In the Book of Instructions handed to you some time ago, and with the contents of which we do not doubt you have made yourself familiar, we dwelt with particular emphasis upon the supreme importance which we attached to the exercise of extreme and unvarying caution and prudence in the navigation of the Company’s vessels. This subject has so constantly impressed itself upon us, that we have determined to address you again upon this most vital matter, and we shall be glad to know whether, in your opinion, and suggested by your experience of the steamers and their trade, there is any matter connected with their outfit, appointments or discipline, which you conceive might be supplemented or improved upon, in which case we shall gladly receive and consider any suggestions which you may make.
The consideration of the subject generally has impressed us with a deep sense of the injury which the interests of the Company would sustain in the event of any misfortune attending the navigation of the vessels:—First, from the blow which such would give to the reputation of the line; Second, from the pecuniary loss which would accrue—the Company being their own insurers to a very large extent; and, Third, to the interruption of a weekly line, upon which much of the success of the present organization must depend.
Under all these circumstances of paramount and engrossing interest to the Company, whose property is under your charge, we invite you to dismiss from your mind all idea of competitive passages with other vessels, the advantage of success in which is merely transient, concentrating your whole attention upon a cautious, prudent, and ever-watchful system of navigation—which shall lose time or suffer any other temporary inconvenience, rather than run the slightest risk which can be avoided.
We remain, yours faithfully,
ISMAY, IMRIE, & Co.
APPENDIX No. 16. Vol. iv., p. 279.
“WHITE STAR” LINE.
Abstract of Log.—Screw Steam-Ship “Adriatic,” H. H. Perry, Commander. From Liverpool, viâ Queenstown, towards New York. Voyage No. 10.
| Date, 1873. | No. of days out. | Baro- meter | Thermo- meter. | Winds. | Weather. | Courses. | Latitude. | Longitude. | Distance run in Knots. | Remarks, &c. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry. | Wet. | Direction. | Force 0 to 12 | |||||||||
| April 3 | 2.50 p.m., weighed anchor. 3.18 p.m., Rock Light abeam. 4.0 p.m., off Bell Buoy. | |||||||||||
| April 4 | 2.20 a.m., off Tuskar. 8.25 a.m., abreast Roche’s Point. 8.40 a.m., anchored Queenstown Harbour. 10.20, received passengers. 0.30 p.m., weighed anchor and proceeded. 0.50 p.m., Roche’s Point. 5.08 Fahr. | |||||||||||
| April 5 | 1 | S. | 53 | 52 | N. W. | 5 | C. B. | S. 85·37 W. | 51·04 W. | 16·00 W. | 301 | |
| April 6 | 2 | S. | 54 | 52 | W. | 3 | C. B. | 85·57 | 50·40 | 24·44 | 331 | |
| April 7 | 3 | F. | 55 | 53 | S. | 4 | M. O. | 84·00 | 50·01 | 33·54 | 355 | |
| April 8 | 4 | F. | 47 | 53 | S. W. | 5 | P. D. | 78·17 | 48·58 | 41·40 | 309 | |
| April 9 | 5 | R. | 32 | 34 | N. W. | 4 | P. O. | 65·36 | 46·46 | 48·52 | 318 | |
| April 10 | 6 | R. | 31 | 34 | N. | 6 | C. B. | 61·05 | 43·38 | 56·57 | 396 | |
| April 11 | 7 | F. R. | 43 | 41 | Var. | 4 | R. B. | 72·50 | 41·52 | 64·40 | 356 | |
| April 12 | 8 | F. | 40 | 37 | do. | 4 | M. | 84·00 | 40·34 | 72·31 | 363 | |
| April 13 | 5.05 p.m., anchored off Bar. 3.15 a.m., received pilot. 5.25 a.m., weighed anchor. 5.52 a.m, off Sandy Hook. 6.46., anchored, quarantine. 7.35 a.m., hove up anchor. 8.45 a.m., dock. | |||||||||||
Signed H. H. Perry Commander.[469]
Explanation of Columns.