Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-02-07

down the coach-wlip, and supply
its place with a broad blue pcnnant,
such as.were worn by the comman-
ders Of squadrons in our own navy,
and ranking with the highest grade
iii that of the British, and then, in a
loud tone of voice. so that he might
be heard by the English, he direc-
ted the engineer to get the hot
water pipes ready. This had the
desired effect, although til ere was
no such apparatus on board, and
the gallant lieutenant and his crew
pulled for dear life. The hot-watcr
jeers, which were subsequently
leveled at the British officers, caused
them to start upon an early cruise.
The Savannah attracted great at
tention at Liverpool; was visited
by the authorities, and, as her fame
spread to London,t the crown-otficcrs,
noblcmen, and many leading mer-
chants visited to ascertain her speed
and her GRAND. The officers
were very anxious to ascertain
her destination. 1t was sus-
pected by some that her de-
sigh was to rescue Napoleon
Bonaparte, then a risoner at St.
Helena, his borther Jerome having
offered for that purpose large sum.
She was carefully watched by the
British Government, and ships.of.
war were stationed at certain points
for that purpose, which, for time,
prevented her departure from Liver
pool.
She finally proceeded to Copen-
hagen where she ex> tied great mani
testations of wonder and curiosity.
Thence she proceeded to Stockholm
where she was visited by the royal
family, minis ers of state, and naval
officers, who, by invitation, dincd
on board, and took an excursion
among the neighboring islands,
with which all were delighted. She
then proceeded to St. Petersburg,
having on board as passenger, one
Lord Lyndock, who was so much
pleased with the performance Of the
steamship, that he presented to
each of her officers some token of
his esteem. To her sailing master
was presented an elegant snuff box
Of pure and massive gold, on the
cover of which, inlaid with platina,
was a representation Of Peter the
Great asleep upon his horse, on the
rock from which he viewed the
Swedish army, with the serpent
biting the heel of the horse, which
awoke him in time to successfully
attack the Swedes. AT the bottom
of the box was this inscriptions:
"Prcscnted by Sir Thomas Graham
Lord Lyndock, to Stevens Rogers,
sailing-master Of the steamship
Savannah, at St. Petersburg, Octo-
bsr 10. 1870" Lori Lyndock had
taken passage on the steamer by
invitation of Christopher Hughs,
then American Minister to Sweden.
Upon her arrival at St. Petersburg,
the vessel was visited by the entire
court, who tested her qualities by q
trip to Cronstadt; and SO well pleas
ed was the Emperor that he caused
the officers to be treated with mark
ed attention. They were invited to
be present at review of eighty
thousand troops by the Emperor in
person; and frigate Of the largest
class was launched on the 'Camcls,'
and taken down to Cronstadt as an
exhibition of the arts in Russia.
The Emperor solicited Capt. Stevens
Rogers to remain in the Russian
seas with his steamer, offering him
the profession of the Government
and the exclusive navigation of the
Black and Baltic Seas for n number
of years; and to Capt. Moses Rog-
ers the Emperor presented hand
some silver tca-kcttlc. From St.
Petersburg the Savannah sailed for
Arendel. in Norway, and thence to
Savannah, making the passage in
twenty-five days. Thus ended the
first voyage ever made across the
Atlantic by steamship. That was
about fifty years ago, and the his
tory of ocean steam m-nayigation dur
ing that eventtul period will form
one of the most important and in
tcresting chapters in our annals Of
prosperity. With regard to Capt.
Moses Rogers, he died many years
ago.
The chart used ly Capt. Rogers
during his voyage, and the log
book Of the Savannah, were solicited
by the Navy Department about the
year ls4s, and it is believed that
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 purchased and taken
out by the proprietors ofthe Allaire
Works, and, on the opening Of the
Crystal Palace in New York, her
cylinder was presented by them for
exhibition, and it remained until the
place was consumed by fire, although
a fac-simile of the cylinder and an
engraving Of the ship are in exis-
tance, which remained in the hands
of the captain of the Savannah until
his death.
Capt. Stevens Rogers was born in
1888, and resided, during the latter
part of his life, in New London,
Conn. lie was fine specimen of
the old-fashioned type of ship mas
ters-somc six feet in height, and of
stalwart proportions; most exem-
plary and excellent man, and uni
vcrsalIy respected and esteemed.
When quite young, he was impris-
oncd by British man-of-war, and,
on being released, he determined
aftcrward to hayc his credentials
of citizenship always with him, so
he had his name imprinted on his
arm, the date and place of his birth
and the figure of hand pointing
to the American flag. These ere.
dentials were indelible, and re-
mained until his strong arm was
overcome by death in 1868. He
died in New London, leaving be-