The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-05 00:00:00

THE CRUISE OF THE " SUNBEAM "

Sir Thomas Brassey, M.P., has furnished the follows
ing account of the latest voyage of the 'Sunbeam :
The extended voyage has been accomplished in a
remarkably short space of time. Sir Thomas Braesey
sailed from London in a steamer of the Peninsular and
Oriental Company on the Bth of September. He
reached Malta on the 15th, and after inspecting the
dockyard, sailed in the Sunbeam on the evening of the
16th for Gibraltar. In the Mediterranean the usual
variable weather was experienced, and although every
effort was used to make a rapid passage under canvas,
10 days were occupied in covering a distance of 812
miles under sail, and 408 miles under steam. The
Sunbeam left Gibraltar on the eve of the 27th of Sep-
tember. Having cleared the Straits, sails were set to
a strong northerly wind, which gradually increased to
a fresh gale. Under these favourable conditions the
run to Madeira was made in 2 days 22 hours-577
miles under sail and 35 under steam. On the 11th of
October the Sunbeam sailed for the West Indies.
The trade winds were unsteady, and chiefly from
due east or from the south of east. Bet ween the
11th and 25th of October 2,164 miles were traversed
under sail, the remaining 85S miles of the voyage
being completed under steam. At dawn on the
28th Tobago was sighted, and in the afternoon the
Sunbeam anchored off the Port of Spain, the capital of
Trinidad. After a stay of a few days the voyage
was resumed, and on the sth of November the Sunbeam
reached May Emagra, the port of Carracas, the
distance steamed along the coast of the Spanish Main
being 328 miles. At 10 p.m. on the ith the Sunbeam
once more weighed anchor, crawled before the land
breeze into a favourable trade wind, and reached
Port Royal, a distance of 766 miles, at sunset on
the 10th.
The passage from La Guayra was made entirely
under sail. After a short stay at Port Royal, the
vessel again proceeded to sea. On the 13th she
reached Ocho Bios, and on the .14th was at Port
Ontario, two admirable natural harbours on the north
coast of Jamaica. From Jamaica the Sunbeam steamed
across to Havana, and, after rounding the eastern ex-
tremity of the island, proceeded for a distance of
534 miles through the intricate navigaticn of the Great
Bahama Channel. On nearing the coast of Florida
light head winds were, experienced, and the pas-
sage to Nassau—through the North-West Providence
Channel—a further distance of 158 miles, was com-
pleted under steam. The Sunbeam entered the harbour
to Nassau at midnight on the 20th, and sailed for
Bermuda at the same hour on the 22nd of November.
From the 22nd to the 26th the fresh easterly winds
were encountered. On the 27th a strong gale coin-
rnenced from the north-east. The wind lasted in its
full force three days, gradually bearing to the north-
east. During this period, under close-reefed canvas,
the vessel displayed the most excellent sea-going
qualities. The progress made was slow, hut it was
never necessary to lay to. On the 30th of November
the weather moderated, and Bermuda was reached on
the 2nd of December.
The gale which the Sunbeam had experienced on the
passage from Nasean had blown with great fury to
Bermuda. The flagship had been driven ashore, and
was found lying in that unfortunate position. A few
days later, the persevering efforts which were being
made to extricate that noble vessel were crowned with
success. During the stay at Bermuda Sir Thomas
Brassey was busily engaged in inspecting the admirable
naval establishments which have been gradually
formed on thoee lonely and storm-beaten islands. On
the 11th of Deoember the last stage of the voyage was
commenced. Favourable winds were experienced,
gradually increasing on the 15th to a strong gale,
which lasted for 30 hours. After the gale sivisidsd,
light head winds set in, against which the Sunbeam
steamed at from six to eight knots an hour, reaching
Punta Delgada, the port of St. Michael's ois Deeember
21. On the 24th the voyage was resumed. On Chriet-
mas Day calm weather permitted the usual observ-
ances to be conducted without interruption. On the
26th and three succeeding days favourable weather
prevailed. Off Ushant the weather was calm, steam
was raised, and tie Sunbeam arrived safely in
the Hamoaze on the morning of the 30th. The total
distance traversed since leaving Malta was 11,506
miles, of which 7,74 miles were completed under
canvas, and 3,802 under steam, with a total consump•
tion of 120 tons of coal, or one ton for every 33 miles
of steaming. The average speed maintained through-
out the voyage was seven knots an hour, including the
distances performed both under steam and sail. The
time at sea was 69 days 13 hours. The best run under
sail was on the 27th of December, when the distance
covered was 260 miles.

THE PROGRESS OF THE SALVATION ARMT.—The
Geneva corps of the Salvation Army has just cele-
brated its anniversary in the same public building it
used for its first meetings, notwithstanding the perse•
cution to which it was subjected, and is larger in
numbers than ever. The total income of the Army
(local and central funds) for 1883 was £300,000. They
are now issuing sixteen War Cries in various countries,
with a total annual circulation of over 88 million
Goyim During the put three monthe they have sent
°Moen to Tummies and Ceylon,