By invitation of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Ca., agents for the Indo-China Steam Navigation Ca., some 500 guests, 300 of whom wore Chinese, accompanied the fine new river-steamer Tuckwo on her trial run down the Huangpu on Saturday afternoon. The afternoon was ideal, a pleasant southerly wind tempering the heat, and the pleasure of the trip itself was enhanced by the attentions of the hosts, who did everything for the comfort of their guests. With the latter the only regret was that the trip was after all a short one. Among them were the Consul-Generals for Great Britain and Japan, the Commandant of the §.V.C., and many ladies.
Leaving Hunt's Wharf at 4.15 p.m., the Tuckwo crossed the Woosung Bar in ten minutes under the hour, having made her fourteen knots quite easily. Woosung anchorage is just now very fully occupied and the Tuckwo steamed first past the American men-of-war, then alongside the Germans, and finally round the French fleet, having taken a close view on the way of the two steamers Ballarat and Simla, the R. M. S. Empress of China and N.-D. L. 8. Preussen. Turning back into the Hyangpu, the return in the early evening against the tide was taken rather more leisurely, it being necessary to slow down on several occasions when passing through fleets of junks beating up stream. The wharf was reached at 7.25 p.m., the vessel turning splendidly in her own length in order to get alongside. The Tuckwo, it may be mentioned, was in exceptionally good hands, for Captain Hogg, who will command her, had the assistance on the occasion of Mr. G. Mobsby, 0. M. G., the British Government pilot.
Tt is by now generally known that the Tuckwo will be the largest steamer plying between Shanghai and Hankow, and it is difficult to see how one can be built to be more comfortable. The full benefit of her great beam measurement has been utilised in the planning of her state-rooms and cabins, which are exceptionally roomy. They are grouped about airy corridors ori the upper deck and fitted with every convenience. Each has its electric fan, there are oil-lamps to supply any possible failure in the electric light, the folding toilet-stands are models of compactness, and each berth has its white mosquito-net. There are no upper berths, to be climbed into by ladders, two beds only being assigned to each a Louis-pattern French cretonne, which gives a pretty touch of homeliness to the cabins. There are fourteen in all, including four somewhat larger staterooms. The bath-rooms and lavatories are equally complete. The first-class saloon, forward, is spacious, light and lofty. The colour scheme is in green and cream with gold finishing, and with its small round tables, it elegant furnishings, its fire-places even, it makes quite a picture, especially when, son Saturday, itis the scene of the ship's hospitality. Adjoining the saloon at the forward end of the upper deck is the captain's cabin, where everything is so admirably disposed that there seems a lot of spare room, oven when space has been found for bed, desk, wardrobe, chairs, table, and cupboards.' The other ship's officers are comfortably quartered abaft the funnel, and right aft comes the square, handsome smoking room.
The deck affords fine promenade, with which the eight life-boats carried scarcely intorforo at all.
On the lower deck the accommodation for Chinese passengers, first, second, and third class, ison a correspondingly adequate scale. The saloon is, if anything, slightly larger than that for foreigners, and is fitted with handsome Chinese furniture, small tapestry-covered tables and a couple of opium divans. The cabins, each holding four berths, are roomy and' suitably furnished, fans and electric light being placed in each. Thirty first-class passengers can be carried. The third class are berthed in a spacious sleeping saloon, which is fitted with nearly 350 bunks, and provides accommodation such as this class of passenger has rarely been accustomed to. It is a glorified Salvation Army shelter.
The principal dimensions of the Tuck-we, which was built in Glasgow, have already been given in our columns. Her txtromo length is 342 foot, and breadth 65 fect Ginches. She is of 3,850 tons gross and 2,355 net tonnage; and is capable, as was seen on Saturday, of steaming 14 knots per hour. Her engines are of special type, acting from four direct cranks and balanced on the Yarrow-
Schlich-Tweedy system, and her boilers will work at a pressure of 180 Ibs. to the square inch.
The Tuckwo left on her first trip to Hankow on Tuesday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.