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.
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