The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-08-08

HISTORY OF THE FIRST STEAMSHIP THAT EVER
CROSSED THE ATLANTIC To the American
steamship Savannah, built by Croker 81 Pickett
at Coraer's Hook, in this city, is universally con-
coded the honor of being the first steam propelled
vessel that ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean. From
the memory OF one of those who formed her crew.
tNir A. Thomas, then fireman,) and believed to
be, with one exception, the only survivor, we are
enabled to give succinct narrative OF her voyage
According to his understanding of the facts she
was built by company OF gentlemen, with a
view OF selling her to the Emperor Of Russia This
company was organized through the agency of
Capt. Moses Rogers, afterwards her commander.
The Savannah was a vessel of $50 TONS ship-ro-
ged, and was furnished with horizontal engine
This was placed between deeks-boers in the
lower hold
The Savannah sailed from NewYork Gin the
second year of the Presidency of James Monroe
G use the words of our informant, or in the year
1919. She first went to Savannah. The passage
occupied seven days, four of which she was under
Steam. There she chartered by the corpora
bon, as an act of courtesy, to proceed Charles
ton for the purpose Of afording President Monroe,
who was then on travelling tour through the
States pleasure excursion. For some reason,
ne tailed to go, and the steamer returned to Savan
nah. While there, forming an object of much at
ractIon she took out pleasure party to Tybee
Light. From Savannah she proceeded direct to
Liverpool where she arrived after passage of
eighteen days, during seven Of which she was un-
der steam.
y When about entering ST GEORGES Channel, off
me CITY OF Cork, she deserted by the comman-
Ger Oh the british fleet, then lying at that city
seeing huge mass Of smoke ascending from the
Hessei' enveloping her rigging and overshadowing
sue SKY, he naturally inferred that vessel was on
ufe ana IN distress, and with commendabe promp-
ttude dispatched two cutters to her relief After
passing near her few times, taking full survey,
and hrng a few guns across her stern the steamer
was boarded. Finally, being satisfied that all was
right, the cutters bore away. The news of. her an
pFoach having been teeeraphed to Liverpool, as
she drew near the city, with her sails furled and
the American coors flying the pier.heads were
thronged by many thousand persons, who greeted
her with the most enthusiastic cheers. Before she
to her anchor, the decks were so crowded
That it was with difficulty that the men could from
n.9J-i to another, in the performance of their
z =. She afterwards visited by many persons
(. distinction, and departed for Esinore, on her
way to st. Petersburg She next touched at Co.
penhagen, where she remained two weeks. During
her stay, Mr.. Hughes, the American Consul, went
out IN her on pleasure excursion fourteen miles,
accompanied by the king and other noted person
ages. From Copenhagen she went to Cronstadt
and ST. Petersburg. Not being able to get the
bar at the latter place, she lay opposite the city,
six miles distant. Here, too, she was visited by
the American Consul, Mr.. Campbell, and by the
Emperor. Here, at other places, she an
object ofmuch wonderment. She, however, was moi
sold, as had been expected and sailed for home,
putting into Errngton, on the coast of Norway, on
the passage. From the latter place, she was q
days in reaching Savannah. On account of the
high price of fuel she carried no steam on the re-
turn passage, and the wheels were taken off. A
similar was adopted during portion of the
time occupied by the passage out from the United
- States. As it was nearly or quite impossible tc
carry sufficient fuel for the voyage, during the
pleasant weather the wheels removed, ant
canvas substituted. On entering Liverpool the
more efectually to " astonish the natives,n thu
wheels were restored. At the completion Of thi,
voyage, the Savannah purchased by Capt N
Holdredge, Invested of her steam apparatus, ant
used as packet between Savannah and NewYork