Note 444 — Chapter XV

Her dimensions and crew.

The King Coal, which was contracted for in the latter end of the year 1870, cost complete for sea 15,000l. She carries 900 tons coal cargo, with bunker space for 100 tons more, and has extra water-ballast for making a passage when she has no cargo on board; against strong winds her speed is 8½ knots an hour when loaded, and from 9½ to 10 knots when light in fine weather; her power, 90 horse nominal. She has an excellent saloon cabin on deck for the captain, with four berths and accommodation for the chief mate and steward at the entrance; her crew consists of 17 persons all told. The master and crew find themselves in provisions; their respective duties and pay are as follows:—

Master £17 0 0 per month, with 2s. 6d. per day subsistence money.

1st Mate 7 10 0 ” ” 2 0 ” ”

2nd Mate 6 10 0 ” ” 1 6 ” ”

Chief Engineer 12 7 6 ” ” 2 6 ” ”

2nd Engineer 8 15 0 ” ” 2 0 ” ”

Steward 5 10 0 ” ” 1 6 ” ”

5 Able Seamen 6 15 0 ” in full each man.

4 Stokers 6 15 0 ” ”

1 Boy 3 0 0 ” ”

1 Carpenter 8 5 0 ” ”

The voyage from Newcastle to London and back usually occupies from six to eight days. Hoisting sails, lifting anchor, and other heavy work is done by steam winches. The crew are accommodated in a roomy and well ventilated forecastle level with the main deck, the seamen occupying one side of it, the stokers the other, with a bulkhead between them. The engineers have cabins on deck in the bridge-house, the wheel-house stands on the platform which spans the deck in midships, and is so arranged that, while the helmsman can see everything ahead, he is protected from the inclemency of the weather.