Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-08
The First ocean steamer.
rom the Lynchburg Virginian.l


Not a day passes but the telegraph
mentions the arrival or departure of a
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 a recent view of this first expert
ment in ocean navigation we condense
the more interesting facts. In 1918 a
Mr.. Scarborough of Savannah, Ga, con-
ceived 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 deserved compliment to
his State and city, named her the Sa-
vannah, 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. Scar
borough 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
|
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
26th of May she sailed direct for Liver
pool, making the passage in twenty-five
days, eighteen of which were under
steam, some economy of fuel having
been deemed advisable lest the supply
should be exhausted
During the voyage across the Atlantic
several amusing incidents occurred.
When first seen of Cape Clear the
steamer was thought to be on fire; and
the English admiral at Cork at once dis
patched fast cutter, well manned to
her relief but great was their wonder
at their total inability, under all sail, ard
with good breeze, to come up with the
ship under bare poles. After some
amusing delay, and no small amount OF
CONSERVATION on the part of the English
middies," the engine Of the steamer
was stopped, and the cutter officers in
vited on board to examine and admire
the new invention. At Liverpool the
Savannah attracted universal attention
and no little apprehension. 1t was sus-
pected by some that it was her design to
rescue Napoleon Bonaparte, then pri-
soner at St. Helena, his brother jerome
having offered for that purpose a large
sum. She wes carefully watched by the
British government, and ships-ot-war
were stationed at certain points for the
purpose, which for time prevented her
departure from Liverpool.
The Savannah sailed to Copenhagen
and St. Petersburg, everywhere received
with the most enthusiastic admiration.
Her officers we're fairly loaded down
with royal presents and decorations.
From St. Petersburg the Savannah
sailed from Arundel, in Norway, and
thence to Savannah making the pass
age in twenty-five days. Thus ended
the first voyage ever made across the
Atlantic by a 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 the wear ls4s, and L is believed they
are now in the safe-keeping Of the de-
psrtment at Washington. Having been
unfortunate in losing much OF their
nropsrty by FIRE, the owners of the
Savannah sent her to New York, where
She was sold. Her engine was taken
ont her hull broken up and she thus ~
nominiously passed away from thought
or rsmembrsnce. The brothers Rogers
and Mr.. Scarborough lived until within
a comparatively recent penoa' eaen
leaving behind an unblemished han'e
and honored memory.