THE DACOTAH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 254, 12 December 1872, Page 5

THE DACOTAH.

As this fine vessel,* the latest addition to Mr Webb's fleet, is daily expected to arrive in our waters, the following account of her trial trip, extracted from the New York correspondence of the Pacific Commercial Adverft'«er, will prove interesting :— • : •.

" After having heard and read so much of the Dacotah, and of her reported- and projected trips, that she would leave, for Honp- 1 lulu at such a time, and then that she was leaving New York, at another time that she would be here, there and almoßt everywhere else, for verily the Honolulu and San Francisco papers at onetime and another. have had all sorts of items concerning .her ; it would not be surprising if some should feel a certain degree of scepticism on reading the above caption. But this time you shall hear about the real live actual craft herself. No myth now, but actual iron and wood ; good and' solid, a beautiful wh"le Seems the advertisement in tbe Herald that tb.e Dacotah was preparing for sea and would sail in a few days to take her place on the California and Australia line ; in company with one or two Hawaiians, I went down to the foot of the 6th Street, East Eiver. where she was lying, to see her and have the pleasure of knowing what sort of a vessel she wa.s. And truly it was a pleasure, and she is a noble vessel, worthy of being on such a magnificent mute as the Australian. •An hour's* leisurely ramble on the decks, going from"stem to stern, and from keel to the upper deck, gave a good idea of the external and internal character of the vessel. Everything was in confusion, carpenters were at work, overhauling and refitting, ship-smiths were pounding and hammering, and machinists were overbwliog and putting in sew macbi-

nery. Everything gave signs of comfort and elegance, to say nothing of solidity and power. We made the acquaintance of Mr Webb, and through his kindness an invitation was received to be present at the trial trip to take place on the 10th of August, so at the appointed time in company with many others we were on hand, and at 12 o'clock promptly the vessel gracefully glided out of her berth into the rivet, and then quietly, but rapidly steamed down towards the bay, passing the crowds of vessels of every nation aud character which lined the wharves on both sides, and from the number of people who crowded to look as we passed, we mnst have presented a fine sight ; the little steam tugs puffing restlessly about gave way as we came, and then with their shrill whistles sainted. But soon we were out in the open bay ; then New York receded and. grew small ii> the distance, and we passed all sorts of sailing craft, and now and then a steamer ; others kept along with us, till the fresh breezes and blue water of the ocean opened before us, where we parted company — some striking out for Europe, others keeping along the coast. We took a various course— now one way. then another^— doing all things, to better try the machinery and character of the vessel. At two o'clock the gong called all to lunch, and while the hungry company are partaking of the sumptuous repast, let us take a look at the vessel. Mr Webb bought her for the purpose of running her on the Panama route; she made but a single trip, aiuce when she has been lying in the harbour here ; but for the prpsent service over 100.000 dols has been expended, so that you will se« at once that she 18 in splendid condition. She was-built in 1868 in Brooklyn, New York. Her length is two hundred and eighty feet; breadth forty.; and outside of the guards sixty-six j feet ; depth of hold twenty-seven feet, and draws -when loaded seventeen and one half feet. She meaßnres^wo thousand one hundred and thirty- five tons, has a main cabin or saloon and upper de :k, and carries eight lifeboats, four of metal and four of wood, besides two life rafts. She has two masts, both square rigged, and one smoke stack, and has houses' on the upper di ck both forward and abaft the walking beam. As she is a sidowheel atf&mer, her appearance on the water can readily be imagined from the above description. Her accommodations are spacious and comfortable for all classes of passengers. The saloon is on the main deck, back of the centrp, and is about eighty-live by twentythree fest, handsomely panneied tn represent mahogany, aud presents altogether a very fine appearance. A row of black walnut dining tables runs up and down either side, and doors from twenty-two state rooms open in between the tables On the deck below and furthest aft is a ladies 1 saloon, being a very handsome, quiet parlor, finished in dark woods, with four very larsje and spacious rooms opening from it, each containing two berths, tbe lower one being double. The state rooms on the sal' -on on main deck are large, and arranged for tLre«» berths each, though thej' can be made up with but a single one or with two. A single lamp set in the partition betweeu, lights the two rooms, and also a short passage leading from the room down into the saloon. On the upper deck aft of the engine, is a house running to the stern, except a space about the middle, where a passage is left for connecting one side of the v- ssel with the ether, and for a saloon skylight. Forward of this passage arc eight large and handsome state rooms and the Purser's and Surgeon's rooms ; aft are six state rooms and a semi-circular parlor furthest aft. Each of the above state rooms is connected by a door with the one opposite, so that the whole system is one of pairs. The middle of the vessel is occupied by the engine and machinery, cook's galley, storeroom, &c, &c, with a room for officers' meals. But to finish the matter of accommodation for passengers. The second cabin is situated on the lower deck, upon one side, being divided into quarters of six berths each, but having all necessary privacy secured by a convenient arrangement of blinds, also upon the main deck forward of the engine, and on the right hand side, being similar in arrangement to that l>elow. The steerage is situated as nsnal, forward, and excels for comfort and neatness, the usual accommodations of that class ; quarters for the women are separated and all necessary seclusion secured. So much for accommodation, and it may well be added that for convenience, light, neatness, and perfect ventilation, the Dacotah can hardly be excelled, except perhaps the main saloon which is rather dark : and I omitted to say that there is a ladies paloon similar to that on the Idaho, at the head of the stairway. As for freight and othei accommodations, it wiU not be necessary to speak, as they will not interest the general reader, but everywhere is visible the same eye to cleanliness and comfort, already spoken of. The Captain's room and ofcher officers' quarters, and wheel house are as usual just back, of the foremast. The complete passenger capacity is about five hundred and fifty, of which about one hundred and fifty are first-class. As for the machinery, a few facts will be interesting ; There are four boilers, each nineteen feet high, aad all hew, recently tested and thoroughly approved. The engine is all new — the cylinder being eighty-oneinches in diameter with a twelve feet stroke oi piston ; the wheels are all of iron, fifty-two feet in. diam- ' eter 'with twenty-four paddles each'", the length of each being ten feet. Seventy-five thousand dollars have been spent upon the engine. Is can be seen, bow that the ship is in first-class condition, and well fitted in every way for the line upon which she is to run, — that she will give fullest satisfaction to both passengers, freight-owners, and the owners of the vessel, can hardly be dqubted..