The daily gazette., 1881-12-16
The First Oeeau steam Voyage.


The First Ocean steam Voyage.
The Savannah was the first steam,
ship to cross the ocean. She was bull
in New York in 1918, and on March
29.h, 1919, sailed for 6ayannah, Ca,
where she was owned. After shori
stay she proceeded to Charleston
South Carolina, to take the president,
James Monroe, to SAvannah-whence
(aftsr these successful experiments)
she sailed on May 25th, same year,
direct to Liverpool--a full~rigged ship
OF about $50 tons burden, with . low
pressure engine of 30 or 90 horse
power. She proved a fast sailer, and
by the power Of her engine alone she
could make 8 knots per hour. She
was commanded by Capt. Moses
Rogers, Of New London, Connecticut,
and Capt. Stephen Rogers of the same
place was 'sailing-mastcr." After q
most successful passage Of % days, IA
OF which hsr engine was used, she ar
rived at Liverpool. Before crossing
the bar, however, an amusing incident
took place, which may be worthy of
pArration here.
The ship was first discovered from
tho telegrsphic station at y pc Clear,
(the southern part of Ireland), and
reported as "shtp on fire." The
admiral who lay at tho cove of Cork
despatched one of tho kings cutters
to her relief but great was their won-
der At their utter inability, with all
sail, In fast vessel, to come up with
q ship under bare poles. After several
shots were fired from the cutter, the
engine was stopped and the surprise
Of tue crew at their mistake, as we'll
as their cuOiosity to SEQ the singular
yankee craft" can readily be imag-
incd. They ar once asked permission
to come on board, aud were much
gratitied by close inspection of this
naval novelty.
On approaching Liverpool, hundreds
Of people came of in boats to meet
her. She was compelled, however, to
remain outside until the tide should
serve for her to go over the bar. Dur
ing this time the steamer had all her
colors flying when boat from "a
British sloOp-of-war came alongside
and hailed. The Sailing master" was
on deck at the time, and promp ly an
swered the officer of the boa. The
question was asked, "Where In your
master, sir ?" To which the loconic
reply was soon given, ~ have no
master, sir I" "Whera is your captain
then, sir ?" "He is below, SIR" ~
wish to see him, SIR" The captain
then made his appearance on deck,
and wished to know what was wanted.
To which the officer replied, "why do
you wear that pennant, sh?" "Be-
cause my country allows me to do So,
sir" was the spicy answer OF the
Yankee captain. "My commander"
replied the officer, "thinks it was done
to insult him, sii and If you don't
take il down he will send force that |
will do it." Capt. Rogers, without
replying to the threat, ordered the en-
gineer to get ready the hot Water
sngias right away" Now, although
theIe was no such machine aboard the |
ship, the order had the desired effect |
and John Bull' was glad TO evacuate
as soon as possible.
On approaching the city the ship
ping piers and roofs Of houses were
thrOnged with an excited populace,
cheering the adventurous craft. Dur
ing her stay at Liverpool, naval officers
aud noblemen, and merchants from
London came down to visit he', aud |
were singularly curious to learn her |
speed, destination, go. As it will be |
remembered, this was soon after
Jerome Bonaparte had offered large
reward to any one who would succeed
in resouing his brother Napoleon, then
at st. Helena.
This was the suspected design of
the Savannah's visit. After o stay of
20 days in Liverpool, during which
time the ship was visited by thousands
Of people of rank, and her officers the
while treated with marked attention,
she left for Copenhagen, Deumark.-
There she excited similar manifestas
tions of wonder and curiosity. Thence
she proceeded to Stockholm, where she
was visited by the royal family foreign
ministers, naval officers, nobility and
others, who, by the invitation of Mr..
Hughes, (Lhe American ministe },
dined ON board, and took an excursion
among the neighboring islands with
which they seemed much delighted
Lord Lynedooh, of England, who was
then ON tour in the north of Europe,
by invitation Of our minister, took |
passage on board the Savannah for st. |
Petersburg, which place she reached
IN time. Here she was visited by no.
blemeD, military and naval officers,
who also tested her superior qualities |
by a trip to Cronstadt and a valuable
service of plate was presented to her
officers. From st. Petersburg she
sailed to Copenhagen, and thence to
Arenjal, in Norway (; whence she re-
turned TO Savannah, where she safely
returned after passage oi 25 days
Shortly afterwards she sailed for
Washington city, where the ship was
laid up--being the first steam vessel
that ever crossed the Atlantic. The
whole performance of this ship, after
her departure from New York, was