The cabins are also so arranged that two or more or even the whole of them on one side of the ship afford communication to each other without going out into the saloon, and where families are together this is very advantageous.
The bathroom occupies the space of one of the largest cabins, and hot as well as cold baths are attainable.
The saloon is lighted by two large skylights, one of them being 21 feet in length. They are emblazoned with very pretty views of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Capetown, these being the principal ports to which Messrs. Devitt & Moore’s vessels trade. There is also a piano in the saloon, by which the tedium of a voyage may be enlivened, and the tables are so constructed that they can be easily unshipped and the saloon cleared for dancing.
For gentlemen there is a capital smoking-room at the top of the companion leading from the saloon to the deck.
The accommodation in the ’tween decks for second cabin and steerage passengers is everything that could be desired, and there is quite an elaborate system adopted for ventilation.
Cooking can be done in the galley for 500 people, and there is a steam condenser, which can distil 500 gallons of water daily.
The passengers of all classes who came out in this ship on her maiden voyage here expressed themselves wonderfully well pleased with the ship and her commander, Captain A. Louttit, who has had great experience in the passenger trade.
The _Rodney’s_ best passage was to Sydney in 1887, when under Captain Harwood Barrett, with Captain Corner of training ship fame as his mate. On this occasion she ran from the Lizards to Sydney in 67 days, and 68 days from pilot to Sydney. Her best passage home was 77 days from Sydney to London. Her best run to Melbourne was 71 days in 1882, and to Adelaide 74 days in 1880.
The _Rodney_ was sold in 1897 to the French and renamed _Gipsy_. On her previous voyage she had encountered terrible weather both out and home, and was even robbed of her figure-head by the raging sea; it was probably on account of the damage sustained on this voyage that Devitt & Moore sold her.
On the 7th December, 1901, the _Rodney_ was wrecked on the Cornish coast, when homeward bound from Iquique with nitrate. The ship became a total loss but the crew were saved.