Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-19
From the London Times, NAV %.
TIL E FIRST STEAMSHIP THAT CROSSED

THE FIRST STEAMSHIP THAT CROSSED
THE ATLANTIC.
To the Editors Of the Times:
SIR1n your potential journal of the 22d inst. the
following statement in article descriptive OF
machinery in the great exhibition: "About 1886 37
the project ct crossing the Atlantic started; the
Sirius was we believe, the first steam vessel which per-
formed this feat"
Ga referring to The Times of June 81, 1919, you
vii ind the following paragraph credited to Marwade's
commercial Reportfo that week:
"Among the arrivals yesterday at this port we were
particularly grated and asonshed by the novel sight
OF flne steamship, which came round at II p M ,
without the assistance of single sheet, in styIe
which displayed the power and advantage of the appIi.
cation OF steam TO vessels ofthe largest sze being $50
tons burden. She is called the Savannah, Captain Ro-
gers, and sailed from Savannah, Georgia. United
states) the 26th OF May, and arrived in the channel
engine IS days, Her model is beautiful and the ac-
commodatlons Tor passengers elegant and complete
This the first ship this construction that has un
dertakeG voyage across the Atlantic"
The Times OF June 80, 1919, says: "The Savannah
steam vessel, recently arrived at Liverpool from Anne
lca-the first vessel OF the kind that ever crossed the
Atantlc-was chased whole day ofthe coast OF Ire
land by the Kite revenue cruiser, on the Cork station
which msiook her for ship on fire.
Lloyd's list reports the arrival of the Savannah at
Liverpool on the 10th OF June, 1919, bound TO ST. Pc
tersburgh and in Cores annals of Liverpool you will
find this American steamers arrival recorded among
remarkable events.
The steamship Savannah was an American ship
buill, owned, and navigaed by Americans. Francis
Picket, of New York, built her for Daniel Dodd; and
the engines were made by Stephen Vail, OF Morristown
She was commanded by Captain Moses Rogers, and
navigaed by Stephen Rogers of New London Con
necuc9t VINO IS still living TO see the voyage per-
formed in less than half the time by line of American
steamers, the chief engineer of of which (the At
lantlc, Captain WesD is his nephew, ]. W. Rogers
1t IS not inappropriate to mention that, the present
writing the quickest trip the ocean has been
made by the Pacific, one of the Collins line of Amer.
can steamers less than days; SO that we are not
only the first, but the fastest
In England, Copenhagen, Stockholm, ST. Peters,
ourgh and Consanlinople the arrival Of the steamer
Savannah excited great curiosity and attracted thou
sands OF visiters: The King of Sweden presented
Captain Rogers with stone and muller; and the En-.
peror of Russia presented "sver teakete as token
Of his qualification at the first attempt to the At
lant'c by steam." Lord Lynedoch, of England who
went passenger in this ship St Petersbueh presented
Stephen Rogers with "superb gold snuffbox" All
these testmon als in The possession oil the TO-
mily. The log book, containing an official account of
Inc voyage, is in the National Institute at Washington
GUY, and may be seen at any time.
Very respectfully, sir, your obedent servant,
JOHN S. CUNNINGHAM,
OF Norfolk, Virginia.