Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1889 — THREE OCEAN RACERS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THREE OCEAN RACERS.

TEUTONIC, CITIT OF SEW I’OBK, .AND CITY OF HOME. How the City or New York Won the Great Atlantic Bace—Sport of Titantic Proportions Over a 3,000-Mlle Course —A New Era in Shipbuilders’ Art.

HE English press is devoting considerable space just now to the rraeing achievements of the Atlantic lines, for if it can be called sport it is certainly sport of Titanic proportions and well worth the wide interest taken in it, writes the London correspondent of the Chicago Inter Ocean. With a course of 3,000 miles and repeat, gone over by the largest craft afloat at a speed which exceeds the average of an

American railway train, the combination offered is one to appeal to any one who is impressed by big tnings, whether on land or water. The world has been apprised of the results of the great race between the White Star Teutonic, tne Inman City of New York, and the Anchor Line City of Rome, representing three rival builders of Ireland. Scotland, and England respectively. The Scotch

boat won. with the Teutonic an easy second, and the Rome third. The New York, determined to win at all hazards, was put through at 'he top of her speed atnearlv all times, and not only kept her big wheels going at an average of eighty revolutions to the minute, but she took the northerly course over the banks, risking fog and a possible iceberg, thus materifilly cutting down the distance. The Teutonic, w'deh was on her maiden roundtrip, gave a performance which was remat kable for a new boat, lowering the maiden record. Her average number of revolutions was probably below sixty-live.

while she is capable or eighty. In addition to this, she took the southerly course around the banks, her officers and Mr. Ismay, the chief owner, who was aboard, not caring to risk too much for speed. When these facts are considered, it will be seen that under exactly similar conditions there is but little actual difference in the speed of the two boats, and, if the races are continued, many excitiifg and close contests may be looked for. The chief interest in England centers in the Teutonic, which is a magnificent experiment in marine architecture. She is a novelty in more ways than one. being the longest steamship afloat, and built as to interior arrangements and machinery on new plans. But the principal feature of interest to Americans is the fact that she was constructed under a subsidy of the British Government, and upon demand can in forty-eight hours alter reaching port be turned into a formidable war vessel with an armament of effective five-inch guns. She is thus to the English navy what the militia is to the army. In pursuance of this plan, all her vital machinery is placed below the water-line, and protected by coal-bunkers. In other respects naval models are followed where so doing will not affect the use of the ship as a passenger craft. It is thus that the English Government takes a parental interest in the doings of the Teutonic, for at any moment it may become an important factor in conducting naval operations, being especially calculated to be of service in transporting large bodies of

troops and being, unilike most transports, able to defend herself with vigor. This, and the Majestic, a sister ship, are the first subsidized American liners, and the experiment is watched with great interest by

other nations, especially Prance and Italy. The Teutonic has a length of 582 feet, being the longest craft afloat- This may not convey much of an idea of her length to shore-going people, but it will strike sailors as something a little remarkable. It will be remember what a great furor was aroused over the Great Eastern on her first trip to America, t-he was looked upon as a marvel in size and appointment, and was visited by thousands, making more money as a show than as a freight and passenger carrier. It will also be remembered how the monster was found to be unmanageable in a heavy sea. and condemned to a li e of inactivity. It was supposed at that time that the limit of ocean boat construction had been exceeded by one-half at least, but now comes the Teutonic with a length of but thirty-six feet shorter than that of the Great Eastern, and the sureness and ease with which she has been handled in the worst weather she has thus far encountered will doubtless tempt her owners and builders to further experiment in the way of still larger craft. Before the Great Eastern came the Great Western, which was but 210 feet in length, and made the trip across in eighteen days, something which was then pronounced by the New York papers of that time as “a matchless performance." In those days it was predicted that this vessel of 210 feet would break in two, owing to her extreme length. The launching of the Teutonio marks an epoch in ship-builders’ art almost as well defined as that marked by the Great Western in 1838. She is built of Siemens-Martin steel, and is propelled by two independent sets of triple expansion engines, driving twin propellers with Manganese bronze blades, and are the strongest known to the maritime world. If one engine should give

out the other may be worked independently, and should both become disabled there is sufficient spread of canvas to give steerage-way in a very moderate breeze. The older vessels of the White Star Line have four masts and are square rigged, but the Teutonic has but three of fore-and-aft rigging. It is not the intention to herd the passengers like cattle on the new boats. The number of first-cabin passengers is limited to 300, with accommodations for 150 in intermediate, and about 750 in the steerage. By limiting the number of flrstelass passengers the necessity for two tables is done away with, which is usually such a source of annoyance, esnecially to those wno are compelled to sit at the second one. The elegance of the boat in fittines and decorations is a matter of course, and it is enough to say lhat everything to conduce to the comfort of the passengers is present. The main saloon is decorated in the renaissance period and the prevailing tones are ivory and gold. The librt.ry contains a large and carelul selection of light literature, and is paneled in poker work on light oak, with a gilt ground. In addition to this are tastily carved panels in low relief in sixteenth century French and Italian work. The gentlemen’s smoke-room is especially sumptuous for one of its character, and even the second cabin accommodations exceed in comfort, if not elegance, the first-class accommodations of some of the other lines. Forward in the hold are electric light plants, by which the whole ship is lighted; refrigerator and ice machines, condensers for distilling salt water for culinary purposes. In fact, the boat itself i 9 an object of curiosity to old ocean travelers, ana while in New York on its first visit it was thrown open to the public at 25 cents per head, and had 6.000 visitors a day, the proceeds going to local charities. The horse-power and sp ed made by the Teutonic on 'her trial-trip are an office secret, but her officers give it out that after a few trips she will develop surprising speed. Sneaking of the Teutonio, a Liverpool paper states that its success has demonstrated the feasibility of large boats to a body of American capitalists who have been considering the establishment of ..a line of ten or twelve ships, none of which

are to have a tonnage of less than 12,000. The Teutonic measures 10,000 tons gross. It announces they are all to be built in the United States, and sailed under the stars and stripes. They expect to procure the steel in America, but will draw on England or Scotland for many of the men to do the work. Whether this will happen or not is still a matter of conjecture., but there has at least been some serious figuring done on the matter. A late acquisition at the British Museum is a specimen of the Fregilupus, which has been the chief treasure in the great ornithological collection amassed by the Counts du Eiocour during three generations. This bird belongs to the starling family, and was at one time common in the Island of Beunion, but through the ease with which it was killed it became totally, extinct a third of a century ago. It is thought that a total of sixteen specimens may now he preserved in the various collections of the world. It is well known that three-fourths of the moss on trees grows on the northern side. Thus early pioneers, lost in the woods, could find their way out by following the proper direction, guided by the moss.

STEAMSHIP TEUTONIC, OF THE WHITE STAR LINE.

THE LOOKOUT STATION.

ON DECK.

A DANCE IN THE STEERAGE.