Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-04
MODELS OF SHIPS.
Exhibit. at the New Orleans Exposition.


Exhibits at the New OrIesns Exposition.
Prom Hs Net0 Orleans Pieasuns.
The low ebb TO which the American ma
rine, naval as well as commercial, has
fallen should I'll every public-spirited
American with modification and shame.
There WAS a time when the American
navy was able to make head successfully
against the ships OF even 50 great power
as England. while the mercantile marine
was rapidly rising to position OF mastery
on the ocean. To-day the United states
navy is a laughing stock, and the Ameri-
can merchant ships have been virtually
driven from the sea.
Those humilating facts are suggested
by some eXcellently constructed models OF
ships exhibited at the exposition. In the
Maine state space, there are couple Of
handsome miniature ships, accurately
copied in all details from vessels actually
built. One OF these Is a three masted
schooner, fully rugged. and OF the style
which Is now so much in use on the coast
OF New England. These vessels sail very
close to the wind, and possess great adj
Vantages when compelled TO hug a danger
Gus coast. This miniature schooner is
nine and half feet long, and was built
by Chester W. COttrell, OF Belfast, Me.
A square-rigged, three-masted ship an
exact model of a vessel actually built, is
exhibited by Z. & j. X. StetsOn, Ship
builders. Of Bangor, Me.
These are, however, only sailing vessels,
built Of wood, while this is pTe-eminently
the age OF iron steamers. In contrast
with these wooden vessels is a splendid
model Of the iron steamship Vancouver,
built for the Mississippi and Dominion
Line, by Charles Cornell g. Co., of Glas-
gow, Scotland. These iron steamers carry
the mails, all the passengers, and the
great bulk Of the freight between the
ports OF the United States and foreign
countries, and they are all built
abroad. The British shipyards can build
iron ships so much more cheaply than
can American builders that probably not
even yawl boat would be constructed in
this country but Tor the law that keeps
fOreign-built craft out OF the American
inland and coastwise commerce.
In the collection from Savannah. Ca.
which, however, IS not vet properly in
place are TO be seen two moeels of steam
ers which Illustrate the history of ocean
steam navigation in an interesting man.
ner. One Of these is the model of the Sa-
vannah, the first steamship which ever
crossed the Atlantic. The ship was built
OF wood, Was three-masted and fully
square-rigged, with side paddle-wheels,
which were not Enclosed in boxes, but
were exposed TO view. The following ac-
count OF this vessel and its first voyage Is
taken from Admiral George IL. Prebles
book on the origin and development OF
steam navigation. He SAYS:
In 1918, Messrs. Dunning, Scarbor-
ough, Sturges, Burroughs, Henry Nc
kenna and others, leading merchants of
the city OF Savannah, at the suggestion of
Capt. Moses Rogers, had constructed a
steamer for plying between Savannah and
Liverpool. These men have all passed
away, but they constructed monument
that lives after them and which will en-
dure forever. The vessel ordered to be
cOnstructed--Was OF 800 tons burthen full
rugged clipper ship. She was fitted with
proper engines, her wheels were made OF
wrought iron, uncovered. and were con-
structed on a novel principle, which en-
abled the ships crew TO fold the wheels
over on the deck. This was done by
means Of derrick, the shaft being hinged
This circumstance shows the doubt that
was felt on the minds OF the projectors of
the enterprise as to its ultimate utility.
"The vessel completed was very pro-
perly named the Savannah, and was ad-
vertised TO sail from the port OF Savannah,
for Liverpool direct. on May 20, 1919.
promptly on the date advertised, the
vessel steamed down the Savannah amid
the cheers and GOd-speed of the admlring
throngs gathered along the wharves to
witness her departure.
Gas an evidence OF the crude state OF
things during those early days, pitch pine
was used as fuel, coal not having come
into use on steamers. In consequences OF
having TO economic In fuel, the engines
Of the Savannah were used only eighteen
days going over and nineteen days while
returning.
upon nearing Liverpool, the paddles
were put in operation, and with all sails
set, and her wheels plying to their utmost.
she proudly passed up the Mersey amid
the plaudits of the astonished throngs of
BritOns.
"The Savannah remained at Liverpool
about one month, and was visited BY
thousands OF the curious, after which she
sailed for 81. Petersburg, where Cant.
Rogers and his novel craft were received
with every mark OF admiration aud re-
spect. After remaining several weeks in
the Russian port the course of the shin
was once more directed hOmeWard. and
on Nov. 20, 1919, after a passage OF SO
DAYS she steamed safely into the port
whose name she bore, with neither a
screw, nor bolt. nor ropeyarn parted, ,
though she passed through . heavy gale
in the North Sea-"
Little did those American shipbuilders
know that they were giving to foreign
countries the means Of destroying their
shipping, but so IL has turned out.
The other model in the Savannah ex-
hibit is OF the steamship City of Savan-
nan, 1900 tons burden, built by John
Roach 4 Co., Of Chester, Pa.