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saloon and entire range of cabins were lighted by gas； made on
board； though this has since given place to the incandescent
electric light。 A fine promenade deck was provided over the
saloon； which was accessible from below in all weathers by the
grand staircase。
These； and other arrangements； greatly promoted the comfort and
convenience of the cabin passengers； while those in the steerage
found great improvements in convenience； sanitation； and
accommodation。 〃Jack〃 had his forecastle well ventilated and
lighted； and a turtle…back over his head when on deck； with
winches to haul for him； and a steam…engine to work the wheel；
while the engineers and firemen berthed as near their work as
possible； never needing to wet a jacket or miss a meal。 In
short； for the first time perhaps； ocean…voyaging； even in the
North Atlantic； was made not only less tedious and dreadful to
all； but was rendered enjoyable and even delightful to many。
Before the Oceanic； the pioneer of the new line； was even
launched； rival companies had already consigned her to the
deepest place in the ocean。 Her first appearance in Liverpool
was therefore regarded with much interest。 Mr。 Ismay； during the
construction of the vessel； took every pains to suggest
improvements and arrangements with a view to the comfort and
convenience of the travelling public。 He accompanied the vessel
on her first voyage to New York in March； 1871； under command of
Captain； now Sir Digby Murray； Brt。 Although severe weather was
experienced； the ship made a splendid voyage； with a heavy cargo
of goods and passengers。 The Oceanic thus started the
Transatlantic traffic of the Company； with the house…flag of the
White Star proudly flying on the main。
It may be mentioned that the speed of the Oceanic was at least a
knot faster per hour than had been heretofore accomplished across
the Atlantic。 The motion of the vessel was easy； without any
indication of weakness or straining； even in the heaviest
weather。 The only inducement to slow was when going head to it
（which often meant head through it）； to avoid the inconvenience
of shipping a heavy body of 〃green sea〃 on deck forward。 A
turtle…back was therefore provided to throw it off； which proved
so satisfactory； as it had done on the Holyhead and Kingstown
boats； that all the subsequent vessels were similarly
constructed。 Thus； then； as with the machinery； so was the hull
of the Oceanic； a type of the succeeding vessels； which after
intervals of a few months took up their stations on the
Transatlantic line。
Having often observed； when at sea in heavy weather； how the
pitching of the vessel caused the weights on the safety…valves to
act irregularly； thus letting puffs of steam escape at every
heave； and as high pressure steam was too valuable a commodity to
be so wasted； we determined to try direct…acting spiral springs；
similar to those used in locomotives； in connection with the
compound engine。 But as no such experiment was possible in any
vessels requiring the Board of Trade certificate； the alternative
of using the Camel as an experimental vessel was adopted。 The
spiral springs were accordingly fitted upon the boiler of that
vessel； and with such a satisfactory result that the Board of
Trade allowed the use of the same contrivance on all the boilers
of the Oceanic and every subsequent steamer； and the contrivance
has now come into general use。
It would be too tedious to mention in detail the other ships
built for the White Star line。 The Adriatic and Celtic were made
17 feet 6 inches longer than the Oceanic； and a little sharper；
being 437 feet 6 inches keel； 41 feet beam； and 32 feet hold。
The success of the Company had been so great under the able
management of Ismay； Imrie and Co。； and they had secured so large
a share of the passengers and cargo； as well as of the mails
passing between Liverpool and New York； that it was found
necessary to build two still larger and faster vesselsthe
Britannic and Germamic： these were 455 feet in length； 45 feet in
beam； and of 5000 indicated horse…power。 The Britannic was in
the first instance constructed with the propeller fitted to work
below the line of keel when in deep water； by which means the
〃racing〃 of the engines was avoided。 When approaching shallow
water； the propeller was raised by steam…power to the ordinary
position without any necessity for stopping the engines during
the operation。 Although there was an increase of speed by this
means through the uniform revolutions of the machinery in the
heaviest sea； yet there was an objectionable amount of vibration
at certain parts of the vessel； so that we found it necessary to
return to the ordinary fixed propeller； working in the line of
direction of the vessel。 Comfort at sea is of even more
importance than speed； and although we had succeeded in four
small steamers working on the new principle； it was found better
to continue in the larger ships to resort to the established
modes of propulsion。 It may happen that at some future period
the new method may yet be adopted with complete success。
Meanwhile competition went on with other companies。 Monopoly
cannot exist between England and America。 Our plans were
followed； and sharper boats and heavier power became the rule of
the day。 But increase of horse…power of engines means increase
of heating surface and largely increased boilers； when we reach
the vanishing point of profit； after which there is nothing left
but speed and expense。 It may be possible to fill a ship with
boilers； and to save a few hours in the passage from Liverpool to
New York by a tremendous expenditure of coal； but whether that
will answer the purpose of any body of shareholders must be left
for the future to determine。
〃Brute force〃 may be still further employed。 It is quite
possible that recent 〃large strides〃 towards a more speedy
transit across the Atlantic may have been made 〃in the dark。〃
The last ships we have constructed for Ismay； Imrie and Co。 have
been of comparatively moderate dimensions and powerthe Arabic
and Coptic； 430 feet long； and the Ionic and Boric； 440 feet
long； all of 2700 indicated horse…power。 These are large cargo
steamers； with a moderate amount of saloon accommodation； and a
large space for emigrants。 Some of these are now engaged in
crossing the Pacific； whilst others are engaged in the line from
London to New Zealand； the latter being specially fitted up for
carrying frozen meat。
To return to the operations of the Belfast shipbuilding yard。 A
serious accident occurred in the autumn of 1867 to the mail
paddle…steamer the Wolf； belonging to the Messrs。 Burns； of
Glasgow。 When passing out of the Lough； about eight miles from
Belfast； she was run into by another steamer。 She was cut down
and sank； and there she lay in about seven fathoms of water； the
top of her funnel and masts being only visible at