THE S.S. CHINA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XIV, 2 April 1898, Page 422

THE S.S. CHINA.

We give a reproduction of a photo of the s.s. China, which struck in the Strait of Bab-el Mandeb last week All the passengers were saved, and also the mails and specie, while latest advices gave some hope of saving the vessel. The China was a steel steamer of 7,899 gross and 6,422 registered tons. She was built in 1896 for the P. and O. Company by Harland and Wolff, of Glasgow. Her dimensions were: length, 500.5 feet; breadth of beam, 54.2 feet; and depth of hold, 25.1 feet. She is one of the four 8,000 ton steamers contracted for by the Company some three years ago, the other three being the India, Egypt and Arabia. They are all exceedingly handsomely modelled boats, both alxive and below the water line, and with their two masts and imposing funnels have a very smart appearance. A special feature is the spacious hurricane or upper promenade deck, which, with the main deck, is so extensive that it would afford accommodation for nearly 3,000 persons. This deck is nearly 400 ft long and is quite unencumbered with boats, they being carried on a flying deck. The cabin accommodation is arranged on a most lavish scale for the 320 first and 160 second saloon passengers who can be carried. Including the ship’s officers something like a thousand persons can be located on these vessels. Although the decoration in the saloons and music-halls is not very striking, these four eight-thousand tonners were expensive to build, costing just under £1,000,000. This is due partly to the powerful triple expansion engines which developing 11,000 horse power are capable of driving the screw at 75 revolutions per minute. Under favourable conditions a speed of 18 knots is attained. Captain M. de Horne, who is in charge of the China, is one of the best known captains in the P. and O. fleet, although he is not such a familiar figure in the Australian as the Eastern trade.