The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-07-11 00:00:00

THE BESSEMER SALOON STEAMER.

The Railway News says that this vessel, intended to
obviate sea sickness in the passage across the Channel,
is rapidly approaching completion. The vessel has
Ibeen completely listed, and the fitting of her engmcs
and boilers in place will soon be accomplished. flu.
' work will be done while the ship is on the stocks, so
that when she is launched she may the same tide be
sent on her trial trip. The vessel, so novel in her con-
struction, is an object of great interest, and scarcely a
day passes without several visitors from a distance. III-
: specting her. The ship is 350 ft. long at the water-line,
' cud for 48ft. at each end the deck is only about 41t.
above the line of flotation, so that in rough weather the
sea will wash over these low ends. The decks on this
portion of the vessel have a considerable curve, and
the sides of the ship are rounded off so that the water
may escape as speedily as possible. This form of end
has been selected with a view to obviate any tendency
to pitching. Above these low decks a breastwork is
erected about Bft. high. It is 254 ft. long, and
all the width of the vessel. The whole of this
breastwork deck is to be devoted for the use
of the passengers, and that portion fore and aft
Id the paddle-boxes will be protected with stan-
chions. The vessel will be propelled by four paddle-
wheels, and 90ft. of the Time between the paddies
will be occupied by the swinging saloon. Beyond this
and at each end the space is occupied, nearest the
saloon by the engines, and next by the boilers. At
one end of the breastwork there will be accommodation
for the crew of the ship, and beneath their quarters
stowage room for passenger's luggage, &e. At
the opposite end of the breastwork the space is
fitted with cabins for the special use of ladies,
and below these cabins there is a saloon 52f t.
long, and fitted with sofa seats all round. Along
the sides of the breastwork deck, between the paddle.
boxes, there are other cabins for passengers, beside
smoke-rooms and refreshment-rooms. The Bessemer
swinging saloon is making good progress, and already
a good idea of the principle may be obtained by an in-

spection of the work. The cabin proper is about 70ft.
long, 2filt. wide, and very lofty. The weight of the
saloon isborue by four large bearings, one at eaoh end
and two near the centre. The end bearings are fixed
on iron transveree bulkheads, which are well etiffened
br fore and aft ways to prevent them buckling.
The saloon will be one of the tri,t supeibly fitted
apartments afloat. The t 1 of it will form a promenade
dt ck, it it will be fitted all read with seats. The
saloon sill be entirely under the control iif the machi-
nery invented by Mr. Bessemer, awl it is declared
that it will be kept perfectly free from rolling during
the passage across the Channel, and passenger,, it is ex •
pected, will not feel any more more unpleasant semi/Hon
than they would in going up or down the Thames. The
ship will be supplied with two very large life rafts on
the plan patented by Mr. Christie, and she will be
steered, and her capstans, &c., worked by hydraulic
machinery. She was designed by Mr. E. J. Reed,
C. 8., MP., and Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering
Company at Hull are both the builders and the engi-
neers.