Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-07-26
The First Ocean steamer.


Not day passes but what the tele4
graph mentions the arrival or depart
ure of number of palatial steamships
who course the mad ocean like things
of life. This, too, although but fifty
years ago the first ocean steamer was
launched. From recent view OF this
first experiment in ocean navigation
we condeuse the more interesting facts.
In 1918 Mr.. Scarborough of Savan-
nah, Ca, conceived the idea that the
ocean could be navigated by steam:
He went to New York and purchased
ship of about three hundred and fifty
tons. then on the stocks, and as de-
served compliment to his State and
city. named her the Savannah, and de-
termined with her to try the expert
ment of crossing the ocean without
sails. SOY
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 18th of March, 1919. The trial
trip was highlysuccessful. The vessel
then proceeded to Charleston, and at
ter being lionized there for short
time, took James Monroe, the Presi-
dent of the United States, to Savan-
nah. On the Goth of May she sailed
direct for Liverpool, making the pas
sage in twenty two days, eighteen OF
which were under steam, some econ
omy of fuel having been deemed ad-
visable lest the supply should be ex-
hausted.
During the voyage across the Allan
tic several amusingincidents occurred.
When first seen off Cape Clear the
steamer was thought to be on fire I; and
the English admiral at Cork at once
dispatched fast cutter, well 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
After some amusing delay, and nc
small amount of CONSERVATION on the
part of the English ''middies," the en-.
CINE of the steamer was stopped, and
the cutters officers invited on board tC
examine and admire the new invention
AT Liverpool the Savannah attrac-
ted universal attention and no little
apprehension. 1t was suspected by
some that it was her design to rescue
| Napoleon Bonaparte, then prisoner at
st. Helena, his brother Jerome having
! offered for that purpose 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 time prevented hel
departure from Liverpool.
The. Sailed to Copenhagen and st
Petersburg, everywhere received with
| the most enthusiastic admiration
Her officers fairly loaded down with
royal presents and decorations. From
st. Petersburg the Savannah went to
Arundel in Norway, and thence to
Savannah, making the passage in TWEEN.
ty-fve days. Thus ended the first
voyage ever made across the Atlantic
by steamship. The chart used by
Capt. Rogers during his voyage, and
the log-bOok of the Savannah, were
solicited by the navy department about
the year 1913, and it is believed they
are now in the safe-keeping of the de-
partment 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
or remembrance. The brothers Rog-
ers and Mr.. Scarborough lived until
within a comparatively recent period,
each leaving behind an unblemished
name and honored memory.