The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-07-04
The First Ocean Steamer.

Not day passes but the telegraph
mentions the arrival or departure of a
number of pa1atial steamships who
course the mad ocean like things of
life. This, too, although but fifty
wears ago the first ocean steamer was
launched. From a recent review of this
first experiment in ocean navigation we
condense the more interesting facts. In
1918 Mr.. Scarborough of Savannah,
Ga, conceived the idea that the ocean
could be navigated by stream. He
went to New York and purchased ship
of about three hundred and fifty tons,
then on the stocks, and as a deserved
compliment to his state and city, named
her the Savannah, and determined with
her, to try the experiment of crossing
the ocean without sails.
Captain Moses and Stephen Rogers,
two brothers, were selected by Mr..
Scarborough to take charge of the new
steamer, the one to superintend and
direct her machinery, the other to act
as sailing master. After having been
furnished with an engine by Stephen
Vail, of Morristown, conformity with
Daniel Dodd of Elizabethtown, the
Savannah was pronounced ready for the
smiles or anger of Neptune. The
steamer sailed first from Savannah on
the 26th of March, 1919. The trial
trip'was highly successful. The vessel
then proceeded to Charleston, and after
being lionized there for a short time,
took James Monroe, the president of
the United States, to Savannah. On
the Goth of May she sailed direct for
Liverpool, making the passage in TWEEN
ty-two days, eighteen of which were
under stream, some economy of fuel
having been deemed advisable lest the
supply should be exhausted.
During the voyage across the Attain
tic several amusing incidents occurred.
When first seen off Cape Clear the
steamer was thought to be on fire and
the English admiral at Cork at once
dispatched a fast cutter, we'll manned,
to her relief but great was their, won
der at their total inability, under all
sail, and with a good breeze, to come
up with the ship under bare poles. At
ter some amusing delay, and no small
amount of CONSERVATION on the part of
the English middles," the engine of
the steamer was stopped, and the cut
ter's officers invited on board to exam
inc and admire the new invention.
At Liverpool the Savannah attracted
universal attention and no little appre-
hensiOn. 1t was suspected by some
that it was her design to rescue Napo-
leon Bonaparte, then a prisoner at st.
Helena, his brother Jerome having Of
fered for that purpose a large sum.
She was carefully watched by the Brit
ish government, and ships-of-war were
stationed at certain points for the pur-
pose, which for a time prevented her
departure from Liverpool.
The Savannah sailed to Copenhagen
and st. Petersburg, everywhere re-
ceived with the most enthusiastic admi-
ration. Her officers were fairly loaded
down with royal presents and decora-
tions. From st. Petersburg the Savan-
nah sailed from Arundel, in Norway,
and thence to Savannah, making the
passage in twenty-five days. Thus en-
ded the first voyage ever made across
the Atlantic by steamship. The chart
used by Capt. Rogers during his voy-
age, and the log book of the Savannah,
were solicited by the navy department
about the year 1848, and it is believed
they are now in the safe-keeping of the
department at Washington. Having
been unfortunate in losing much of
their property by fire, the owners of the
Savannah sent her to New York, where
she was sold. Her engine was taken
out, her hull broken up and she thus
ANONYMOUSLY passed away from
thought or remembrance. The broth
ers Rogers and Mr.. Scarborough lived
until within comparatively recent pc
Rod, each leaving behind an unblem-
ished name and honored memory
Lvnch6atr0 V1rOi7aiGn.