The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-10 00:00:00

THE " BESSEMER" STEAMER.

The following description in The Times, of the saloon,
retiring rooms, and other appointments of this splendid
steamer, will be interesting to many;of our readers who have
possibly very unpleasant recollections of crossing the
Channel :
In a former notice of the Bessemer some attention
was called to the good taste and general regard to com-
fort with which the work of the upholsterer and deco-
rator had been performed. The credit of this work is due
to the Messrs. James Lyle and Co., of 57, Bishops-
gate-street Within, and a rather more detailed account
of what they have done, now that the public has had
leisure to digest the more immediately important and
novel features of this new era in the history of the
Channel passage, may possibly be not without some
interest. It is natural that 17.4 should begin first with
the saloon itself. It is approached from the main
deck by a staircase of comfortable width, and pro-
tected not with the usual handrail, but with the
bannister of civilized life. At the head of these
stairs is an entrance-hall and a cloak-room, much after
the fashion of the cloak-rooms of our theatres; at the
foot a small but well-fitted refreshment bar,
chiefly for the use of those whom prudence keeps
within the limit of the saloon, also a pantry
and some retiring rooms for gentlemen. The saloon itself,
into which you descend by a small flight of polished oak
steps on either side, right and left, is really a hand-
some room. The roof is supported on 12 spiral columns
with carved bases, and in the recesses formed by these
columns are sofas, 12ft. long, and running the entire
length of the recess. These sofas are not those horse-
hair abominations to which, in lodging-houses and
Channel steamers, we are but too well accustomed, but
comfortable resting places, covered with Russia
leather of a light, warm colour, called, we believe, in
the language of the trade, "giraffe colour." In the
centre again, on either side of the machinery by which
the movement of the saloon is regulated, are six other
sofas, of the same colour and material and shape, raised
on a dais Bin. above the main floor. The saloon itself,
stairs, passages, and landings are carpeted with
crimson velvet of arabesque design. At the far end,
to match those for gentlemen at the entrance, are two
retiring rooms for ladies, shut off from the saloon by
silk curtains of a colour to match the carpeting.
Mounting upwards towards the promenade deck the
passenger will find a smoking-room, surrounded with
sofas after the manner of the saloon, warmly carpeted,
and furnished with windows made to open and fitted
with blinds. The promenade deck itself, which,
being part and parcel of the saloon, possesses the same
desirable attributes, is 701 t. long by 201 t. wide, and will,
in hot weather, be protected by an awning, besides
being covered by waterproof floorcloth. Then the
ladies who, leaving this deck, descend the opposite com-
panion will find two rooms fitted for them, and them
alone—the one a drawing-room, the other a lavatory.
On either side of the main deck—a good deck, be it
remembered, with a length of 251 ft. and a breadth of
481 t.—stand nine cabins for the use of those to whom
the neighbourhood of the saloon is not a necessity.
Each of these cabins is 71t. long, 7ft. high, and rather
over 6ft. in width. They are fitted with sofas of
maroon-coloured morocco leather, with pillows—not
bolsters of horsehair, but pillows Auffed with feathers,
and covered as are the sofas; also with racks like our
railway carriages, and fixed mahogany trays for bottles
and glasses. At either end are two state cabins nearly
double the size, and fitted after the same fashion, though
rather more elaborate both in decoration and detail.
On the starboard side is a refreshment bar for general
use wherein it will not be necessary for the passenger to
take his refreshment standing. On the port side is
another smoking-room, 251 t. long by 61t. 2in. wide,
fitted with tables, sofas, nettings, bottle-racks, and
lamps and looking-glasses let into the panels. In this
part of the ship all the doors are arranged for
ventilation after the manner of the Venetian blind,
and all the cabins and rooms here, besides the usual
ports on the ship's side, have windows opening on
to the deck. Nor are the second-class passengers
by any means forgotten. They wiil find for their
especial use a cabin 45ft. long and 32ft. wide at the
widest end, having two rows of sofas on either side, and
down the centre tables chairs, and looking-glasses,
the colour of the room throughout being of a pleasant
green. There is also a second-class saloon for ladies
only, with sofas, tables, chairs, looking-glasses, and
hanging wardrobes. Lastly, so far as the comfort of
the passengers is concerned, there is a pantry wherein
is to be found all that we look for in a pantry. When
we add that the accommodation for captain, officers,
and crew is on the same scale of comfort for every
one, from the highest to the lowest, being well cared
for according to his requirements, we think we have
said enough to show that Mr. Bessemer and Mr. Reed
have been well seconded in their efforts to alleviate
the unhappiness of travellers to and from the Con-
tinent.