Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-21
OCEAN RECORDS IN DANGER.
German Competitors of shc English OF
the Atlantic Course.

the Atlantic Course.
The article in last Sundays Times which
gave sketch of ocean racing for half
century brought the history Of quick pas
sares across the Atlantic 10 the current
year, and signs are not wanting that 1891
will prove ~ fruitful in transai lantlc re-
cord. breaking as any that preceded 1t.
Prior to 1899 all vessels that won dis
tinction on the ocean race-cOurse were
English built and few the English flag.
In 10 that time the industry of building
fleet passenger steamships was almost eX-
clusyolv confined 20 Great Britain. and
the Cunard. tho Inman, and the White
Star Line mOnOpOhlcd tho interest IN
ocean-racing. But III that year German
competitor entered the hsts. Tins was the
Hamburg American Line. and 1t now
numbers four ocean ereyhounds, any one
Of which can hold its own with the fast
liners Of the English companies.
The first ship of the new service was the
Augusta Victoria, constructed by the Nul-
can Smpbulding Company IN Stettln.
Her success was immediate. Taxing hor
departure from the Needles at SD i. NJ.
on Nav #. the vessel traversed the dis
lance Of ., Oi9 miles IN days. hours, and
30 minutes. thereby making the best
maiden trip on record. The Columbia,
the second twin-scrcw vessel OF
the line. was no less successful.
This ship was constructed by the Lairds.
the famOu5 builders Of the cruiser Ala
bama. She was On exact counterpart III
every respect of her German-bulit prede-
cessor. and anticipation ran high regard
ing what she would do The date OF her
departure from the Needles. az i. NJ. Au-
gust 23i. was cablcd over. Fix days.
eighteen hours. aud twenty minutes later
the vessel passed Sandy Hook, lowering 10y
several hours the maiden record hcld by
her sister. On her eastward passage the
Columbia accomplished the remarkable
feat Of landing her myers III London
six DAYS and nineteen hours after their de-
parture from new Ork.
Not long after that the Normannia made
her bow n a contestant for the marine
blue ribbon. She did her work well,
making a maiden record of days - hours
- minutes. She steamed over what IS
known as the middle course and trayersed
q distance of 5000 miles. The route
chosen wns thick with iccbcrks, ana
one Of the towering masses cant
very near making the vessels maiden
trip her last Although delayed
five hours by her encounter with IN" zee,
the NOrnguua steamed past SANDY HOOK
III time again - lower the maiden record
| between Southampton and Now lprS.
1 ms vessel WAS constructed by John Lidci
d Co.. the firm that built the Ltr;lua and
Imbria. Sine was TUNED over all complete
| one year from the date Of letting 20 con-
| tract and although ehr d q so well on hcI
| ir-t tlp. she ha7 not since Cqualcd the
| expectations Of her builders.
Inv FIRST BISMARCK.
Bv wav Of evening things up, the Furst
| Bismarck, the next veSs J OF the line, sur
pa. sod the expectations Of both builders
and owners. Her first performance WIS
simply marvellous, and after readiuT bow
| tins remarkable vessel accomplished on
| her maiden trip, "A distance Ot 3 OSu miles IN
e. DAYS. "A hours aud ID minutes the public
began 10 think that the line had gone into
| the rccord-hreakng business. This run
remains unepualcd. loGccomulish the dis
| tahcc IN the time given required an ave
rae hourly speed of 1851 knots. Tho
quickest maiden trip ever maIe IRON
| Queenstown 10 New Ork was made bv the
! Majestic IN days 10 hours and 30 minutes
! This was over the record course O! ass
miles. Had the lurst Bismarck gone over
| the route taken 10y the White star LincI
| she would have accomplished the distance
IN DAYS ~ hours and - minutes.
| This. the last aud best addition t. the
| Hamhurg-AmericAn fleet Of racers, u pro.
| perly regarded as "a triumph OF marine
| architecture. The vessel was constructed
| ly the same firm that built tue Augusta
| Victoria, the first of the express steam
| eT~.' and her first peIioinance reflects
| much credit upon her German builders
! Tho popularity of these vessels l. that each
| has made such a remarkably fast maiden
! trip. Owing TO the stiffness Of new ma.
| chinery and other causes well uniCfstoOd
| by marine engineers vessel rarely does
rs well on first trip AZ She docs subSe-
| uuently With one Or two exceptions the
| history of the fast Atlantic liners shows
| that they began thor record-breaklng
career with comparatively Slow maiden
voyages, and gradually improved Their
| speed with each successive trip. Unlike
| their predecessors. these Hamburg vessels
| stepped - the front rank AT the first trip,
and. Judging from the experience OF otbeI
vessels. Il IL reasonable 10 look forward
| with confidence 10 the time when Other
| records Will have 20 90.
The record held bv the CITY of Paris
! which made the westward trlp IN days
| ~ hours aud Il minutes, mas vet 70 10
! ochpsed But the fast eastward record OF
! the crack Iuman racer was beaten 10y the
| Furst bismarck on her nrst eastward pa-
| SAGE. The Cty of Paris made her record
/ IN December. 1889, when she trGycrscd q
! distance Of PISA miles in days "A hours
and 30 minutes. The FurSt bismarck tool
| the longer route OF 3.l1i miles, and accom-
| plished the distance IN days 10 hours ano
| % minutes. over the course taken by th,
| lnman liner the Furst Bismarck would
| have made the phenomena record Of
DAVIS 20 hours and 40 minutes.
A fairer means of comparison is in The
! hourly speed Of the two ocean racers. The
average speed of the German vessel was
1918 knots per hour that of the City d
| Paris 1949.
1t is safe 20 say that the now addition e
| the Hamburg American Line has not vel
! done her best. and with this swift vessel e
contend against the crack fIers OF th'
| other lines Will have to look well t. then
| laurels. The result Is being watched witt
| unfeIgued interest. and il perchance The
] Furst Bismarck should set the pace at five
days and half no one would be much sur
| pUsed.