Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-05-26
ANOTHER BIG 'UN.
The Great Passenger whaleback
"Christopher Columbus,"
Clears for Chicago.
VIII Garry Passengers to and
from the Worlds Fair
Its Proportions.

Its Proportions.
The big %whaleback, Christopher
Columbus, which was built for the
passenger traffic to and from the
worlds fair, has left the barge works
at West Superior for Chicago.
The Christopher Columbus was
built for the Worlds Fair Steamship
Company and was launched from the
yards Of the American Steel Barge
Company at West Superior, Saturday,
Dec. 3, 1872. The vessel is built en-
tircly of steel and is 1852 feet long, AZ
feet beam and "a feet moulded depth.
1t is built On the ordinary wlIaleback
principles and has seven elliptical
shaped turrets, a portion of which
containstairways to the saloon above,
while others contain steam windlass.
smoEastack, air fans, ash hoists, etc.
The steel deck is laid over tops of
turrets, and forms in connection
Herewith a splendid truss to support
the entire length of the vessel and
thoroughly stiffen it against any un-
due stress of weather. The vessel
has d double bottom extending fore
and aft, ~ inches deep, giving a
water ballast capacity of nearly 1000
tons. The compartments are built
on the Mcintyre principle, with
nine girders three feet apart, and
braced with angle irons to the floor
plates. There are nine water-tight
bul&-heads, and in addition, from her
nose in the forepeak, there extends a
f~ore-and-aft bulkhcad AZ feet long.
Ten spacious gangways each side of
the shell deck and four between decks
provide ample facilities for loading
and unloading passengers.
The first and most natural part for
inspection is between decks, or that
part Of the leviathan that forms the
cylindrical hull. Except for boiler
castings, stairways, etc., the deck
forms one large promenade.
In the stern is a large apartment
for gentlemen, containing lavatories,
water closets, wasEstands, etc, in
Italian marble with nickel-plated
trimmings of a very costly descrip-
tion. Back Of this is the boot black
stands. In the hold, forward, is a
commodious beer hall, and amidships,
also in the hold. is a spacious and ele-
gantly equipped cafe. In the hold
will be fitted up two elegant barber
shops.
The saloon above the turrets is in
n apartment and is finished in
quarter sawed oak throughout. The
windows, which are numerous and
spacious, bear, sand blown into the
glass, types of water crafts, including
every conceivable design, from Noah's
ark to the modern whaleback. The
ladies' toilet room aft at end Of main
saloon is a veritable palace in the
way of elaborate provisions for COM
fort. 1t is furnished in italian mar
BILE and contains splendid wristbands.
closets, full length mirrors, etc. In
the center of the saloon, forward OF
the smokestack, n placed two mag
nificent sea water fountains, between
which is fitted a large aquarium,
which it is intended will contain
some beautiful specimens of the
famous Lake Superior trout. Two
elegant domes and skylights, in col
ored glass, give light to forward and
aft stairways. These during the day
have a marvellous effect when viewed
from the saloon, and Illuminated by
the brilliant incandesccnts by night
are simply bewildcring as viewed
from the exterior.
The furniture in the saloon is elc-
giant and costly, and embraces loung-
es, chairs, couches, ETC., of oriental
east and p%agnifcence: it is placed in
the center of the vessel, leaving large
allcyways on either side as promen-
AIDES.
On the promenade deck the life
beats, 16 in all, arc fixed, and their
roomincss, and the profusion Of life
p%rescrvers both here and throughout
other parts OF the vessel, inspire a
feeling of absolute safety that cannot
but be enjoyed by the most timid of
passengers. The quarters of the cap
tain, chief officers, mates and wheel
men are located in the Texas on this
deck. Ike pilot house, forward of
the Texas, is a handsome and roomy
structure and contains the wheels,
compasses, etc. The top of the Texas
is fitted with bars, handrails seats,
etc. and forward of that is the flying
bridge, the home of the navigator.
AT the forward end of the promenade
deck the standard compass is placed.
The pinnacle is of German silver,
borne Oh an exquisite dolphin stand.
The ventilator pipes above referred
to, are carried through this deck and
form cranes from which are suspend
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