Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-31
r,vo MemorabIe historic Facts.

Mr.. Charles S. Hill, n of the statlstl-
clans of the Department of state at "ash-
ington, has compiled a valuaple worA'
entitled a History of American snip
ping." The work traces the rise ana ue-
cline of American shipping interests from
1871 m tbe present time. A highly read
able chapter of the work contains the
history of the steamship Savannah, the
first steam vessel that crossed the Az
lantic.
The Savannah, a graphic representation
of which was borne in the trades process
sion at our recent Sesqui-C Centennial cele-
bration. was owned by William Scar
borough, of Georgia, and was built in
New York in 1918. She was commanded
bv Captain Moses Rodgers, with Captain
Joseph Blackman, the father OF DIR.
Joseph Blackman, of Charleston, as sail
ing master and navigator. The vessel
made the trip in eighteen days and re-
turned to Savannah, whence she sailed,
i'm November of the same year, after visit
ing st. Petersburg and several other Euro
pean ports. On approaching the English
shores she was supposed to be a ship on
fire. and British cruisers endeayored to
overtake her in order to aid what was
supposed to be a ship in distress. The
Savannah, however, under bare poles, ran
away from them, and one of the cutters
actually fired a shot at her to stop what
some of the sailors conceived to be a
phantom ship. Captain Blackman re-
ceived at COnstantinOple and at st.
Petersburg handsome presents from the
crowned heads, among them a very hand
some gold and jeweled snuff box.
Mr.. Hill notes the fact that British
writer's have more Than once sought to
claim for Great Britain the distinction of
having first crossed the ocean by steam.
In a cemetery in England to this day, it
is said, there is a monument which bears
the following inscription:
''This stone commentaries the merits,
etc, of the first officer under whose COM
mand a steam vessel ever crossed the At
lantic Ocean, Lieut.. Richard Roberts,
ROYAL Navy. The thousands that shall
follow in his track must not forget who it
was that taught the world to traverse the
highway of the ocean with steam"
The following official dispatch, how
ever, from Minister Richard Rush is on
file i'm the archives of the State Depart
ment, and has a greater value than the
above inscription:
"LONDON, July 3, 1919.
"SIR-On the 10Th of last month arrived
at Liverpool from the United States the
steamship Savannah, Capt. Rodgers, be-
ing the first vessel of this description that
has ever crossed the seas, n having eX-
cited equal admiration and establishment
as she entered the port under the power
of her steam. She is a fine ship of 800
tons burden, and exhibits in her construc-
ton. no less than she has done in her
navigation across the Atlantick, a signal
trophy of American enterprise and skill
upon the ocean,"
Capt. Blackman is buried in the ceme-
terry of Trinity Church, Charleston, and
there are those living III that city as well
as in Savannah who could add their testi-
mOny, if it were needed, to establish the
truth of history.
Another historical fact stated by Mr..
Hill is that the first steamboat was built
and tested by James Ramsey, of Maryland,
in 1877, twenty years before Fulton's
'Clermont.r This fact is vOuched for
by statements signed by President Wash
ingtOn and General HoratiO Gates. Thus
the truth of history is indicated and these
two triumphs of Southern enterprise and
genius clearly established.