The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-26
First Ocean steamer

The American steamship Savannah :" was the hTs ship
of this construction that undertook TO make the voyage
across the Atlantic" These the words OF Marwades
QLiverpooD Commercial Report, which chroncled the
arrival OF this vessel in Liverpool. The same writer
adds that her approach to port unalded with single
sail displayed the power and advantage OF the application
OF steam TO vessels OF the largest size,
The Savannah built al Coriaers Hook, in this
city, by Croker Fickett for number of gentlemen
who designed selling her TO the Emperor OF Russia.
She measured $50 tons, was shp-rgged. and provided
with horizontal engine She sailed from the city OF
Savannah in Georgia. the Goth May, 1919, thirty four
years ago, and reached her destination after voyage of
twenty-five days, (accordng 10 Marwades Commercial
Repori) eighteen OF which she was under steam.
Another account furnished from the recollection OF
OF her officers who went out IN her, gives the time
occupied By the voyage as eighteen days seven of which
she un Ter steam When partially across the At
lantc her wheels taken off account of scarcity
of fuel, not TO impede her progress when under
canvass but replaced upon nearing the English coast
10 enable her to finish the voyage had been
menced-under steam.
AS it is now nearly three years since we alluded to
these facts the following incident, then mentioned, may
bear repeating The sight OF novel a craft. as de-
scribed by the English papers as OF beautiful model"
entering the harbor "whout the assistance OF single
sail. created not only qualification" but asonshmen
As she going up ST. Georges channel, The command
OF the British fleet lying there utterly at loss TO
account for her remarkable appearance developed she
in heavy clouds OF smoke and moving without the
aid OF canvass He naturally conjecued she must be on
fire and in distress, and off two cutters to her relief
but finding his assistance not wanted he brought her
to with shot, and satisfied himself by examination that
received at the docks by large crowds that had
sembed with cheers and congratulations La after years
the Royal William and Sirius followed and in 1888 the
Great Western, Gall British)
The first British steamer that crossed the Atlantic was
the Sirius, from Cork, which entered this habor the
morning of the 23d April, 1898. She followed foul
hours after by the British steamer Great Western from
Bristol The voyage OF the Sirius made in eighteen
days; that OF the Great Western in fifteen The Siru,
consequently the first British steamship that arrived
in the United States direct from England, and the frs
that arrived from any quarter regular trader.
The facts contained in the annexed communication
which we chance to find in Georgia paper Iuat come
hand. have chiefly appeared in columns; bat
copy in connexon with the information sought by ou
own correspondent:
From the Savannah Courier.
HIsroRy OF THE STEAMSHIP SAVANNAH The FIRST
OCEAN STEAMER THE wORLD-About the year 1918
Capt Moses Rogers then OF the city OF Savannah
ed TO Messrs Dunning. Scarborough O. Surges, b Bur
roushs j. r Henry, Barna Mck'nne, and others of TIM
city, the idea OF constructing ocean steamer, for ply
ing between this port and some other port in Europe
These gentlemen resolved 10 Try the experiment. The,
purchased in the city of New York beautiful ship, vel
adapted as they supposed to the purpose Allowing TIT
rigging and other appurenances for sailing to remain
they supplied her with steam machinery and paddle
wheels. Her paddles were constructed to be capa
BILE of folding up like fan, being laid deck. her mail
shaft having joint also for that purpose The wheel
house was made OF strong canvass extended on an roI
| rim.
Her first trip across the made in twenty tive
days between this port and Liverpool in the year 1916
When first deserted from the British coast, she
ported as ship on fire at the mast, and moving withou
sail. From Liverpool she up the Baltic and Will
lying in the port OF Cronstadt saved from wreck dur
ing terrible storm, in which many vessels were lost
only by the assistance rendered by her paddles Durn
her stay at St. Petersburgh, Alexander Emperor OF tn
Iron North pleased with the novel idea of steamship
presented Captain Rogers with two iron chairs, one
which Che only relic left of the adventurous bark)
now in the garden of Mr. Dunning, of this city, and w
hope will long be preserved an honorable mement
OF one OF the most important enterprises OF moder
/ times.
On the return of the Savannah from her European TRIP
she was 10 Washington city. where she sold
and her steam machinery removed. For years after
wards she piled a packet between this city and New
! York, under the command of Captain Aldrich an
| Long Island.