The daily gazette., 1878-06-20
The "RePublic."
A FAST sTEAMER-ONE HOUR AND
TWENTY NINE MINUTES TO
PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA.
The new Cape May steamer ReDublic
built by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.,
left here yesterday at 1920 for Philadel-
phia preparatory to opening the season.
The vessel beyond doubt is the finest
river boat that has ever been on the
Delaware. A description of the vessel,
with the exception of the furnishing,
which was completed on Tuesday, has
already been printed in the GAZETTE.
In the stern on the lower deck, is stu
ated the dining room and restaurant
which is covered with handsome ingram
carpet. The first deck contains the en-
gine room, bar room, smoking room, re-
freshment stands, and various other
necessary rooms; also ladies' toilet room
which is covered with Brussels carpet,
while the furniture is covered with
maroon colored velvet.
The second deck is approached by two
broad stairways both fore and aft, at the
head of which is a magnificent French
plate looking glass. 1t contains the grand
saloon, covered with Brussels carpet and
the furniture covered with maroon color
ed velvet. There are also eighteen state
rooms on this deck some of which are
double. They are also furnished very
stylishly. In this saloon between each of
the windows, looking glass is inserted
in the panels. The third or upper deck
contains the pilot house and also the cap
tain's, engineers, s,pilot's and mates rooms
Seats are also arranged around the sides
which are enclosed by railing and net
ting. This deck alone is capable of hold
ing 700persons.
The vessel was not only constructed
with view to elegance and comfort but
more decidedly with a view to speed,
and judging from the run made up to
Philadelphia yesterday she will prove to
be as fast, as any one could desire and
she will be able to do all that is expect
ed of her, making a round "trip from Phila-
delphia to Cape May, in one day.
The vessel was towed from the yard to
the mouth of the creek when the tow line
was thrown and she started on her own
hook. At 1.01 she had Strengthened out,
head up and time was called. Iu eight
minutes after she had passed DuPont's
wharf, distance of % miles. Hook was
reached and passed in 23t minutes, dis
tance 81 miles, up to this place the throt-
tie had only been one sixth open and the
vessel was only making 10 revolutions,
with 80 poands of steam. At Hook the
engineer opened the throttle, and The in
crease In speed could be Immediately
seen and felt, the revolutions increasing
to twenty-three. From Hook to Chester,
upper pier, the run was made in exactly
10 minutes, distance 3 7-10 miles, and
from the mouth Of the creek in 3Sa min
utcs: distance l3 9-i0 miles,
From Chester to Race street wharf the
run was made in 81 minutes thereby
making the run from the creek to her
destination in one hour and twenty-nine
minutes. AS the vessel was approaching
Philadelphia the speed was decreased
for fear Of coming in collision with some
of the vessels that are continually ply
Ing upon the river.
The vessel could not land at her wharf
until about o'clock, on account OF the
JERSEY Blue and other small steamers ly-
ing there. In order to turn she had to run
up above Cramps ship yard, and from the
time she entered the port OF Philadelphia
she was saluted ON all sides by steam
whistles from vessels. locomotives, and
manufactures. 1t kept one man busy
in the pilot house answering salutes.
When she was made fast 10 the wharf,
and the gang plank thrown out, hundreds
of persons Immediately rushed on board,
and they kept moving, it is reported, up
to 7.30 o'clock. To-day she will take a
party of invited guests to Cape May and
return tomorrow.
The following are her officers:-
Captain-Geo. w, Lackey.
Mate-William Smith.
Chief Engineer-Peter Bloomsbury.
Assistant Barney Drummer.
Pilot-James M cIntire.
Branch Pllot-Jerry Eldridge.
Steward-Rufus King.