—Steam Colliers in War-time.—

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 71

— Steam Colliers in War-time. —

Of course, the Johr Bowes was a success. She carried 650 tons of ccal, whiolii may ■seem a small loaxl in these days, when colliers take 8000 to 10,000 tons at a time, end. her seven knots' speed gave ber a wonderful advantage ever sailing vessels, which were at the iriercy of wicd, weather, ard tide. Her regular timing from Tyne to Thames proved at once that the day of sailing colliers was gone, and the firm of Palmers — in wihich Charles had the company of his brother — was called upon to build a whole fleet of colliers like her. These were the pioneers of the "Geordies," which every East Coast sailor knows so well, and tney gave a stimulus to the Tyne ti>al rad'3 which has been of immense service in building up one of the great industries of the country. The value of this fleet of steam colliers was shown in another aspect a few years later, when the Crimean war broke out. England wanted fnst transport?, for the army in the Crimea, and the Tyne colliers took up the work with spirit and success, supplying a service which had ircver been available in war before. It was the Crimean war which gave Charles Palmer another of the great chances which come to great men. Iho Government wonted a floating font, or

armour-clad ship, to bombard the forts of Ci'onstadt, and they as-kucl for tendeis, the work to he done in three months. With the machinery then available th.it seemed impossible; but this enterprising man saw his wav to do the woik at his

new yard, which had bee-i laid out entirely for the construction of iron vessels. He - regarded wooden ships as doomed, and never troubled 1 about them.