The Washington herald., 1910-05-01

extend back over q period OF more than
twenty-five years viii miss the Cunard
Line steamship Umbria, which LEFT New
York for the last time six months ago.
and is now destined for the scrap-heap.
II Is difficult for such as these to believe
that that beautiful fabric of steel and
iron ana wood, which once suggested the
epitome OF marine construction and speed
and grace and safety. has been sold to
the iron-mongers for a paltry SlOO. 900,
and that within a very short time the
components Of her hull VIII be scattered
in one form or another oil over the Brit
ish empire. writes Lawrence Perry. in the
New Post.
And yet. II. as the superstitious folk Of
the sea believe. elements OF metal and
wood merged into one hull, performing
year after year a set task under the
animating impulse Of great smooth-run-
ming engines. develop a soul-"the soul
OF the ship"-it viii take more than the
hammer and chisel OF the wreckers TO
eliminate the Umbria from the seas. IN
any event. sentimentaIism aside, mem
cries Of her will abide as long as human
kind have minds attuned TO the romance
Of the sea. The winds Of old ocean are
said TO whisper OF good ships long after
| those ships have gone. They viii whisper
Of the Umbria surely, and as long as
older generations live stories OF the day
when the Umbria and the Etrurla were
tearing across tho Atlantic with records
under their bows VIII stiu be told
In the days to come readers OF old nc
tlon-fction already old, IN fact-wfll be
reminded Of her constantly: for no liner
ever was so popular with writer's who in
their day won popular appeal How
many stories in the late eighties and the
early nineues began. The Cunarder
Umbria vas piowing her way" OF,
''She was seated ~ a steamship chair
upon the hurricane deck Of the Umbria,"
sc. For many reasons that vessel filed
the mind and inspired the Imagination.
and so she VIII live, In that way. at
least
The Umbria was among tho first Of the
modern liners. Both she and tho Etruria
were built and launched IN 1884, and be-
gan their successful war for supremacy
Inman Lines. From the first the Etruria
was just shade faster, and eventually
succeeded in bringing the time Of passage
down 10 almost, II not exactly. six days.
A Blue Ribbon Boat.
But the Umbria flew the blue ribbon
from her mast In 1857, at least with
record westward OF six days four hours
and fourty-two minutes. Compared 10
the performances OF the Mauretania. the
Lusitania, or even boats % the early
nineties. the Majestic. Teutonic. the city
Of New York, and City OF Paris. and
eventually the Campania and Lucanla,
the pace which the Umbria set was that
II the sluggard. Still. 4 must be re-
membered. times as well as boats were
slower in those days. and the per-
formances OF the Cunarder created as
much. II not greater. furore as the crack
greyhounds OF to-day.
She was large. too. for those days-a
levithan as well as speed-boat. She was
Sole feet long 57.2 feet beam, IS feet
draft, and measured SIPS tons gross.
The vessel will chiefly be remembered
because Of the breaklnge Of her shaft
while bound from Liverpool 10 New York
in 1892. leaving her a log on the sea for
several days while steamship men on
both sides OF the Atlantic and friends and
relatives Of the passengers about gave
her up for lost. There was no wireless
telegraph system in those days. and news
Of marine diaster or accident worked Its
way dilatorily ashore through the medium
of vessels happening 10 be in the vicinity.
It seems entirely improbable. in view Of
the system OF ethereal communication
now in general use on the sea, that such
an incident as that OF the Umbria could
ever occur again 10 a prominent trans
Atlantic liner, and hence it deserves fresh
attention II only as suggesting the I'm
proved conditions under which travellers
Journey across the ocean to-day.
Her Eventful Voyage.
The Umbria sailed from Liverpool. at
o'clock, on Saturday, December Il. |
1882. She was the Cunard Lines Christ /
mas ship: that is to say she was due in
New York the day before Christmas. and
her passengers We're eager to Join their
loved ones in good time for the festal !
day. In addition a great mass OF mail |
had been held for this vessel, with her
laurels as a record-breaker stu fresh |
She had ~ frst-cabin passengers. 12S in !
the second saloon. and more than 200 |
immigrants Counting tho crew there
were 800 persons on board.
She had taken 30 sacks Of man at Liv- /
erpoOl. and arriving at Queenstown at
. o'clock the vessel was held for the /
Irish mail, loo bags. until 2 o'clock /
In the afternoon. No sooner had the |
big liner passed Daunt's Rock than she |
thrust her shapely bow into a scream !
ing Northwestern which instead Of dying |
out proceeded day and night with force /
slowly cumulative. But tho Umbria |
pounded along despite the adverse eIe- !
mental conditions. logging 4O5 miles the /
first day. 420 the second. and 800 the /
third. On December p, heading into a /
wet. nasty gale. she steamed 4O2 knots, |
which so pleased the officers that they |
were not loath 10 prophesy a quick voy-
age. blow high. blow low. OF run the |
seas as they might
And the passengers thus made happy /.
passed the tumultuous hours pleasantly
In the saloon. the drawing-rooms. the
library, or the smoking compartment.
The holiday spirit was on them all. and
each hundred miles which the black bows
cut through the great waves served but
TO add 10 their joy
While Capt. Horatio Mckay. with the
spume Of spllntered waves glistening In
his beard. stood on the bridge. Laurence
Tomlinson, the chief engineer. remained
ever among his engines. For headwinds
and seas are liable to take their toll Of
engines driving a great hun AT ton snand |