The morning call., 1892-07-31
CALIFORNIA STEAMERS.
The First One Was Built ON the
Top of Clay-Street Hill.
It Was Then Hauled Down to Montgomery
Street, Whence It Was Launched Into
the Waters Of the Bay.

of the steamer Mod0c, running to SaeTa-
meEto, is the longest in continual service of
any commander on the bay. He landed In
san Francisco on the 9th OF April, 1850, and
started in as pilot on the old side wheeler
WestpOrt, which ran up the Sacramento
River for years, and is associated with the
earliest memories of thousands of the ad-
Yenturous spirits of the days of '49."
IT, Westport was almostt the first steamer
IN the bay and river traffic, and came here
In the year 1919 from New Orleans, having
previously been running upon the Missis-
sippl She steamed around the Horn after
lucky voyage aud commenced her voyages
on the bay and river soon after her arrival
here.
EARLY SHIP-BUILDING.
Captain Fourrat is mine of interesting
Information as TO the events Of those early
years, and there Is scarcely an incident con-
necIed with nautical affairs that he does
not clearly remember and as yividlY de-
scribe. On subjects pertaining to the begin
nlngs of ship-building. which Is now such
= vital element in the industrial activities
of this city, Captain FourTaPs recollection
Is clear and authoritative
The first steamer ever built in California
was put together, be says, In 1919, at Sacra-
mento, near the mouth of the American
River, 1t was not q very pretentOuS affair,
present any of the architectural features of
passenger boats Of a subsequent period.
She was scOw steamer and was not famous
for speed, bat she ran many years, doing
good service for the public and her owners,
anu 0ss finally blown up on SuiSun Bay.
her nallc Is lost to pOsterity, but she must
ever De awarded the distinction of being the
hTst steamer ever built on the Pacific Coast
although all her machinery and timberS
were imported from the East. She was in
fact only put together here.
Following this craft was the II. T. Clay
whose materials were also imported. Her
tonnage was about 800, and she was put
upon the bay near the foot of Second street
The next steamer QUILT in this city was the
Miner, which dated from 1851, under pre-
eisely the same conditions as the TWO pre-.
Vious OneS-the machinery and timbers be-
Ing OF Eastern make. Subsequent to these
several steamers are noted as having been
built, but in every case as far as heard
from, the machinery was imported.
A PIONEER BUILDER.
To whom, therefore. the credit belongs OF
building the first steamer ever constructed
on this coast whose materials and machinery
was exclusively of local production is a
question that has been asked but never
EuthOTitatively decided, and the reporter in
delYing into the subject found there was
considerable diversity of opinion on the sub
jecr, but was finally referred to John Loch-
head as one who could settle the question if
any one could.
Mr.. Lochhead, though living at an ad-
vsnced age, still conducts an active busi-
ass on Steuart street, as mechanical
Engineer and inventor, and is OF high re-
pnte among experts IN his line. He came to
lhis State IN 1851 on board the bark Fannie,
which will long be remem beTed as the
Bearer of the old side-wheeler, S. \.
wheeler, which first ran between this city
E-nd Stockton after she was launched from
ehe hold of the Fannie. Lochhead was her
Tarst engineer, and ran the Wheeler for two
Years, when be left her and came to San
Francisco.
On arriving here, the young mechanic
discovered that fine opening for machine
shop existed, but the expense and delay
involved In getting steam engine for
his enterprise. de was not disnayed, how
ever, and his practical mind soon suggested
Way out Of the difficulty.
UTILIZING THE WINDS.
He proposed TO utilize the winds which
blow with such regularity and certainty in
this vicinity. and did actually erect tenn
p0rary macbine-shop on Clay street be-
tween Jones and LeayenWOrth, on the high
est point OF the former and fully 800 feet
above the bay. This was in 1853.
The idea proved a perfect success and
the new machine-shop propelled IN so novel
c.manner did profitable business from the
shss- The pfOlect of a steamer for bay
purposes "as one that Lochhsad had often
medltated, and as soon as ne found the
means ne put his determination OF building
one into execution. The hull of the new
steamer presented no obstacles: lumber was
10 be had IN plenty, and that was soon COM
pleted; but the making of the boilers and
engine involved considerable Of an under
taking. and great delay ensued. Every part
ana portion had to be drawn out aud patterns
made. and then the fitting and finishing of
each part Of the complicated machinery had
10 be done mostly by the builder himself,
and at spare moments, so that il was nearly
two years from the time the steamer was
commenced before she was ready TO launch.
She Is described as being 20 feet In length.
feet beam and 4 feet depth of hold. Her
appearance was much like the launches
quilt nowadays, open forward aad @
covered cabin aft. The smokestack, boilers
ind engine were placed in the center and
he was propelled by vertical engine OF 5
horsepower, driving 28-inch screw. She
vas named the Sea Foam and held COM
ortably % persons.
LAUNCHING THE SEA FOAM.
The Sea Foam had yet TO be launched.
She lay upon the highest point of Clay
treet hill, 800 feet above the nearest point
u the baY then at the corner Of Montgom-
Try street, and to get her TO the water was
difficulty which caused considerable anx-
ieiy 10 her builder. who was laughed at for
building steamboat at such an elevation.
But this proved to be no difficulty at all.
irst steamer ever built upon the Pacific
ocean OF California materials was soon in
aer proper element. Four wheels, placed
y feet apart aud separated by long seant-
ing, were arranged. the steamer hoisted
apon them and slowly rolled down to the
lsy.
The Sea Foam ran upon the bay for three
or 1our years, when she was purchased by
party for Puget Sound. and after plying
ipon those waters for many years was at
asst broken up and DESTROYED.
THE FIRST sCREw-sTEAMER
The same builder also constructed the
lrst twin-scIew steamer that was ever built
IN the Pacific Coast. In 1868 Mr. Loeb
head designed and built the twin-serew
steamer Santa Cruz of 295 tons, of which
Captain Robert Sudden was master. The
Santa Cruz was built for Nelson, GoOdall 81
Co., and on the trial trip, which occurred
81 October Z. 1868, large number OF in
iItoI s1ests were present. The steamers
Ipeed was calculated at Is knots, and this
Ieemed to have been considered a very
wonderful Performance for those DAYS.
An interesting feature of the trial trip was
The voting for President and Chief of Police
by which IL appeared that General Grant
had 80 supporters aboard, and Horatio Sey-
monr out 10. while Crowley for Chief of
foilce had the same number as Grant, and
Caravan, his competitor, the same as Sey-
mour.
THE FIRST TUGBoAT.
In 1867 Mr.. Lochhead made the ma
ehinery for the first steam tug ever built in
san francisco She Is the Water Witch,
ana was constructed for Nelson, GooGall g.
Co., and is still in active service. The same
builder also designed and constructed the
Lizzie, ferry-bOat plying between Vallejo
and Mare Island, launched in 1867. besides
other ships whose names are familiar. but
whose remains. many Of them, are molder.
Ing away In the bottom Of the sea,
Ii appears from the books of Mr.. Loeb
head that the first vessel ever constructed
on this coast. and the pioneer of the great
business of to-day. built solely of iron was
launched on the 4th of May, 1877. She was
built by Hall d. Kershaw from drawings
and plans of Loehhead, and was but % feet