We
afterwards built for the Government the gun vessels Lynx and
Algerine, as well as the store and torpedo ship Hecla, of 3360
tons.
The Suez Canal being now open, our friends the Messrs. Bibby gave
us an order for three steamers of very large tonnage, capable of
being adapted for trade with the antipodes if necessary. In
these new vessels there was no retrograde step as regards length,
for they were 390 feet keel by 37 feet beam, square-rigged on
three of the masts, with the yards for the first time fitted on
travellers, as to enable them to be readily sent down; thus
forming a unique combination of big fore-and-aft sails, with
handy square sails. These ships were named the Istrian, Iberian,
and Illyrian, and in 1868 they went to sea; soon after to be
followed by three more ships--the Bavarian, Bohemian, and
Bulgarian--in most respects the same, though ten feet longer,
with the same beam. They were first placed in the Mediterranean
trade, but were afterwards transferred to the Liverpool and
Boston trade, for cattle and emigrants. These, with three
smaller steamers for the Spanish cattle trade, and two larger
steamers for other trades, made together twenty steam-vessels
constructed for the Messrs. John Bibby, Sons, & Co.; and it was a
matter of congratulation that, after a great deal of heavy and
constant work, not one of them had exhibited the slightest
indication of weakness,--all continuing in first-rate working
order.
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