New Steamer of the Day Line - Hendrick Hudson

Editor's note: The following excerpts are from the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman, August 16, 1906. Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing this article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

Tracey I. Brooks collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum

HENDRICK HUDSON TO MAKE INAUGURAL TRIP MONDAY. FLOATING PALACE WITH ROOM FOR 5,000 PERSONS. SHE IS THE FINEST RIVER BOAT IN THE WORLD.
On August 20 the new steamer Hendrick Hudson will make her inaugural run up the Hudson river to Albany.
           
It was on August 17, 1807, that Robert Fulton began the memorable trip to Albany in his little steamboat Clermont, and now, ninety nine years later, almost to a day. the most wondrous of river steamers built since that time will begin trips over the same route. The Clermont went up the river on the l7th and returned on the 21st of August.  The Hendrick Hudson will not make her maiden run to Albany until August 20, but she will return on the ninety-ninth anniversary of the completion of the Clermont's voyage.
           
The Hendrick Hudson is the property of the Hudson River Day Line, and has been built to ply on the route between New York and Albany.  The designer of the new boat was Frank E. Kirby, the most celebrated naval architect in America to-day, assisted by J. W. Millard, designer of the new Staten Island ferryboats and other successful modern craft.  The interior plans such as grand stairways, decorations of the various rooms, etc. , are the work of Louis O. Kiel of Detroit.  The general contractors for the building of the vessel were the W. & A. Fletcher company, Hoboken. N. J., and the builders of the machinery stand at the head of their profession in America, having been identified with all the more important passenger steamers built in this port during the past half century.  This firm entrusted the construction of the hull to the T. S. Marvel Ship Building company of Newburgh. N. Y., and the boilers were built by the New York Ship Building company of Camden, N. J., warship builders, etc.  The joinery and fine cabinet work was done by John Englis & Son, Greenpoint; the carpets throughout the vessel especially made by John Wanamaker, and the electric light fixtures, entirely original, as well as the great stained glass dome on the hurricane deck, executed by the Tiffany studios, New York city.  In round numbers, the Hendrick Hudson represents an outlay of nearly $1,000,000.
            
There is ample room aboard this modern pleasure craft for 5.000 persons, and all may be sheltered from sun or rain without crowding or discomfort.
           
The Hendrick Hudson is 400 feet long, 82 feet broad over the widest part, and 14 feet 4 inches depth of hold.  The draft of water is 7 minutes 6 second feet. [sic]  There are no less than six decks, beginning at the lower deck, and every part is stiffened and held together by a rigid framework of steel, making her the staunchest craft of her character ever built With a wonderful system of hydrants and fire hose, she comes as near being fireproof as a vessel well could be.
           
The main deck, usually given ever to freight on other passenger steamers, is white and smooth like that of a yacht, with runners of the softest carpets laid in all directions, and the walls from end to end of beautifully polished hardwoods.  The ponderous machinery — its like never before seen on a Hudson river steamboat — is open to view, a row of plate glass windows giving the spectator a clear and comprehensive idea of its working.
           
The hold of the Hendrick Hudson is lighted throughout by many large port holes, an original feature being the placing of port holes of extra width — of a size which will enable a person to climb through in case of an emergency — at frequent intervals from bow to stem. One of the unique apartments of the vessel is the lunch room, located in the hold forward, reached by wide stairs from the main deck, the stairs being placed directly under the band stand. This room, which extends the width of the ship, is thoroughly modern in style and finish.
           
The barber shop is located on the lower deck, and attached to it is a public bath, a new feature for steamboats operating on day routes.
           
A photographer's dark room is a novel idea to be found only on this boat.
           
The emergency hospital, with doctor in attendance, is located on the main deck.
           
Aft, across the bulkhead that faces the entrance to the main dining room, is a beautiful mural painting, showing the great capitol building at Albany.  The paddlewheel shafts are placed below the deck, so there is no occasion to stoop when passing this particular point, a disagreeable feature of most paddle steamers. The wheels arc of the feathering type, and send the mammoth craft along at the highest rate of speed with the minimum amount of vibration.
           
The dining room is one of the pleasantest and most inviting apartments on the boat, as it well should be.  The deck is nine feet high, and the room is surrounded almost entirely by plate glass, the narrow pilasters between each window, merely as a dividing line, making the room appear like a glass enclosed veranda.
           
