Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-05-23
TIE FIRST STEAM SHIP THAT
CROSSED TIE ATLANTIC.

We find in the New London Conn
Gazette, the following particulars, in add.
ton TO those already published. of the first
steam navigation Of the Atlantic. They
were communicated to the editor Of the
Gazette by Captain Stephen Rogers, of
Grolen, who was the sailing master e the
ship which Moses Rogers was the CON-
mander.
The honor belongs TO Americans, of
having first crossed the Atlantic by steam:
She was seen from the telegraph station
at Cape Clear, on the southern coast ofIre-
land, and reported as a ship on fire. The
Admiral lay in the Cove of Cork, despatch
ed one Of the Kings cutters TO her relief.
But great was their wonder at their inabil.
ity with all sail in a fast vessel, 10 come up
with ship under bare pole. After sever
al shets were fred from the cutter, the en-.
CINE was stopped, and uproar of her crew
at the mistake they had made, as well as
their curiosity to see the singular Yankee
craft, can be easily imagined. They
asked permission TO go on board, and were
much gralifed by the inspection of this ma.
val novelty. On approaching Liverpool,
hundreds of people came off IN boats to sec
her. She was compelled to lay to outside
the bar, till the tide should serve for her to
go in. During this time she had her COL
ors all flying, when a British sloop of war
came along side and-hailed. The officer
of the boat asked him-"Where is your
master T'--to which he gave the laconic re-
ply-"l have no master, Sir" "Where's
your Captain, then p He's below do
you wish to see him % 81 do, SIR" The
Captain, who was then below, on being
called, asked him what he wanted-to which
he answered-"Why do you wear that
penant, Sir p Because-my country allows
me to, Sir" "My commander thinks it
was done to insult him, and if you don't
take it down he will send force that will
do it," Capt. Rogers then exclaimed to
the nglneer--''get the hot water engine
ready" Although there was no such ma
chine on board the vessel, it had the de-.
sired effect, and John Bull was glad to pad.
die offas fast as possible. On approaching
the city, the shipping, piers and roofs of
houses were thronged with persons cheer
ing the adventurous craft. Several naval
officers, nobleman, and mechanics from
London came down to visit her, and were
very curious to ascertain her speed, desti.
nation, &c. AS it was soon after Jerome
Bonaparte had offered large reward to
any one who would succeed in taking his
brother Napolean from st. Helena, it was
suspected that that was the object of the
Savannah. After remaining % days in
Liverpool, during which time she was visi.
ted by thousands of people of all ranks,
and her officers were treated with marked
attention, she left for Copenhagen, at which
place she arrived in safety-where she
excited similar curiosity. She proceeded
thence to Stockholm, in Sweden, where she
was visited by the royal family, the foreign
ministers, naval officers, nobility and 9TH
ers, who by invitation, dned on board, and
took an excursion among the neighboring
islands, with which they were much delight.
ed.
Lord Lyndock, of England, who was
then on a tour through the north of Europe,
by invitation ofo minister, took passag on
board the Savannah for ST. Petersburg, which
place she reached in due time. Here she
was visited, by the invitation ofour minister
at that court, by several noblemen, military
and naval officers, who also tested her su.
perior qualities by a trip TO Cronstadt.-
Her officers reviewed several valuable pres
ents Of plate, &c. &c. and we have now
before us q suberb gold snuff.box which
was presented to her sailing master, Capt.
Stephen Rogers, by Lord Lyndock. She
saled for ST. Petersbugh to Copenhagen and
thence to Arcndal, in Norway, whence she
returned to Savannah, where, after passage
of % days, she arrived in safety--being
the first steam vessel that had ever crossed
the At!antic--and after performing voy-
age highly credablc to American ingenuity
and enterprise.
She used Liverpool coal for fuel, OF
which she took rs tons, as well as % cords
Of wood for kindling. She had no freight,
and only used her engines when not able to
go at the rate of four knots with her sails.
By tho great fire at Savannah her owners
were compelled to sell her, and she was
purchased to run as packet between that
place and New York, whi;her she was
bound, under charge of Capt. Nathan Ho.
dredge, now master ofthc Liverpool packet
ship United States, when she was lost on the
south side of Long Island.
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