The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-06
THE STEAMSHIP BRITANNIC.
A Fast Time by New Ocean Ferry
boat.

American shipbuilders and others who are in
terested in the progress OF marine architecture
VIII doubtless read with interest tile description
given below OF the new and very powerful White
Star steamer Britannia, which reached her berth
at pier 81, North River, on Saturday night last,
after her first trip across the Atlantic, having
made the passage In the extraordinary short
space OF seven days and twenty hours
The Britannia is an iron screw steamer, owned
by Mr.. lsmay, OF the White star line, and was built
in Belfast ireland, by the Messrs. Harland wolG.
she was constructed with considerable rapidly,
her keel having been laid last year. Her total
length all Is Az feet; breadth OF beam As feet,
ana depth OF hold 50 leet; thus making her length
equal 10 10 1875 times her depth and 10 2245 times
her breadth. Her carrying capacity is OF $3.50
tons and her register tonnage that Of Si4s tons.
she Is divided into eight watertght compartments
by buIkheads. A new feature is that sne is fur
nished with what is termed collision buikhead
or watertight space Immediately aft OF the bows.
These bulkhead divisions are carried up
from the Keel to the upper deck, which
Is, Of co ,are. t far above tne water me.
underwriters to be built. All the communications
between the bukheads are closed bv aoatlng
doors, so that III case OF water reaching any of the
compartments these boating doors would rise
upon the surface OF the lntruding waters and smut
or the access OF the invading element from the
next buikhead on either SIDE, The engines were
built by the Messrs. Maudsay, OF London. The
ooilers are eisnt In number, having thrty-two
pressure to the square inch. There are four stroke
holes, the boilers being fred fore and ait. rhe
daily consumption OF coal averages from eighty
five to ninety tons. The engine is OF 100 horse
lnomonnaaR power, ana ro can be worked up
fitted with two pairs OF cylinders, OF 80 ana IS
inches diameter respectively giving 60-inch
stroke OF piston. The shafts are p and 20 inches
IN diameter respectively. universal Joint and
radial bush do away with the necessity OF q steam
tube, and enable the ian TO be raised or lowered
a nnTa tnns nr1A
tween the captain and the engine room are COM
municated through o completely new patent tele-
graph, winch runs through the entire snip, incud-
Ing The saloons, bertns and stewards rooms. Toe
cabins ana saloons are furnished and up
holstered In style OF elegance far surpass-
tnat remarkable for their luxurious
accommodations The ship is furnished fore and
alt with what are called turtle backs--ihat ts,
these parts are rooted completely In, as 10 shed
water and break the shock OF neayy sea that
might strike IN these quarters. The ait tnrte
back is q new Improvement, and has never been
tried on any steamer before. On the hurricane
deck there Is promenade, $50 feet long, Tor the
cabin passengers, anu on the main deck there l. u
good clear passage on both larboard and starboard
SIDES OF nearly the whole length Of the
AIDES. There are three iron decks extending
all the way fore and ait, wnere not broken by
overlald with wood, and those OF the main saloon
and LADIES' saloon are maid In tasteful patterns
OF OAK, walnut and sandal wood The tnlaid and
panel work OF tde dining saloon are masterpieces
OF their kind. The well filled library and richly
finished piano impart pleasing degree OF eie.
gance to the whole. In the cabin dormitories--lf
the term may be used-ranges OF herths, consist
ing OF some eighteen, are In one apartment and
open to each other in common. Then there are
private rooms for families, aud swinging berths
to suit people who are afflicted with
the worst OF all Observation-Disclosures.
sengers, and IL Is said that 1900 souls
can be slowed away In the steerage. The
Britannia Is ship rugged and has four masts. She
Is steered by steam, and can make sixteen knots
an hour with ease. Her run out is one OF the most
remarkably rapid on record. The following Is a
list OF her Oficers:-
Commodore, W. II. Thompson; First on1cer, H.
Buriegh; Second officer. J. P. Irving; Third
officer, J. p. Walker; Fourth Oficer, A. McGachan;
Purser r. Barrett: surgeon, P. Neale; Chier En-
gineer, J. Il. winning; Second Engineer, Il.
Richardson; Third Engineer. A. Landon; Fourth
Engineer, A. Little; Filth Engineer, J. Duncan;
Sixth Engineer, w. Sharp; seventh Engineer. j.
Russell; Eighth Engineer, j. Redeem.