Various ships that the Langs used for their European visits.
RMS AMERICA and CANADA.
Lang sailed both the Canada and the America in 1860.
S.S. ALEPPO.
S. S. Aleppo. One stack and two masts. Maiden voyage from Liverpool to Halifax to New York City on September 15, 1865. 292 feet long and 38 feet wide, it had room for 46 first-class and 593 third-class passengers. Lang traveled on her in 1871. (Wiki, accessed Nov. 20, 2025)
S.S. BATAVIA.
S.S. Batavia. Built in 1870. One stack and two masts.
RMS CAMPANIA AND LUCANIA.
RMS Campania. Cunard-built in 1892 as sister ship to the RMS Lucania. Largest and fastest when entered service in 1893-crossed the Atlantic in less than 6 days. She became an armed merchant cruiser for the British Navy during WWI. Lang sailed this ship in 1897.
GG Archive. Accessed Nov. 20, 2025.
OceanLinerArchitect. Accessed Nov. 20, 2025.
S.S. CATALONIA.
S S Catalonia. One stack and three masts. Cunard. Maiden voyage on August 6, 1881 on the Liverpool to Queenstown to New York City route. Mainly, until 1899 was used on the Liverpool to Boston route. Was 429 feet long and 43 feet wide and carried 200 first-class and 1,500 third-class passengers. Scrapped in 1901. Lang sailed on this ship in 1885. (Wiki, accessed Nov. 20, 2025)
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SS CELTIC.
Noewegan, paid for.
Wiki, accessed December 6, 2025.
White Star Line. One of six liners built for the White Star Line in order for it to operate a mail service across the Atlantic. Maiden voyage October 24, 1872 for the Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York route. 12 single-ended boilers fed steam to a four-cylinder tandem steam engine. 437 feet long. When the ship arrived in New York City, the first time on November 5, 1872, a large group of visitors boarded the ship. “The saloon…is magnificently decorated and upholstered. The state-rooms are large and commodious, possessing every known appliance [including electric bells and hot and cold water]. (White Star History Website, accessed December 6, 2025).” Lang sailed on her in 1876. Sold for scrap in 1898. (Wiki, Accessed December 5, 2025)
SS CHINA.
Photo from 1866. Lang sailed this ship in 1866 and 1867.
(Wiki, LinerArchitet, accessed Nov. 20, 2025)
S/S China. An iron-built ship, very strongly framed. Two engines, a total 560-horse power. Sleeping berths on the main deck below the saloons. 268 first-class and 771 (or forward as shown on the diagram) passengers. Maiden voyage Liverpool-Queenstown-New York on March 15, 1862. Went missing in 1906. (Wiki., accessed Nov. 20, 2015) Lang sailed on this ship in 1866 and 1877.
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SS GERMANIC.
S.S. Germanic. 1876. Now two stacks and four masts. Her twin sister ship was the SS Germanic. Wiki. Accessed Nov. 20, 2025.
White Star Line. Sister of Brittannic. Primarily steam powered, but with auxiliary sails.Began service May 20, 1875 from Liverpool to New York-took ten days. In 1876 made a record breaking eastbound crossing from New York to Queenstown in 7 day, 15 hours and 17 minutes. In April 1877 broke the westbound record, both averaging about 18.14 miles per hour. Lang sailed on her only once, in 1876. (Wiki., accessed December 5, 2025)
Wiki., accessed December 5, 2025.
RMS MAJESTIC.
Immigrantships.net. Accessed December 5, 2025.
SS PALMYRA. Cunard.
RMS Partia. Lang sailed in this ship in 1875.
A drawing showing people on deck.
S.S. REPUBLIC.
Launched February 26, 1903. Originally called the COLUMBUS, but its name was changed soon after launch. Called the “Millionaires Ship” as so many wealthy Americans sailed on her. “Palatial Liner.” In Autumn and Winter, she did the Boston-Naples-Genoa route for the Italian immigrant market, while in the spring and summer, she sailed Boston to Liverpool. In January 1909, she collided with the SS FLORIDA in thick fog off Nantucket-6 died, and the ship sank. In 1981, she was located at a depth of 270 feet of water-it is said that she had much gold on board. Lang sailed her in September 1904.
Displacement: 29,300 tons; length-615 feet; width-68 feet, 3 inches; twin screw, oil burner. Johnston collection.
Wikipedia, accessed Dec. 4, 2025.
A close examination reveals two forks, two knives and three spoons at each setting. Johnston collection.
SS SILESIA. Hamburg American Line. Hammonia class ship. Had both a steam engine and also set of traditional masts holding eleven sails. Two engines drove a single 10 foot screw with 2,200 horsepower making 54 revolutions per minute. Twelve men shoveling coal continuously from four coal bunkers kept her engines running around the clock.
Plans for the SS FRISIA (1872) which were almost the same as those for the SS SILESIA.
The ship was launched in Grenock, Scotland on April 14, 1869 and made her maiden voyage from Hamburg to New York on June 23, 1869. 600 passengers-the bottom line says 100 First Class, 140 Second Class and the rest steerage. All information from the Wikipedia article SS SILESIA (1869) accessed March 15, 2019.
RMS UMBRIA.
G & G Archives. RMS Umbria Archival Collection. Accessed November 20, 2025.
Cunard. Sister of RMS Etruria. Maiden voyage, November 1, 1884. Largest ship then afloat. Liverpool to New York route. Out of service in 1910.Two large funnels and three large steel masts (barquentine). Innovation-refrigeration. Could cross from Queenstown to Sandy Hook in just over six hours. Three levels of First Class: one way, $75, $90, and $175 with reurn fares of $125, $150, and $315. Two levels of Second Class: $40 and $45 with returns of $75 and $85. Heavy Victorian style furnishings. Had a Music Room (Upper Deck, front), Smoking Room, and separate dining rooms for the first and second-class passengers. (Wiki, accessed November 20, 2025) Lang took this ship in 1886.
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S/S WESTERNLAND. Red Star Line.
