Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-02-18
Bristol in sending the first English steamer

days. No sooner became the Britol mer-
chants aware of the Liverpool project,
when the utmost haste was made to start
their own steamer, named the Great
Western. TLey were duly proud of their
own achievement for it was, beyond dis
pute, not only by far the most splendid
steamer yet constructed, but the only one
designed, with all scientific appliances,
for Atlantic navigation. The Great
Western was built by Mr. Paterson, of
Bristol, after his own designs, but assisted
by Mr. Brunei, the registered burthen
being of 1340 tons, and the power of the
engines-made by Messrs. Maudslay, Sons
d Field, London-of 440 horses. The
new steamer was 212 feet in length be-
tween the perpendiculars, 355 feet in
breadth of beam, and 23 feet deep in the
hold. To enable the Great Western to
resist the action of the heavy Atlantic
waves, special pains were taken to give
her great longitudinal strength The
ribs were of oak, on the model of those
of line-of battle ships, and fastened to-
gether with iron bolts "A feet in length
Beng of such great strength, and of the
most symmetrical proportions, the Great
Western was prepared for her first voyage
across with the highest hopes of success,
and she more than surpassed all the ex-
pectations set upon her. By working day
and night, she was made ready for the
start about the same time the Sirius set
out on her voyage. Still few days
elapsed in taking in cargo, as well as pas
sengers. thus giving the. rival steamer a
good start. 1t was on the morning of
Saturday, the 7th of April, 1888, that the
Great Western, commanded by Captain
Hosken, finally lifted her anchors, steam
ing down the Channel. bound for New
York, amid the enthusiastic acclamation
of the Bristol populace.
There was now race across the Atlantic
the first ocean race by steamships which
the world ever saw. Close upon twenty
years had elapsed since the first steamer
had ploughed her way through the At
lantic waves, and, in the meanwhile, the
public seemed as if asleep on the subject
OF Atlantic steam navigation, disliking it,
or in common wi b the learned DR..
Lardner, looking upon it as voyage to
the moon-lunatic, IN fact. Now, all at
once, suddenly as by enchantment, the
public heard that two rival steamers were
going from England to America at the
same time, and great was the anxiety to
arrive. For week or more nothing else
was talked ofin all England but the steam
race across the Atlantic, and huge bets
were entered upon as 10 which of the two
ships would arrive first at New York;
with notifications as to whether either or
any of them would arrive at all. The
race was altogether not an uneven one.
Although The Sirius had left her moorings
on the Wednesday, and the Great Western
on Saturday morning, the former was
under the disadvantage of going round
the whole coastof southern England, and
also of fstopping at Cork, before actually
starting on her Atlantic voyage, while
still greater wback, on her part, was
that of being much smaller vessel than
the Great Western, with far less engine
power, and not specially constructed for
her new duties. The public excitement
rose to the highest pitch when week had
elapsed after the starting of the two
steamers from Cork and Bristol respec-
lively, without their having been spoken
with. The captains of both steamers, it
was found afterwards, had taken new
routes across the Atlantic somewhat out
of the track of easterly- bound sailing yes
sells, in order to get quickest to their desti
nation. But this was not known at the
time, and the gloomiest forebodings be-
came rife, with high wagers at Iloyd's
upon the total loss of the two Atlantic
steamers, when at last the happy news
came of the safe arrival of both at New
York within twenty four hours of each
other. Liverpool had started first, and
Liverpool had won the race.
The historical event of the arrival Of
the two first English steamers in the
United States was thus chronicled in one
of the New York papers:-"At, three
O'Clock p NJ on Sunday, the 22d of April,
the Sirius first deserted the land, and early
on Monday morning, the 23d, anchored
in the North River, Immediately off the
Battery. The moment the intelligence
was made known hundreds and thousands
rushed, early in the morning, to the Bat
terry. Nothing could exceed the excite
ment. The river was covered during the
whole day with row-boats, skitfs and
yawls, carrying the wondering people out
to get close view of this extraordinary
vessel. And while people we're yet won
dering how the Sirius was so successfully
made to cross the rude Atlantic it was
announced about eleven on Monday
tAAC tAdt AuSC
steamship was in the offing. The Great
Western the Great Westernl was on
everybody's tongue. About 2 o'clock
P. NJ. the first curl of her ascending smoke
fell on the eyes of the thousands of anxious
spectators, and shout of enthusiasm rose
on the air." The reporter then goes on
to tell how the Sirius had steamed at the
rate of over eight kno;s, and the Great
Western at nearly nine knots per hour
during the greater part of her voyage,
giving it as his opinion that the grand
experiment has now been fairly and fully
settled, and has been completely success
full" Only one question, he thought.
was now left for solution Can steam
packets be made to pay? This was a
question also occupying the deep attention
of the enterprising traders of Liverpool
and Bristol, originators Of Atlantic steam
navigation. .-Raslsoay Neaos London.
The Princess Louise, it is predicted,
will work notable dress reform among
the women of this continent. Her at