London Times, 6 March 1858, p. 10: STEAM NAVIGATION IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA.
Another of the large fleet of iron steamvessels building in this country for the Russian Steam Navigation Company will leave the Tyne in a day or two for the Black Sea, where she be employed in bringing to market the produce of the extensive coalfields of Southern Russia. The vessel alluded to is the large iron steam steamer Ondaloy, built by Messrs. Charles Mitchell and Co., of Walker, on the Tyne. The steaming and carrying properties of this fine vessel have been well tested, the amount of cargo carried being 200 tons in excess of the stipulated quantity at a fixed draught of water. The Russian merchants seem fully alive to the immense advantage of steam as an element of modern commerce, and extensive orders are being executed in England for the supply of iron vessels to navigate the Russian waters. Messrs. Charles Mitchell and Co. have recently entered into large contracts for building those vessels, and from the peculiarity of the service some of them will be of unusual proportions and quite unlike any vessel employed in this country. As an example Messrs. Mitchell are constructing a paddle steamer 200 feet long, upwards of 30 feet broad, which when fully laden will only draw 18 inches of water. The form of the hull is peculiar, the bow being shaped like a spoon to overcome the difficulties of the navigation. The cabins are fitted on deck, and the vessel will resemble the steamers used on the American rivers more than anything known in this part of the world. The framework of the hull is equally peculiar, all the elements being so combined as to produce the greatest possible strength with the least amount of weight. This large contract entered into by Messrs. Mitchell will be a great boon to the working classes of Tyneside in the present depressed state of trade.
Provided by Stephen McLaughlin