CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 196, 12 April 1878, Page 7

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

In the teeth of some very adverse prognostications, and in spite of one most serious and deplorable contretemps, the cylinder ship to which the celebrated Egyptian obelisk was entrusted some months ago has at last arrived in London. The -abandonment of the Needle in the Bay of Biscay on Oct. 14, aud the unfortunate loss of life by which the circumstance was accompanied, must still be fresh in every memory. Equally notorious is the fact that the queer-shaped ship was discovered shortly after its supposed loss in an almost unimpaired condition, and towed into the harbour ot Ferrol, a seaport to OT n on the north-western coast of Spain. In the haven where she had found such opportune shelter the Cleopatra remained until Jan. 15, when, in accordance with an agreement entered into between Mr John Dixon and Mr William Watkins, owner of the Channel tug Anglia, she left these shores in the wake of the last-named vessel. The two crafts, under the direction of Captain Carter and Navigating Captain John Tracey, appear to have been very fortunate with regard to weather, and yesterday they both arrived in the Thames in as good condition as when they quitted Fprrol. The whole space ot time between the departure and the arrival of the ships speaks of nothing but cloudless skies and smooth seas. The vessels started at 35 minutes past seven o'clock on Tuesday, and at 10 o'clock yesterday morning they arrived at Gravesend, where. the Cleopatra was moored to a buoy and boarded by Mr Dixon, the enterprising contractor to whose ingenuity the safe arrival of the monolith is mainly due. On one occasion during the transit it blew freshly from the east, and then the Cleopatra pitched heavily. . Tt was also sometimes found difficult to steer her properly, especially when in smooth water. At one yesterday the Anglia, with the obelisk in tow, left Gravesend. for Blackwall. In the meantime Mr Dixon. bad received a gracious message from her Majesty the Queen, expressing her great gratification at the safe arrival of the Needle.' On their way up the river the steamer and her strange-looking consort attracted a good

deal of attention. By five o'clock the Cleopatra was moored in the'East India Dock, whoie a large number of people were anxiously awaiting her arrival. In this harbour of refuge the Needle will probably remain. for some time, for up to the present no decision has been come to as to the spot to be definitely selected for its erection, and the question of salvage raised by the owners of the Fitzmaurice, the' ship that picked up the Cleopatra in the. Bay of Biscay, has not yet been settled. — Daily Telegraph Jan. 22.