Sir Henry Bessemer, President of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain, besides inventing the process of steel production which bears his name, also spent a fonune on trying to eliminate seasickness from the Channel crossing. He constructed a ship with a floating saloon suspended on two huge iron bolts, so that, however much the rest of the ship might pitch and toss, this part, where the passengers travelled, would remain horizontal. No expense was spared on construction and decoration. The 350-foot long saloon was upholstered with sandalwood and fine leather, softly carpeted and equipped with upholstered berths, and in 1875 the finished vessel, built to Sir Henry's plans by an engineer named Reed, was duly launched.

Her maiden voyage was a social event of the first magnitude, with the V.I.P.'s of the day competing for the privilege of sailing in the Bessemer Ship. But only a mile or two out from port the trouble began. While the ship's company were still proudly saying to their passengers, '' You can't be seasick on this boat,'' the magnificent saloon suddenly tilted at a horrible angle, faces began to turn slightly green and the first sufferer muttered weakly, '' Can't I? You watch me! '' or words to that effect.

Sir Henry Bessemer had failed to recognise what an inconstant jade the sea is. His floating saloon resisted the tendency of all floating vessels to pitch, but she still rolled and, as any seafarer knows, there is no telling which form the sea's movement will take. And how the Bessemer ship rolled ! To make matters worse for the hapless passengers, they could not even struggle up on deck for air and the merciful breeze. They had to stay below, shut away in their luxury quarters which tipped and tilted every few seconds. They were much more seasick than on an ordinary ship and no more Bessemer ships were built.