform behind。 I hailed the driver； and was allowed to mount。 I was soon bowling along the lava paved road； and in a short time I arrived at Naples。 I made another excursion to the crater of Vesuvius before I left； as well as visits to Herculaneum and Pompeii； which exceedingly interested me。 But these I need not attempt to relate。 I refer my readers to Murray's Guide Book； where both are admirably described。
After completing my business affairs at Naples； and sowing the seeds of several orders； which afterwards bore substantial results； I left the city by the same line of steamers。 I passed again Civita Vecchia； Leghorn； Genoa； and Marseilles。 On passing through the South of France I visited the works of several of our employers； and carried back with me many orders。 It was when at Creuzot that I saw the child of my brain； the steam hammer； in full and efficient work。 But this I have referred to in a previous chapter。
CHAPTER 15。 Steam Hammer Pile…driver。
In 1840 I furnished Sir Edward Parry with a drawing of my steam hammer； in the hope that I might induce him to recommend its adoption in the Royal Dockyards。 Sir Edward was at that time the head director of the steam marine of England。 That was after the celebrity he had acquired through his Arctic voyages。 I was of opinion that the hammer might prove exceedingly useful in forging anchors and large iron work in those great establishments。 Sir Edward appeared to be much struck with the simplicity and probable efficiency of the invention。 But the Admiralty Board were very averse to introducing new methods of manufacturing into the dockyards。 Accordingly； my interview with Sir Edward Parry； notwithstanding his good opinion； proved fruitless。
Time passed by。 I had furnished steam hammers to the principal foundries in England。 I had sent them abroad； even to Russia。 At length it became known to the Lords of the Admiralty that a new power in forging had been introduced。 This was in 1843； three years after I had submitted my design to Sir Edward Parry。 The result was that my Lords appointed a deputation of intelligent officers to visit my foundry at Patricroft to see the new invention。 It consisted of Captain Benison （brother of the late Speaker）； and Captain Burgman； Resident Engineer at Devonport Dockyard。 They were well able to understand the powerful agency of the steam hammer for marine forge work。 I gave them every opportunity for observing its action。 They were much pleased； and I may add astonished； at its range； power； and docility。
Besides showing them my own steam hammer； I took the deputation to the extensive works of Messrs。 Rushton and Eckersley； where they saw one of my five…ton hammer…block steam hammers in full action。 It was hammering out some wrought…iron forgings of the largest class； as well as working upon smaller forgings。 By exhibiting the wide range of power of the steam hammer； these gentlemen were entirely satisfied of its fitness for all classes of forgings for the naval service。 They reported to the Admiralty accordingly； and in a few days we received an official letter； with an order for a steam hammer having a 50 cwt。 hammer…block； together with the appropriate boiler； crane； and forge furnace； so as to equip a complete forge shop at Devonport Dockyard。 This was my first order from the Government for a steam hammer。
When everything was ready； I set out for Devonport to see the hammer and the other portions of the machinery carefully erected。 In about a fortnight it was ready for its first stroke。 As good luck would have it； the Lords of the Admiralty were making their annual visit of inspection to the dockyard that day。 They arrived too late in the afternoon for a general inspection of the establishment； but they asked the superintending admiral if there was anything of importance which they might see before the day closed。 The admiral told them that the most interesting novelty in the dockyard was the starting of Nasmyth's steam hammer。 〃Very well； they said； 〃let us go and see that〃。
I was there； with the two mechanics I had brought with me from Patricroft to erect the steam hammer。 I took share and share alike in the work。 The Lords were introduced to me； and I proceeded to show them the hammer。 I passed it through its paces。 I made it break an eggshell in a wine…glass without injuring the glass。 It was as neatly effected by the two…and…a…half ton hammer as if it had been done by an egg…spoon。 Then I had a great mass of white…hot iron swung out of the furnace by a crane and placed upon the anvil block。 Down came the hammer on it with ponderous blows。 My Lords scattered to the extremities of the workshop； for the splashes and sparks of hot metal flew about。 I went on with the hurtling blows of the hammer； and kneaded the mass of iron as if it had been clay into its devised forms。
After finishing off the forging； my Lords gathered round the hammer again； when I explained to them the rationale of its working； and the details of its construction。 They were greatly interested； especially Mr。 Sidney Herbert （afterwards Lord Herbert of Lea）； then Secretary to the Admiralty； and Sir George Cockburn； a fine specimen of the old admiral。 Indeed； all the members of the Board were more or less remarkable men。 They honoured me with their careful attention； and expressed their admiration at the hammer's wonderful range of power and delicacy of touch； in this new application of the force of steam。
The afternoon was a most important one for me in more ways than one； although I cannot venture to trouble my readers with the details。 It was followed； however； by an order to supply all the Royal Dockyard forge departments with a complete equipment of steam hammers； and all the requisite accessories。 These were supplied in due time； and gave in every case the highest satisfaction。 The forgings were found to be greatly better； and almost absurdly cheaper than those done by the old bit by bit building…up process。 The danger of flaws was entirely done away with； and； in the case of anchors； this was a consideration of life and death to the seamen； who depend for their safety upon the soundness of the forgings。
Besides my introduction to that admirable man； Mr。 Sidney Herbert； I had the happiness of being introduced to Captain Brandreth； Director of Naval Works。 The whole of the buildings on shore； including the dockyards； were under his control。 One of the most important affairs that the Lords of the Admiralty had to attend to on their visit to Devonport was to conclude the contract for constructing the great docks at Keyham。 This was a large extension of the Devonport Docks； intended for the accommodation of the great steamships of the Royal Navy； as well as for an increase of the graving docks and workshops for their repair。 An immense portion of the shore of the Hamoaze had to be walled in so as to exclude the tide and enable the space to be utilised for the above purposes。 To effect this a vast amount of pile…driving was rendered necessary； in order to form a firm foundation for the great outer dock wall； about a mile and a quarter in length。
Messrs。 Baker and Sons were the contractors for this work。 They were present at the first start of my steam hammer at Devonport。 They were； like the others； much impressed by its vast power and manageableness。 They had an interview with me as to its applicability for driving piles for the immense dock； this being an important part of their contract。 Happily； I had already given some attention to this applicat
