The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-27

On the 23d April, 1888, tremendous excite
ment prevailed in New York "From an early
hour in the morning until dark"-we quote
the language Of this journal-"myriads of per-
cons crowded the Battery to have glimpse Of
the first steam vessel which had crossed the At
lantic from the British isles and arrived safely
in port: it is said that every Englishman in
the city at one time or other during the day
was gazing at the dark looking vessel (the
Sirius,) with the American colors ct the fore,
and the flag of Old England at the stern. The
excitement was further increased by the ar
rival of the Great Western from Bristol, which
left that port on the It'll instant. making the
passage in fifteen days-thus solving the pro-
blem Of possibility. and showing what can be
done by enterprise, expenditure, courage and
skill. The Sirius is, however, the pioneer. 1t
is singular coincidence that both vessels
should have arrived on St. Georges day, the
patron saint of the country to which they be-
long"
On the 3lst March Of the same year, the
London papers alluded to the experiment
doubttully. "There is really no mistake" said
the Times, Gin this long talked of project Of
navigating the Atlantic ocean by steam. There
is NO doubt Of an intention to make the at
tempt, and to give the experiment, as such,
fair trial. The Sirius is absolutely getting
under weigh for America
Eighteen years will soon have elapsed since
these doubts were uttered, and their solution
thus enthusiastically recorded. What change
We have fourteen lines of steamers actually
running between the United States aud Ed
rope, comprising no less than forty two
vessels
Their rise and progress is curious. The
Sirius and Great Western did not long enjoy
monopoly of the ocean ferry. They were
quickly joined by the Royal William (Which
made trip or two), the City of Liverpool,
the British Queen, and President Soon
the Sirius and British Queen were sold, the
President went down, and their place was
taken by q new line, got up by COM
bination of Scotchmen aud Bluenoses--an
astonishing set Of people for enterprise. The
new line was called the Cunard line, from the
leading Bluenose, and launched four steamers
the Acadia, the Caledonia, the Britannia,
and the Columbia: they commenced to run
about 1910, and ran from Boston and Halifax
to Liverpool. In 1s43, tbs Columbia was lost
the only vessel ever lost by the Cunard line
all the lives on board were saved.
Shortly after, a French line, consisting OF
four steamers, was established, but after few
trips it was abandoned. Then a Belgian line
was organized, and also abandoned Soon
after ward, the first American line Of trans
atlantic steamers was inaugurated by tho
sailing of the Washington for Bremen. She
was shortly after followed by the Hermann;
both of which ships run still, with apparent
success and profit. They were followed at an
interval of tour or five years by the Collins
line, which launched successfully the Allan
tic, Arctic, Baltic and Pacific: and are now
building the Adriatic to take the place Of the
lost Arctic.
Latterly several new lines have been estab-
lished. The American-Havre line, which was
started few years ago, having lost it's two
vessels-the Humboldt and Frankliu-re-
placed them by the Arago and Fulton.
Glasgow started line of screw steamers
to New York, and another line on the same
plan was shortly afterward started between
Liverpool and Philadelphia; without, however,
competing with the Collins or Cunard lines
Quite recently screw line, consisting of the
Minna and Brenda, has been established to
run between London, Cork and New York;
they will probably be called the Corkscrews
The Cunard Company has also begun to run q
line between Havre and New York; Belgian
company has launched vessels to run from
Antwerp; and the French are going to run
vessels with warlike names from Havre on
their own account.
Altogether we may sum up the ocean
steam lines established between the United
States and Europe in the following table,