Turned Adrift

Turned Adrift

The ZenobiaA1 at Lloydswas a beautiful little clipper barque of 376 tons register, and so exquisitely fine were her lines that her cargo-carrying capacity amounted to but a few tons more than her register tonnage; in fact, the naval architect who designed her had been instructed to ignore altogether the question of cargo capacity, and to give his whole attention to the matter of speed, and most faithfully had he carried out his instructions. For the Zenobia had been designed and built to the order of the firm which owned the famous Queen line of sailing clippers trading between London and Natal; and the aim of the Company was to drive off all competitors and secure the monopoly of the passenger trade between London and the Garden Colony. And there was only one way in which that aim could be accomplished, namely, by carrying passengers to and fro in less time and greater comfort than any of the competing lines. The question of cargo did not matter so very much, for at that timethat is to say, about the year 1860the steam service to South Africa was very different from what it is to-day. The steamers were small, slow, and infrequent; Natal was just then attracting a big influx of well-to-do people from England; passenger rates were highas also, for that matter, was the freight on such special merchandise as was at that time being carried out to the colonyand those who took credit to themselves for their foresight believed that there was big money to be made in the sailing passenger trade. Needless to say, the competition between the different lines was exceedingly keen: but the owners of the Queen line were a very rich corporation; they were prepared to sink money in the effort to secure a monopoly; and the Zenobia was the latest outcome of their rather speculative policy. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 24859
Author: Collingwood, Harry
Release Date: Mar 17, 2008
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Illustrator: Hodgson, E. S. (Edward Smith), 1866-1937