The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-07
LIFE ON AN OCEAN STEAMER.
STEAMER BRITANIC, J
WHITE STAR LINE, MID-OCEAN, 4
June 22d, 1877.

| -~~ $1,000 VI al OCCuu-StcdUcT. ana
particularly of this vessel, and the Ger
manic OF the same line, as they are con-
structed and furnished exactly alike.
An ocean steamer differs very widely from
lake or river steamer. The load or car
go OF a lake steaa.er is placed all on the
main deck, and, of course, above the water
line. In an ocean steamer the cargo is put
in the hold far below the water line also our
baggage, except what we require in our
state rooms. A lake steamer draws only
from to or 10 feet of water This stca
mer draws 20 feet Of water. A lake steam
Tor rs p9opelled by side wheels., Thiss sxsssel.
is driven by screw, situated nearly 20 feet
below the surface of the water in front of
the rudder, but in rear of the vessel. This
screw has four steel fanges, and is only %
feet inches iu diameter. Yet its propell-
ing power, being so deep under water is
tremendous.
The hull of lake steamer is constructed
of wood, and has guards extending out four
or five feet beyond the hull An ocean
steamer is constructed of iron-great long
iron plates forming the hold, and these fas-
tened by bolts to an iron framework There
is hardly particle Of wood below the water
line. There are no side guards. A lake
steamer is wide in proportion to it's length
This steamer, the Britanic, is 40 feet long
and only 45 feet wide.
The following are the principal statistics
respecting this vessel. LeIgth 470 feet;
width 40 feet; tonnage 5004 tons engines
100 horse power; indicated power, 5000;
eight boilers, with 32 furnaces under them;
consumption of coal per day 50 tons num-
bcr of Officers and men, including sailors,
firemen, cooks and table walters, 152; aver
age speed of ship, Is knots to the hour, Ga
knot is one.sixth of milo longer tha in
English mile0 diameter of screw % feet,
six inches; diariotcr Of shaft 22 inches.
The dining saloon is about fifty feet long
and extends from side to side of the ship,
having five rows OF tables, with fixed revolv-
ing chairs, seating 1872 persons.
On leaving port the tanks are filled with
$4,000 gallons of fresh water, which, by
means of pipes, is carried to every part of
the ship. If this supply should fall short,
one gallon per minute can be produced by
eondnnsin.s Stanm from tho erraat -ho.; lA-a--'-
Inere arc rwu SIGao ouS;.~o tv drivo the
ship, and nineteen other engines to do the
other work of the ship. BY two small en-
gines the cargo and even our baggage is lif-
ted into and out of the ship. An enclosed
wheel on the upper deck, worked by a small
engine, drives Is, 600 cubic feet of fresh air
every minute through pipes into every state
room, and to all parts Of the ship The SLIP
is steered by steam! In the whecl-house on
the upper deck man stands behind small
wheel, not three feet in diameter. CA child
could control this wheel in the toughest
D., 20 l. 4. l. 4
from this wheel to an engine placed on the
main deck near the stern, the man turns the
wheel one way and it opers valve in one
Of the cylinders of the engine, Or by turning
the other way, the valve in the other cyln-
as- 40 ePe~ i,s thio WY rtes-.-pewev is op-
piled directly to machinery which controls
the rudder. If the man in front let's 90 of
the wheel, the engine is locked and holds the
rudder in the exact position in which it was
left. This steering arrangement is compar-
atively new, and is, as yet, applied to but few
vessels. if by any accident this engine and
apparatus should get out of order, there is
placed directly in ircnt Of it the great double
wheel for four to six men to handle, and
which can be put in gear in five seconds.
There is arranged throughout the ship
series of electric wires, SO that if we are in
our stateroom or smoking room, and wish to
call a steward or waiter, we have only to
touch button. a bell rings in the stew
ards department, and the Indicator" tells
where the servant is wanted
This and some other of the vessels of the
White Star Line -.possess- improvements
which are not found in many Of the older
steam vessels. The dining ssaoors~a state
rooms are as near midship as possible, and
are on the main deck, and far above the
water lino BY this arrangement but little
motion is felt, and the portfolios can be left
open unless the weather is very rough
Although the waves are now rolling from
to 10 feet high, our vessel moves along with
out any pitching, and l am writing as agree
ably as if in my own parlor In all modern
built steamships, there are below the water
line air-tight compartments, so that if an
accident should happen and a hole be stove
in, single compartment would fill with wa.
ter, but do no other damage only adding a
little to our cargo AS to safety, I would
rather 90 from Now York to Liverpool in
this vessel than to 60 from New York tc
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