, 1888-06-27
q OCEAN

steamer an0at.
"How fast r.
"Between twenty-five and twenty-three
miles an hour"
ais that aIl!' and l afterwards found
out that she did not know that steamers
could not move as rapidly as the train OF
steam cars, on which she had come from
Chicago.
A similar ignorance exists as to the diff
erence between steamers employed on the
Hudson River or Long Island Sound and
steamers employed on the Atlantic. Some
of the Hudson River steamers seem more
imposing aud more beautiful than the
ocean teamers about which there is so
much talk just now. The apartments on
board of them have the dimensions OF
rooms in a palace. The saloon has the
~lOttineSS and lavish Orlamentatl0n OF some
state apartment in a European court.
After looking at one of these, the interi-
or accommodations OF the latest and gram
deSt additions to the feet of Atlantic stea-
mers appear to be small and cramped'
The ceilings are not more than ten feet
high, and the corridors are narrow there
are no plate-glasS windows a yard square,
but all light comes through small port
holes of glass an inch or more thick.
The explanation of the difference is just
here To appreciate an Atlantic steamer
YOU must know what weather she goes
through, and how the most bOlSterouS
ocean hurlS all its strength against her
in vain how she plungeS through cy-
clone and hurricane, aud FORCES through
mountainous seas without a perceptlOle
reduction i'll her speed.
The mildest of our Atlantic gales would
wreck the StancheSt of our river steamers;
a high sea off Sandy Hook or MlnotS
Ledge would capSize her or shake her
off like the Jewels of some fash.
ionable pretender. She is not built to
struggle with the storm; the greater part
of her is above water, where it towers up,
white and shining, like u house with a
broad veranda in the South.
But the ocean steamer extends deep into
the water, and everything about her is OF
the solidest kind, the main idea being
strength.
The story of the development of the
steam trade of the Atlantic is one In winch
young people, rs we'll IA their elders, may
be interested. 1t is a magnificent growth
which, beginning with an acorn, has at
tanned the proportions of a forest, ana IS
still multiplying itself. 1t has its Incidents
of perseverance, peril, courage ana Cn0
aptneSs of genius. Connected with IL mas
been every improvement made IN tue
science Of navigation and the building OF
ships for half a century. To follow It can
neither be Improbable nor. understanding.
Our special interest has the history OF
transatlantic navigation for Americans.
The first steamer that ever navlgated the
ocean was built in America and
cd by Americans. enti
She was named the Savannah, and was
about three hundred tons burden, and ship
rugged with square sails on each OF her
three masts. She was propelled by side'
wheels, which were so constructed that
they could be lifted on deck in boisterous
weather, and her engine was Ofhsmall
power, as she could only carry twenty-five
tons of coal and twenty-five cords OF wood. :
Under the command of Captain Moses
Rogers, a young navigator of New London, Z
she sailed from the city of, Savannah for
Liverpool on the 18th of May, 1879, and
twenty six days afterwards she arrived at
her destination, having used steam on
eighteen days out of the whole number.
Her voyage was eventless, but when the
coast Of Ireland was sighted, she was
boarded by one of the kings cutters, in
charge Of Lieutenant John Bowie.9 }ss ~
Captain Rogers, afterwards described
this meeting in 9 letter to the New w London
-. 49, 49,