The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-08-25

Is not the exceptionally quick voyages
which are so worthy Of notice, but the
tact that the average me on all the yes
sells has been so much reduced. Such is
the constant Improvement in marine
architecture and marine engine building,
that a vessel is said to be old and behind
the times after running eight or nine
years, and has to have her machinery
taken out and replaced by new.
The City of Berlin, Of theInman.line,
and the Britanic, OF the White StaSsiine
made some notably rapid passages. fffiel
Arizona, of the Guion line, in 1881,
made thirteen success ive trims all of
which were within eigh days. Then came
the Oregon, whose fate is involved in so
much mystery, which, in 1894-85, made
seven voyages in less than seven days.
Then the Alaska made her famous run in
six days and fifteen hours, and, finally,
the Etruria made the passage in six days,
five hours and halt-tne fastest of all
What the steamer Of .he future can do
is only matter of conjecture. A new
motor power will, ultimately, be substi.
tuted tor steam, making new and i'm.
proved models possible, because freed
from the immense weight and bulk sat;
coal now necessary, and the new propeits
ling force will, in all likelihood, be more
powerful than steam, and safer as well.
With the present system 1t is matter of
thanktulness that voyages on the fastest
ships are believed to be the safest, and
that now there is less risk in going from
New York to Liverpools by the Alaska,
Etruria, or Umbria, than from Richmond
t0 St nv 10 II live
Our Present Voyage. .
The Umbria is not so well known to the
public as the Etruria, her sister ship, be.
cause soon after she was built she was ooIi-
verted by the British government into an
armed cruiser, and has but recently been
restored to the passenger service. Shesis
little over five hundred feet long, With.
ten water-tight compartments a sersw
propeller twenty four tsetin diameter, an
accommodates her passengers with five
decks, the upper or promenade being re-
served for the use Of first t-class pas er gers.
Tier srr.tsssIa-sSs zTOoI ---.-- Is x e neo-
pie than some OF our churches in V.r-
ginla, and her dining saioon-seventy-six
feet long and fifty feet E-de-is especially
beautiful at night from the radiance Of
a multitude OF softly shaded electric
lights.
But while these apartments, together
with the music-room and several parlors
IN different parts Of the ship, are so spa
clous, the state-room are by no means
large IN proportion. O. me contrary, they
are surprisingly small. We're Dickens
alive he might repeat MS little Joke OF mis-
state-room' not beng al he anticipated
from the name, :" a room OF state" DR..
Mcclure and l sleeT r. O. sort of cup
board, the Doctor occupying the upper
shelf. We keep the door open day and
night, and the port-hoe window also
when we can but as oar room is at the
foot of wide staircase we have good ven
tilation, and SO do Nc complain of our
quarters.
DR.. Mcclure attra much attention
among the scientific and intelligent men
on board, and will a.. SCI more when he
gets among his profe sional brethren in
England
Mr.. Page enterta inea y large company
this evening with one of lis amusing reel
tations. 1t was a great novelty to his
British hearers and was much applauded.
We have a very easont company Of
passengers, with less drinking and gam
ing among them than ! ever saw on any
ocean steamer. On Sunday good Capt.
McMicken read the service very well, and
one of the five ministers on board preach.
ed sermon twenty i've minutes long.
Our table in the dining saloon is nearly
filled by Richmond people, Mr.. John
Branch and family, N Mary Cameron,
DR.. Mcclure, and myaelf, and a young
Mr.. Wright from Greens ooro, N. c., while
Mr.. and Mrs. T. N. = se occupy seats at
the adjacent table. Several bridal cou-
pies have commenced heir voyage on the
sea Of matrimony b, .aking passage on
the Umbria Thus ar this has been the
smoothest sail ever I'd on the Atlantic.
In fact it has been a markable one, the
wind having scarce varied point since
We left Sandy Ho- blowing gently
from the syuth-wesg, los sails all set and
unchanged from day day Gas in the
trade-wiDd=) the L1n.a all the while
riding as steadily North river steam
boat at the rate @. 30, 435, 437, 446
and g. 10 miles a day nee Monday last
We expect to- see ibe g1ts on the Irish
, coast by midnight. The passengers al.
over the ship, e2. Hg to mail their
letters AZ QueenstoH O.morrow (S3tur
= day morning, are wr g to their friend.
at home and ] hope too am writing &c
some OF mine through l5 columns Of the
luir0| IrclWaIr III. ID. TT