THE FIRST AMERICA.

       The original America was built in Belfast for the Hamburg American Line. Launched in 1905 she was, for twelve months period, the world's largest ship at 21,329 tons. She was also the most prestigious with grand European hotel interiors and a  Ritz Carlton restaurant, the first supplemental restaurant at sea 

   Seized by the United States government in Boston in 1917 she was converted to a troop ship and renamed America.  The night before entering service the ship sank at her pier in New York when some valves had accidentally been left open. Refloated she was pressed into repatriation service and eventually  sold to United States lines in 1921. Striped of her old world exclusivity she was refitted with more egalitarian interiors. The heavy palatial atmosphere was replaced by what the line called " American Lightness" defined as being  more open, light and cheerful in tone. The first of what the line would call " cabin Class " ships. A total of 690 passengers traveled in cabin class which provided " excellent accommodation at a low cost". 1240 passengers traveled in Tourist Third - " The greatest travel innovation of our times making it possible for Americans to go abroad at the lowest possible rates in pleasant and comfortable accommodations". (1)

   Harry Manning, served as chief mate on the America. In 1929 he received his first ticker tape parade in New York when he and 8 other brave sailors rowed out in heavy seas, gales force  winds and driving snow to save 32 crew members of the sinking Italian freighter Florida. Manning would latter serve as captain of the second America and skipper the S. S. United States to a record breaking maiden voyage.
   In 1931 the ship was laid up in the James River Virginia until recommissioned for troop work in 1942 as the Edmond b Alexander. After the war she languished in the Hudson river as a reserved ship and was broken up in  Baltimore in 1957.

(1) United States Lines brochure.

  back