, 1873-07-27
OCEAN STEAM NAVIGATION,
Facts nnll Incidents Connect
cd Tllorewith.
Tho Periis Of the Deep.

Tho Periis Of the Deep.
n tae Eitor qf The Chieago 3rttMHc:
fin: Tho roccnt Ions Of tho noble steatna:,fp
City Of Washington, Of tho Inna1l limo, no Boon
after TINT of Tho At:a1tfo, OF tho WlIto STIR line,
calla to mind factH md incidents connected with
ocenn Htoani navigation, which, may possibly DO
of intorost to Bonao Ut tho many readors Of THE
TR1nUuE. tt Ii now just thtrty-flvo yoa1B since
tho aotunl commencement of ocean atoA1n nRvi-
CATION md while, on tho whole it may bo ro-
garlel as great nuccosR, still tho loss Of stonm-
Bhipg md Tho sacrifice Of human liveH
connected thorowith llavo boon far greator,
probably, than most pooplo suppose.
or steamships, tho average loaa has boon ono for
every ton months; of human lives, tho ostitnato
s Mt loast 100 for each hAtp lost-for forty-throc
BhipH making grand total Of d,900.
Tho following, although nado wholly from
memory, III q nearly correct list Of
| BrEA1tBn1rH LOST:
| On tho route to Quebec and 1Iontreal-Tho
russia, Arabian, Aug'o-saxon, Connaught, oen-
| ntla, and North Britaiu. To Now Yorls-Tho
President City of Philadelphia, alas-
gov, City of Glasgow, Argo, City
| Of New York; Columbia, Humboldt,
Franklin, Chicago Scotland, England, Pacific,
Arctic, City Of Boston, Colorado, Cambria, At
lnntio and City Of Washington. From Now
York to California,-this Hle tho IBthmus,-Tho
Empire City, Crescent City, City Of Plttaburgh,
! San Francieco and Cherokee. Between Panama
and San Francisco-Tho Sea Bird. Monumental
City, Columbia, Independence, Tonnessco, Win
fold Scott, John L. stovons, s. s. Lowis, Golden
Cato, Washington, and Continental.
! We hayo said that ocoan steam navigation
| commenced
TH1nTT-TfvE YEARS AGO.
It waB in 1898 that tho Atlantic Ocean was
crossed for tho first time by vessels propelled
exclusively by steam power; aud pretty much
| nll tho crodt NO as nation can claim at this
day is tho honor connected with tho fact TINT the
project was first conceived, and finally carried
into successful operation, by an American citi-
zen. In 1884 wo find this gentleman (Junius
en,ith) in London, engaged in tho projoot Of
ondaayoring to secure the navigation Of tho
Atlantic Ocean with steamships. At first ho mot
with not only opposition, but oyon abuse and
doriBion. In spite OF oil, however, ha succeeded,
| In 1886, In establishing o company uudor tho
title Of tho British j. American Steam Navfga-
ton company. This boing dono, d contract WAS
ut onco mado for building two steamships
Of large Dimensions, which, being completed,
woro intondod to bo tho finest specimens OF
1narino architecture ever constructed. During
tho delay In building theBo veaBels, In order to
give assurance to tho public mind, this Company,
iii tho spring Of 1888, sont out tho small steamer
Sirius. This vessel mado but ono trip, aud was
succeeded by thcir aiterward famous steamship,
the Great Woatorn. I WAS at tho dock in Now
York, with moro thnn 10000 othors, to greet her
1irst arrival As aoon as the Compauy's first
steamship, tho British Queen, was completed
sho commenced her trips to Now York. Then
1 ts-A- A1,N AL. utIuu
crossing tho ocean q fow timeB, waB lost, with
all on board,- enc knows how or
whoro,-on lor return trip to Liverpool.
Among her passengers was tho famous come
dian, Powers. who delighted immonBo audiences
at tho old Park Theatre. New York, forty ycnra
ago. After tho loss Of the President, the British
9aeon made but u few ps to Now York when
/ her last trip home, tho writer, ono Of n largo
party, on board of a small stoanler, conveyed
her far out to sea. Tho Great Western, how
ever, continued on tho route to Now York for
| many yearB, running with wonderful regularity.
Next cano what has become the celebrated
cuNAND LINE.
consiating OF four splendid steamships. called
tho Britannia, 11ibernin, Caledonia, and Column
bio, These ships, having run with astonishing
regularity for Bovorai years, with only ono great
misfortune tho loas Of tho Columbia (no lives),
-wero (tho remainder Of thom) sold to other
parties. and their places supplied BY othors,
much larger and moto magnificent in their oon-
struction, the limo now consisting Of nine Hhips
viz: the Acatin Europa, Amorica, ,canada,
and Andes }}stern- -propollers), ,-Tanuing both to
New York and Boston. On the route to Now
York, these ships hnye now given place to still
lnrger vosse!s, called tho Cuba, Malta, Palmyra,
va, java, ''ss' and samapa S Il sso' IS ta Deta-
ble fact that not q, single life has
boon lost on this line by accident up to
tho present timo. BY reading tho printed reg
i,,oAr uf1J rf
splendid steamers Q person wonla hardly expect
tlo loBs Of ono Of these steamships from such
causos as led to tho destruction OF the Atlnntio
and City, Of Washington. On recent occasion,
J asked permission to take her to Now York and
back. Tho request was readily granted; but, as
tho vessel was about to sail. ho found it in
In Ills connection, Should not fai to 4, notice
tho greatest ship Of all at tho time Of her con-
] atruction,
THE GREAT BRITAIN,
| different in two respects from all others built
in carly yoars,-tiIst, in being. constructed
! nollor instead Of side, paddlo~whooa. Tho
Great Drisain-aftor making n fow successful
, trips to this country and back to tho ,sstonish,
j mont Of all-quiotly ran aground on tho coaat
} OF ireland, where sllo remained during tho
winter. She was finally got oil, taken 10 Liver
! pool, and repaired. whom she was again scen In
waB running to Australia.
Up to the tino of building the Great britain,
about 1875, such thing as IN AmoFsan-built il, |
} Of things gave rise to the question whothor
; Americans wore going to bo outdono IN this NOW
J fold Of enterprise, Our prdc, our capitalists,
said No. England, it was determined waa not
D to rolnain mistress Of the sea. Soon tho
D STEAMSHIP wAHn1SoToN,-
. In that dGy largo and uoblo yessol,-was COM
= plotod, tho first A1nerloan-built stoamor that
y over showed itself in British watorY. She ran
| with