Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-23


THE woRLD-A REMARKABLE AND TRI-
UAIPHANT TRIAL VOYAGE.
Not day passes but the telegraph
mentions the arrival or departure of a
number Of palatial steamships who
course the ''mad oceans like ''things ef
life" This, too, although but fifty years
ago the first ocean steamer was launched.
From a recent review of this first expert
meut in ocean navigation we condense
the most interesting facts. In 1918, a
Mr.. Scarborough, of Savannah, Ga, con-
ceived the idea that the ocean could be
nayigated by steam. He went to New
York and purchased a ship of about
three hundred and fifty tons, then on the
stocks, and, rs a deserved compliment to
his State and city, named her the Savan-
nah, and determined with her, to try the
experiment of crossing the ocean with
out sails.
Captains Moses and Stephen Rogers
(two brothers, were selected by Mr.
Scarborough to take charge-of the new
steamer-the one to supcrintend and
direct her machinery, the other to act as
sailing master After having been fur
nished 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 for Savannah on the goth of March.
1919. The trial trip was highly success
full. The vessel then proceeded to Char
lesion, and after being liOnized there for
a short time, took James Monroe, the
President Of the United States, to Savan-
nah On the 26th of May she sailed
direct for Liverpool, making the passage
in twenty-five day, eighteen or 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 off Cape Clear the steamer was
thought to be on fire, and the English
Admiral at Cork at once dispatched a
fast cutter well manned, to her relief
but great was their wonder at their total
inability, under all sail and with good
breeze, to come up with the ship alnde5
bare p0les 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 cutters officers invited on board to
IL
At Liverpool fhe Savannah attracted
universal attention, and no little apprc-
hensiOn. 1t was suspected by some that
her design was to rescue Napoleon Bon
aparte, then a prisoner at St. Helena,
his brother Jerome having offered for
that purpose a large sum. She was care
fully watched by the British govern
ment, and ships-Of-war were stationed
at certain points for that purpose, which
for time prevented her departure from
Liverpool.
The Savannah sailed to Copenhagen
and st. Petersburg, everywhere receiv-
ed with the most enthusiastic admlra-
tiOn. Her officers worC talrly loaded
down with royal presents and decOra-
tions. From st. Petersburg the Savan-
nah 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. The
chart used by Captain Rogers during his
voyage, and the log-book of the Savan-
nah, were solicited by the Navy Depart
ment about the year 1848, and it is be-
lieved they are now in the safe keeping
of the Department of 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 hulk broken up, and thus
ANONYMOUSLY passed away from thought
or remembrance. The brothers Rogers
and Mr.. scarborough lived until within
a comparatively recent period, each leav-
ing behind an unblemished name and
honored memory.