The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-22
An ORIENTAL CANAL BOAT.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMSHIP MAGDALA.
The First Steamer from China nv ths suav
Canal houte-1ncidsnts Of tho Voyage
Description Of the ship-rhs Pre-
sent Condition Of the Canal
Interesting Particulars.
"seventy days from China, eh, captains"


"Seventy days from China, eh, captain,n
'No. not exactly; ninety1 i've days from Shane.
haze. could have made the passage In seventy
days but for my Ill luck. We encountered very
heavy weather IN the Red sea, a cyclone and hurri
cane in the Atlantic aud head winds all the way.n
This interroyatOry and SUFFICIENT answer were the
commencement OF an interesting conversation that
took place last evening between Captain David
son. OF
THE STEAMSHIP MAGDALA,
and O HERALD reporter. The Magdala arrived az
this port yesterday, direct from Shanghai, China.
via the Suez canal and Ren Sea route. she is the
first ship from the East which, passing through the
newly opened channel between the oceans, has ar
rived in New York or some other port Of the United
States. The event, therefore, is both interesting ana
important. 1t marks new cru in our commercial
history aud points to newfed OF enterprise But,
unfortunately, there Is nothing connected with 1t In
which Americans can rejoice
THE GALLANT SHIP IS ENGLISH;
the profits or her cargo are for the
benefit or English enterprtslng merchants,
and when she leaves these shores the wealth
OF our commercial city VIII not have been added BY
one dollar. SO, while the arrival Of the Magdala
direct from the Fowery Lard by the Suez route de-
mands attention an HISTORICAL event, there Is no
room for American rejoicing over 1t.
The Magdala Is q screw steamship OF $50 tons
register. 12) nomina horse power, capable OF work.
ing up to 60O carries 200 tons dead weight OF
cargo, and Is commanded by o courteous aud able
seaman. Captain william Davidson, OF England.
From the day on wnicn the last 'heathen Chinee"
went over her side, her matches banged down ON
the cargo or tea and her course laid Tor the China
onnng,
TIE VOYAGE OF THE MAGDALA
was an eventful one. Leaving Shanghai on tho
18th OF August, she touched at Hong Kong on the,
10th coaled, and left the following day. Singapore
was reached on the 29th OF the same month. The
next day she put to sea again, arriving at Gale
the Slh Of September, which port she left on tho
9TH arriving at Alden on the 2.d. On the 23l she
left Aden UP to her arrival at the latter port she
had favorable passage. but she encountered very
severe weather IN the Red Sea, and owing 70 this
circumstance, which, OF course could not have beon
iober had the weather con inued as favorable after
she had LETT Aden as 1t mad prevailed previous 10 her
distance to suez In live or six days. The Magdaa
passed safely through the canal In the manner
hereinafter described BY Captain Davidson himself
and lett
on the 14th OF October, where she arrived nw
ships mead beng turned toward the sea and the
Island OF Malta the same evening. Inc Rock was
sighted the 25Lh and on the 2Sth the gallant ves
sci steamed out OF Gibraltar and headed for New
York.
"What sort OK weather ulQ you nave, captain ~
asked the reporter when some OF the foregoing facts
were elected.
sWeli the weather was very severe in the Red sea,
but after passing the lsthnlus moderate enough
until the 25th OF October, when the weather was
awful you know"
The reporter intimated that he did not know, but
anXlOusly waited The captains
DESCRIPTION or THE STORM.
It blew furiou y on the 2Sth We were In the
middle OF cyclone which lasted until the 10th Of
this month. We lost several sails, and at one Time
saeGs ~
succession OF heavy gaies from the northwest TO the
southwest followed; but we managed to weather
them without damage. On Saturday last, OH cape
Hatteras In latitude 49, longitude H. we had another
tough gale, which continued TO howl In our wake
long after mad passed That dangerous locality.
The weather moderated on sunday. much TO our
relief, and arrived to-day sale and sound, rs you
REPoRTER-What your experience in passing
the SueZ Canal, CaptainY
Slight detention, caused by the bad steering OF
fellow ahead Of u.s. there was no delay. we steamed
through In sixteen hours going, steaMnG from hvo
TO Blk knots an hour. There Is
PLENTY OF WATER FOR VESSELS
craving from twenty-one 10 twen.y,tw0 Ieet OF
| The Magdala never touched bottom once rom Suez
to Port said 1t IS now the route for t1e Penlnsuar
and Oriental ships and those OF the French Oriental
Mall nne The trafic IN the canal Is increasing;
improvements are constantly going on and It ts
without doubt great success. Fears were enter
.ailsed that the sides OF the canal would fall in but
NO SIGN OF ANY SUCH CATASTROPHE
| The mud OF the embellishments has hardened In the
T! sum- ana In many places vegetation shows Itself,
Where vegetation is there IL soiidity. The width Of
the canal IT'S feet but IL Is not considered
vessels to pass one another In Tact, the numerous
harbOrs the route render 1t unnecessary that they
should The enterprise IL entirely In the hands OF the
French and Is well managed. There are telegraph
and signal stations all tine way from port W port,
which renders navigation easy and sale. The dues
are, for cagOes eight francs per ton and for passen
gers eight francs per head. We carried no passen-
| gers, yet PAID $500 In Dues
REPORTER-Cheap, no doubt; but does IL pay to
bring cargOes from China to America by that rOutef
| Captain DAvIDs0N-tay2 certainly IL will. In
| having the opportunity OF paying $500 we save
twice as much rot perhaps In time. but in another
respect Alter the teas are well packed on board IN
China they not again touched until landed here
on your docks, aud that
| THIS is NO SMALL MATTER
importers know full we |, II the public docs not.
| This tea have brought is OF the finest green-a
| quality that comes 70 the China ssaports from
| the interior IN August To bring 1t by snip
to San Francisco ana from thence by your
| new railroad would cost more, would scarcely be
quicker and certainly the damage to the herb woula
| be certain This Is understood III England Messrs.
construction OF line VI steamships for TINS very
| Messrs. Charles L. Wright Co., OF NO. 90 Water
| street. are the agents.
| REPoRTER--You seem quite sanguine, Captain,
| that this line will pay the plucky nrm oil Leiln.
| How Is the Magdala as ship? GO0ds
| captain DAvIDS0N-G0ed2 Come on board TO-
| morrow and take squint ut her.