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Show , WHEN STEAM WAS NEW POWER First Boats Using It Were Considered Consid-ered Something Remarkable. Whon tho Lusltanla t6ok Its first plunge Into tho waters of the Clyde it could have carrlod unseen on n corner of Its deck tho first steamship built In llrltaln. Tho Ctydo claims both as Its offspring. The Comet, constructed by Mr. Henry Hell, Unshed lta four shovel-shaped paddle on each of its four whcols In the year 1812, and cnrrled on Its dock of 40 feet by 10 as many passengers as Its three horso-powcr could negotlnto. Tho Comet was so conspicuously successful success-ful thnt two or thrco more boats of a larger capacity wero Immediately built, and the citizens of Glasgow became tho envy of mankind, Mr Lawrence, of Ilrlstol, determined that England should not be left behind be-hind In the race, tried one on tho Severn, and wns so delighted with tho result thnt ho Bteatned with It up tho Thames, Intending to reap a liar-vest liar-vest from city men on their wny to and from business. Ho overlooked tho company of Wnlermen, who nmdo such a fuss nbout this Inhumnn competition com-petition thnt Mr, Luwronco nnd his steamship fell back to tho Severn. From 1813 to 1823 no vessel wns built In llrltaln of n greater tonnnge than COO, tho nvcrngo being only nbout GO. Tho LuBltnnla of those days was tho Atlas, described by tho contemporary press ns tho "largest vessel ever built" She wns Itnpcllod, snys nn enthusiastic reporter, by "threo mighty engines of 100 horse-power each." This gigantic, vessel (which could bo stowed nwny quite comfort-nbly comfort-nbly In tho hold of tho Lusltnnln), wns built nt Rotterdam, and launched In tho summer of 1828. |