The times., 1898-02-13

assertions on the part of different ma
tons as to which had made the first
attempt to propel vessels by steam.
The Spanish people claimed that as
early as 1543 Blanco de Carey, an in
ventor, had conceived the idea of using
steam in vessels and had tried the ex-
pertinent with some success in a paddle
wheel boat which he had caused TO be
built in Barcelona The French held
that one Papin had tried, though un-
successfully To build a steamboat in
I 1907, and Jonathan Hulls, of England,
asserted that he had built a steamboat
in 1886. William Henry. of Pennsylva-
MIA, also made some pretensions along
this line, but that the Spanish, at least
were at fault there can be but little
doubt. for the first practical steam en-
gine of any kind was built by Edward
Somerset, the second Marquis of Wor
| cester, in England. in 1868.
The first practical use of steam as
| a motive power for boats unquestion-
ably was made in 1877, by John Fitch
of Philadelphia, who built small boat,
the paddles, or more properly speaking,
the oars of which were operated Verti
cally by steam. This boat was run
on the elaware river for some time,
though no one would trust life or prop
erty aboard of ii, and all persons in
that section considered Fitch TO be in
league with Apollyon. Just before his
death, he predicted that one day steam
would propel large ships across the At
lantic and was Knocked and scoffed at
by persons who, in those days, were
really very clever. ii was from Fitch.
undoubtedly, that Robert Fulton deriv
ed his idea of the Claremont and in 1907
this peculiar looking craft astonished
the inhabitants Of the banks of the
Hudson river by steaming from New
York to Troy. Five years later, the
"Cornet" was built in Scotland and sue
cessfullly navigated the Clyde.
The second steamer to attempt the
passage of the Atlantic was the Royal
William which was built at Three
Rivers, Quebec, and which sailed from
Quebec for London on August .. 1888.
After an exceedingly stormy voyage.
she arrived at Gravesend, England, on
September Is, having been more than
forty days in crossing an ocean that is
now crossed in six and seven. Soon
after this she was sold to a London firm
and was converted into sailing craft.
In June. 1888, second Royal VIII
liam" left Liverpool for New York,
where she arrived in safety on July 5.
tring up to the Battery amid tremend-
Gus display of fireworks, the ringing of
bells and a general demonstration in
honor of her arrival. Her first return
trip was advertised in New York city
as follows:
British steamer Royal William, ST.
tons. Capt. Swanson, r. n. r.. com
mander. This fine steamer having ar
rived lately, VIII be dispatched again
to Liverpool on Saturday, August 4. at
p. NJ. She is only sixteen months old,
and from her peculiar construction
az int. fi.rl,t
tions), is considered to be one of the
safest vessels in England. Her ac-
commodations are capacious and well
arranged for the comfort of passen-
gers. The price of passage for each
person is $40. for which wines and
stores of all kinds will be supplied.
Letters will be taken for twenty-five
cents a single sheet, or one dollar an
ounce. For further particulars apply
10 Abraham Bell & Co., or to Jacob
Harvey, 2S Pine street"
A fair idea of the carrying capacity
of the Royal William can be formed
by comparing her measurements with
those of modern tugboat built in 1896,
and which is now one of hundreds like
itself plying the waters of New York
harbor. The Royal William was 145
feet over all; she was % feet broad, 175a
feet deep and her tonnage was only
S11. The horsepower of her engines
equaled $40 only. The tugboat referred
to measured 212 feet in length. by go
feet broad and 15A feet deep. The tom
mage of the tug was s12 and her horse
power Loco.
After a successful, though short ca
reer. the ROYAL William was relegated
10 the bone yard" and in 1883 was
sold to an enterprising Italian wood
for s11.
TIL cost of operating the Atlantic
liner of today is enormous; the cost of
operating fleet stupendous On a reA
cent trip from New York to Liverpool
the Etruria, of the Cunard line, with
147 cabin passengers, 20S steerage pass
engers and crew consisting of 2s7
men, was equipped for the voyage as
follows: Beef. fresh. 1850 pounds:
beef, corned, $50 pounds; mutton. $500
pounds; lamb, $50 pounds; veal. $50
pounds; pork, $50 pounds; fresh fish.
1000 pounds: fowls, 600: chickens, 900:
ducks, 100; geese. 80; turkeys. sos