The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-05
THE FIRST STEAMER SEEN IN EN-
GLISn WATERS.

GLISM WATERS.
In the month of July. 1915, | was SIT
ting on the poop of the Ire Cronea. nm
old Danish "a. which Nelson had taken
out Of Copenhagen, but which our GOV
eminent had forgotten to restore. she
was large and roomy ship, and was
used in our service as a receiving hulk,
on board Of which the crews OF such
ships as we, in dock were slowed. The
ship to which | belonged was in this pre-
dicament, and as IL was the peoples din.
ner hour was reclining ION the tatfra'l
with friend, while Mr.. Wodehouse, the
signal nidslipluun walked to and fro on
the lee side of the deck. The day was
beautifully 6ne-one Of those pets which
we sometimes have TO remind us that
there is really in nature such thing as
summer, when everything looks splendid,
and the atmosphere seems able to carry
the vision to any distance. III WAS stlIi
on board the feet, when Mr.. Wodehouse
/ suddenly cxcla med" Hoiloa what
that ?" and addressing the officer OF the
watch, said, 1.-The boats Of the fleet, sir,
to rendezvous alongside Of the flagship,
Ship on fire, air." All hands were i'm.
mediately piped. and the boats manned
and despatched; and, as other ships had
done the same, there was presently flo-
tilla around the Admiral's ship. But
what was all this row about /? And the
answer to the inquiry was-"a ship on
fire." AS we looked towards Spithead
to which our attention was directed, {
vessel was accordingly seen, apparently
10 gun brig, from which large, thick
and dark stream of smoke was emitted
There could be no doubt, then, that she
was on fire, and the feet of boats was
held in readiness to board her when she
rot into the harbor--to scuttle her, II
need be-and ut all events to save the
crew from the perils that awaited them
One thing, however, perplcxed every on
locker. The burning brig kept on hel
!, course steadily, went round the feet a
Spithead, and then coolly bneup for th'
harbor, where she presently made he
appearance, putting and blowing, but no
: burning. On she came, to the amaze
ment Of all who beheld her, and having
proceeded some way up the harbor, sh
returned. and very quietly anchored OF
the hard. But what was this extraordin
!, AIRY vessel which sailed without sails, wen
J right on against the wind and tide, ant
: did as she listed with those element
? which all men and ships had heretofor
implicitly oheyed !? Nobody could tell
: for nobody had ever seen anything lik
. her before. Jack, who has tinge 9
! superstition about him, said little, shoe
), his head, chewed his quid, and locke
!. wonderfully wise, for he plainly could no
a make her out "In NO vay whatsomever.
a by ana y, Tic Jeiiors craft was boar
= ded, and 'u,t.,u uut 20 be lie s!eamboa
: Caledonia, from the Clyde, which ha
!, come round to show our neighbors at th
south what could be done by norther
heads and hands; and this little vesse
which was much smaller than our ordr
g airy river boats, was the first steambo;
ever seen in English waters.
# An incident Of this kind was not likel
to pass unnoticcsl--nor did it. On tn
is following day everybody went to see hel
e and everybody expressed their astonisl
n ment at her powers. But about IL, 4
J. NJ, there was a movement extraordinar
l. Oh the waters. The Admirals barge
j. filed with ladies and gentlemen, pulle
n alongside, who, after having satisfied the
le curiosity, went on board the Esk-a shi
D corvette, commanded by Captain Lor
A. Napier, who was afterwards killed j
!. Chna-where military band awaito
r them, together with large company
r cxpectant visitants. The Caledonia
A. steam was up. She took the Esk in toy
= and amid the cheers of crowds on she
IN and crowds on shipboard, she steamt
re bravely out to Spithead. where she lie
Dr. her companion, and returned with wha
v in those days, seemed to he inconceiv
N bic speed, and teek the Endymion, 4
as Captain Henry Hope, in hand. and to Il
st delight of large body of spectator
or dashed out of the harbor with her burde
n, as easily, apparently, as grown man cou
10 carry an infant Thus were the sailil
or and Juggling powers of steamboats, fir
IL demonstrated 10 English eyes by SIN,
to Clyde steamer, forty-seven years ago
er fact to which | was an eye witness, al
r. which may yet come to have some histe
ical value.
Uu.p-~r