68 Book of Steamships 



remaining there throughout the winter 

 gales without material damage, whereas 

 a wooden vessel would have gone to pieces. 



For her day the Great Britain was 

 reckoned a huge vessel, having a tonnage 

 of 3,270, horse-power 1,500, length 322 ft., 

 with a beam of 51 ft. Although built for 

 the Atlantic service she was diverted to 

 the Australian trade, where it was felt her 

 size would make her very successful. 

 Somehow the Great Britain did not suc- 

 ceed, though why I am unable to say. 

 Eventually she was converted to a sailing 

 ship, and the last I can trace of her career 

 was that she was sent to the Falkland 

 Islands to serve as a coal hulk. 



To end as a hulk, usually to store coal 

 for ocean-going ships, is the fate of many 

 an erstwhile flier. In practically every 

 foreign port you will find old hulks, 

 covered with successive coats of tar, their 

 decks smothered with coal dust, their 

 once fine upper fittings removed, includ- 

 ing funnels and masts. Under those coats 



