The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-02-20

The Occidental and Oriental
steamship Oceanic, now in port,
will be taken of the route when
she discharges her freight at Hong
kong, and be sent to Belfast, Ire
land, for repairs. It will take nearly
a year to give her a complete over
hauling, and when she emerges
from the shipyard she will Practi-
cally be new vessel.
Her place will be taken by the
Coptic, a vessel that has recently
been refitted. She will make a
number of calls at this pert during
the present year.
The Oceanic's present officers
will take her home, the only two
Withdrawals from the ship being
Purser E. o. futile and DR.. ]. Mo-
lony, the ships surgeon. Both
these gentlemen have many friends
in Honolulu who will be glad to
know that they will call here oc-
casionally. Purser Tuttle is an
extremely obliging official, and is
considered one of the most efficient
men in his line of business.
For nineteen years the tall masts
of the Oceanic with their burdens
of canvas have been recognized at
sea by every navigator on the Pa
cific. Her white star, always float
ing at the peak, would recall to
mariners who passed her the his
tory of her inception and the sub
sequent revolution in the building
Of ocean speeders.
In January, 1871, the Oceanic
first dipped her bow into the water
of the world at Belfast, Ireland,
with the insignia of her owners
waving over her decks. She was
the first vessel built for the White
Star line on the new plan of deck
arrangement, iron hull and inn
proved machinery. Her tonnage
was to be almost 1000, with five
holds to receive the cargoes. The
accommodations for 100 cabin pas
sengers were superior to anything
crossing the Atlantic at that time,
while the steerage-room was con-
sidered too large by the average |
who knew nothing |
the rush of emigrants
about to take place. In the early |
part of 1871 she made her maiden
trip from Liverpool to New York,
and became the pride of the White
Star Company.
When the Southern Pacific Rail-
road Company formed the plans
Tor the Occidental and Oriental
line, the Oceanic at
.racted the eye of the manage
nent, and lease was forthwith
entered into at a stipulated price
per month, says the San Francisco
Call. 1t was agreed that the white
star of her owners should always
De carried at the masthead, and
hat English officers should be in
Both of these provis-
ons have been carried out.
In 1880, q trip was made to Ire
and for repairs, but she was inn
returned to her run on
he Pacific. This trip may prove
different, as more time will be re-
Iuired to do the work, and by the
ime it is completed other arrange
ments NAV be made.
Her assistants in the burden
bearing line are the Gaelic and
Belgic, also owned by the White
Star line. Another &c" will take
1er place on March 10Th, when the
Coptic will sail from Hongkong for
mere with the White Star flying.
The officers look forward with
sleasure to the return "home," as
hey term it. Most of them have
'een on board a number of years
and have made host of friends
both here and in Oriental ports.
They will say goodbye to many
With regrets, but have hopes of
lgain being assigned to Pacific
.uns.
The ship itself can go back home
With but one stain upon its record,
and that is the sinking of the City
Of Chester about five years ago.
During the trial trip the Coptic
made 164 knots. Her speed will
greatly reduce the time between
dongkong and San Francisco, and
the Canadian Pacific Steamship
Company will have to look to its
Iaurels.
Harland & Wolff of Belfast, the
firm that built the Coptic, were
given the contract for her repairs.
at their Belfast yard they fitted
the steamer with new triple-expan-
sion engines and thoroughly over
hauled her In every compartment.
The passenger accommodations