​The great kitchen is a unique establishment and would be the wonder and admiration of a New England house wife.  The steel ranges extend from one side of the craft to the other.  Two enormous refrigerators hold the perishable stuff, such as meats, dairy products, fruit, etc., and a special box is provided for fish and one for lobsters. ​

Hudson River Maritime Museum collection

           
The main saloon, on the second deck, is unquestionably one of the most beautiful apartments, or series of apartments, that was ever built on a steamboat.  Solid mahogany, with a series of elaborate marquetry designs in every panel and along the frieze, has been used throughout, and the effect is one of rich yet quiet elegance that is most soothing and will make this great saloon a genuinely restful abiding place for the weary or travel-worn passenger.
           
A number of paintings of historical points, exquisitely executed, are placed m the grand saloon.  One, located aft across the bulkhead at the head of the grand staircase, represents "Sunnyside," the old home of Washington Irving, while forward there are two smaller panels giving artistic views of "Idlewild." the countryseat of Nathaniel P. Willis, and of the old Senate House at Kingston.  A concealed choir of men's voices, located in the after saloon, will be a feature provided by the management for the benefit of those sitting in the after part of the vessel.  The quartette or chorus will be made up of singers from the Hampton school — or the room — away from public gaze — may be taken possession of by the college students in the service who can render effectively attractive popular airs.
           
One of the most attractive new features of the Hendrick Hudson is the observation rooms on the third deck.  That on the forward end is 80 feet long by 25 feet wide, and by means of the well in the centre, the music performed by the orchestra two decks below may be heard as well on either side of the other decks.
           
The after observation room, which is a duplicate in almost every respect of the forward room, has been designed by the proprietors as "Convention Hall," for in it societies and special parties may upon application to F. B. Hibbard, the general passenger agent, secure the exclusive privilege of using it in which to hold meetings, etc.  The mural painting placed across one end of this hall represents the Half Moon, Hendrick Hudson's stout Dutch craft, lying at anchor just north of Hook Mountain on the Hudson river, in September, 1609, surrounded by canoes containing Indians.
           
The third deck, for observation purposes, is undoubtedly the finest promenade that has ever been planned for the use of passengers who desire the open air, whether in fair weather or foul. It is all comfort, and old travelers will admit that nothing like it has ever before been incorporated on any craft.  The pilot house is placed on the fifth deck, far above the water line, and from this exalted position the wheels manoeuvre the vessel with the greatest ease and rapidity.  Steam steering gear, manipulated by the simple pressure of the finger on a miniature wheel, moves the great rudder and guides the boat with only the slightest effort.  There are two flying bridges, in the manner of a battleship, extending from either side of the deck, aft of the pilot house, for the use of the commander.  Aft of this space is a commodious uncovered deck for the use of those who desire to be "higher up" than anyone else and also to view the mountains without overhead obstruction.
           
The fire fighting system of the Hendrick Hudson is one of the most complete and elaborate ever put on a steamboat.  It greatly surpasses requirements, either by the government or the fire underwriters.  At the forward stairs there is a fire outlet on each deck, with 50 feet of hose at each outlet.  By the steam steering gear there is an outlet on each deck with 100 feet of hose.  At the engine room enclosure there is an outlet on each side on each deck, each with 50 feet of hose.  The galley vent has a fire hydrant on each side on each deck, each with 100 feet of hose.  The galley, the dining room, and the two decks above the dining roam each have outlets and each has 50 feet of hose.  There are also eight other nozzles in other parts of the boat.  With such facilities there would be little trouble to quench any fire that might break out in any part of the ship.  There are 27 fire alarm signal boxes, connected with various parts of the ship which register at the headquarters of each department.  A telephone system connects the pilot house, with the purser's office, engine room and galley, and a set of double speaking tubes — a tube for the ear and a tube for the voice, to facilitate communication and obviate misunderstanding — connect the pilot house with the four gangways, the engineers department and the main deck, enabling those in charge to keep in constant touch with every part of the vessel and all without shouting or confusion.
           
​Perhaps one of the crowning glories of the steamboat will be thought to be a grand portrait of Hendrick Hudson, painted from the most authentic pictures extant of the great navigator, by Robert Fulton Ludlow, Esq.. grandson of Robert Fulton.  This painting of the great discoverer of the Hudson river by the grandson of the first to navigate its waters by steam is a happy historical coincidence, and we can only hope that Hendrick Hudson and Robert Fulton from the Great Beyond can see the present marvellous development along the banks of the river which their initiative genius did so much to inaugurate.

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