3-021-313 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Race across the Atlantic between the Russia and the City of Paris, 1869. '...the Cunard Royal mail-steamer Russia, Captain T. Cook, and the Inman Royal mail-steamer City of Paris, Captain Kennedy, both iron screw-steamers, and the finest commercial vessels afloat, having left New York on the same day and within about an hour of each other, and arriving at Liverpool, the one but 35 min. after the other,...made the run across the Atlantic, with the 20 min. stoppage at Queenstown, in eight days and about eighteen hours...It is claimed on behalf of the City of Paris that her stay at New York was so brief in consequence of her having to take the place of her disabled consort, the City of Baltimore, there was no time to clean her boilers and to trim her properly...[while] it is claimed for the Russia that she was deeply laden, and that her bottom had not been cleaned for several voyages...It is not permitted by either company to run any risks in racing; and, though every art of seamanship was no doubt exercised on board both steamers, the pressure of steam was not increased beyond the ordinary limit. The Russia was built in 1867 by Messrs. J. and G. Thomson of Glasgow...The City of Paris was built by Messrs. Tod and Macgregor of Glasgow, in 1866'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.