Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-06-05

"that the British nation was the hrst TO
prove the practicabiity Of ocean steam
navigation" The following facts how
ever, settle the question and award the
honor 70 American enterprise aud ge-
MUS. They have been obtained from
Capt. Steven S. Rogers, the only sur
viving officer ofthe ship spoken Of
The Savannah was built in New Yok
in 1918 Tor company in Savannah
She was full rugged ship. Of about $50
tons burihen having low pressure en-
gine Of ninety horse power, which WAS
made AT Elizabethtown, N. j., and by
which she was propelled about eight
knots an hour. Her wheels were made
of iron and so constructed that they
would close like fan and could be un-
shipped in a few minutes; and as she
had no wheel houses but moveable side
booms on which canvass could be spread
20 keep the water from the wheels from
dashing on deck, she was easily turned
into Il common sailing vsssel, excepting
only her smoke pipe rising above the
deck. " 4s. ...tr.
In March 1873 she made a trial trip
having on board President Monroe, who
was delighted with her performance
and on the goth of May, in the same
1 year she sailed from Savannah to Liv-
erpool, which place she reached on ihs
22d day. On her arrival she was tels-
graphed as "d ship on fire and fast
cutter was despatched TO her relief; but
great was the wonder OF all on the
board to find, that though aided by q
good san and freeze they could not
come up with ship ruth bare poles!--
/ After one or two shots ha been fired
the engines were stopped and the cutter
allowed to come up and her officers and
men permitted 10 examine the engines
and ship. After she had come to an
Choir boat commanded by Lieuten-
an, came alongside and the officer in a
tone of more authority Than suited the
\ Yankee officers demanded OF the sail
ing master, "Where is your master, sir,
70 which the laconic answer was return
| ed have no master sir" "Wherc IL
yo " captain thcn9 "He is below
Captain Rogers making his appearance
the Lieutenant pointing to coach
whip pennant flying at the main mast
head, inquired, by what authority do
you wear that pcunant. cir ?" "By the
authority of my government which per
nits me to do So" The Lieutenant re-
piled thai he considered il an insult to
his commander and ordered il to be ta-
ken down-adding shat if he (the Cap
tain) did not do it quickly he would send
a force on board TO hep him. This
reused the spirit of the Yankee cap.
tain w 10 Immediately hauled down the
small coach whip pennant, and supplied
It's place with the blue broad pcnnant.
such as are worn by commanders OF
I squadrons in our navy and rank with
the hig hes, grade in the British navy.
| and in tone loud enough TO be heard
| by all in the cutter, directed the engi-
neer 10 get The hot wdter pipes ready
| This order had the desired affect though
there psre no such pipes--and the gallant
Lieutenant, with his crew were soon out
| OF reach! ...-
AT Liverpool the Savannah was visi-
ted by thousands, and not a f W suppos-
ed she was designed to rescue Napoleon
from ST. Helena as his brothers had
offered "A high reward for his deliver
ance. And 80 fearful were the British
authori ties that this might be the case
that several ships Of war were ordered
10 watch her as she left the port.
From Liverpool she sallGd 10 Copen-
hagen Stockholm and ST. Petersburg
and in all these places excited the most
unlimited wonder T; and at the latter a
service of plate was presented TO her
officers. From ST. Petersburg she re-
turned by way OF Arundel in Norway
to Savannah; and afterwards went 10
Washington, where she was laid up
And the log aud chart used in this trip
are in the Navy Department, at Wash
ington. Thus it appears that the Yam
kces wer, the first 10 soiue The problem of
he prachcdbitty Of navigating the oceor
by Steam.