Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-04-18
Sea Life on The "Iucania. I"
tBy Rev. G. W. james, b. d.


Many people look on sea voyage
as one of the undesirable things of
life. But there is q bright side to
such voyage, especially when we
travel on the modern boats, where
everything is furnished for the com
fort of passengers.
After spending six months in Eur
ope, / began preparations for my re-
turn to the States; and having deCid-
ed to return during the windy month
of March, it seemed wise to take the
best boat on the safest line. Having
crossed the Atlantic with three differ
ent steamship companies, | began
to compare notes, and on finding that
the "LucaniaN of the 'Cunard Line"
furnished the best accommodation
and most comfort, | soon decided to
put myself under the care of the Cum
ard Company. BY four O'Clock in
the afternoon of Mar. %, we found
ourselves in the Liverpool docks on
board the "Lucania." a half hour
later the floating palace began to
move, and we soon realized that the
earth was no longer beneath our feet.
The eleven hundred passengers SEEM
ed happy, though few shed tears as
they took last fond look at loved
ones who stood on the shore.
The state room which was to be my
home for u week, was located in the
northwest section of the ship; it was
an outside room, elegantly furnished,
we'll ventilated, and for convenience
unsurpassed. The bell could be rung
and the electric light turned on and
off without the passenger turning over
in his bed.
A little account of this boat and the
company may interest the readers of
this paper, especially those who are
making plans to cross the sea. The
Cunard steamship company, which
was organized in 1910, has made a re-
markable record during these sixty
years because of the comfort and sa-
tcty experienced by passengers, At
the head of the Cunard fleet at present
stand the sister boats, "Lucania"
and "Campania.n They made their
first trip in 1893. and ut once broke
all records in the history of ocean
speed. Both of these ships are alike.
In comfort and luxury they are equal
to the most celebrated hotels, and
plough through the storms with grace,
ease and safety.
The Lucania is 626 feet long and
81 feet wide. Her capacity is 10000
tons and her engines are 10000 horse
power. The electric light plant is
complete with 1850 lights and 80
miles of wire. There is ample room
on the boat for 400 passengers, after
allowing room for the crew of $50.
The promenade deck is all under
cover, and " walk around four times
is a mile. The inside arrangements
are more like those of an English
palace than ship. The dining hall
of the first cabin is 100 feet long by 81
feet wide, and has seats at the tables
for 400 persons. Perhaps the bill of
fare for breakfast in that room may
interest those with a good appetite.
Here it is; Apples, oranges, ban
anas; oatmeal and hominy with milk,
broiled linden hadock, fried spar
lings, salt Goldfish, liver and bacon;
potatoes, minced chicken, broiled
mushrooms and sausages: poached,
boiled, fried and scrambled eggs;
Hamburg steaks, grilled mutton
chops, boiled chicken, roast beef and
boiled ham; graham rolls, Scotch
oat cakes, Vienna bread, griddle
cakes, tea, coffee and chocolate.
am tempted here to give the bill of
fare of our Sunday dinner, but fear
1t might exhaust my strength and
your patience. The drawing room,
which is over the dining hall, is one of
the finest rooms | ever saw. 1t is 60
feet by 30, and contains a small pipe
organ aud u grand piano. The walls
of this room are lined with satin wood
and the mouldings are of cedar.
Joining this room is = library, - feet
by 81. This room is furnished sim
liar to She drawing room, and con
sists of 700 books, varied to suit all
tastes, The librarian is in constant
attendance. How delightful to sit in
one of those rooms with an interest
ing book, in chair that is thorough
~ comfortable, an outlook over a
good tempered ocean, and then with
all this, a feeling of being carried
with perfect safety at % miles an
hour,
Through the kindness OF the chief
officer, | was allowed TO go all
| through the ship, and was more than
pleased with what | saw and learned.
The furnaces, burning 500 tons of coal
a day, and the powerful engines in