Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-12-05
OCEAN NAVIGATION.
Wonderful Progress Made Upon
the Sea.
First Vessel Propelled by Steam to
Cross the Atlantic Ocean.

lno TeCeub trluupnS VI tuo LuCduld
and Campania in ocean navigation,
and the interest which centers around
the new ships now being built for the
American Line, by the Cramps, serve
to show the great advance made in
ocean steam navigation since the first
vessel propelled by steam crossed the
Atlantic. In 1918 some wealthy citi-
zens of Savannah, Ca, conceived the
idea that steam on the ocean could be
made successful, and gave orders to
firm in New York to construct for them
vessel of about three hundred tons,
with which to make the experiment.
Although there were no telegraphs,
and but few newspapers in those days,
the construction of this little pioneer
vessel was watched with a great deal
of interest, and caused endless specula-
ton, finding but few who believed it
would meet with any measure of sue
cess, but many who freely predicted it
would not live cut of sight of land, or
if it did continue to float it would not
be able to make any headway against
the ocean winds. Its projectors and
builders, however, retained their faith,
and at last it was completed and ready
to make its trial trip. 1t was named
Savannah, )" after the city of its own
ers, and its first voyage was to be from
New York to the beautiful city of
Georgia. She was placed under the
command of Capt. Stevens Rogers,
former U. s. naval officer. In March,
1919, she sailed on her initial trip,
reaching Savannah after pleasant and
rapid voyage, for those days. Her ap-
pearance at the port of her destination
occassioned great excitement, and she
was welcomed by the firing of cannon
and display of bunting in every part
of the city. She was an object Of won
der to the whites and of superstitious
terror to the negroes. After remaining
a few days at Savannah, she proceeded
to Charleston, s. c., where she was
greeted with the same curiosity and in
terest. On her return trip to Savannah
she had as guest of honor Jas. Monroe,
then President. The President express
ed himself as highly delighted at his
experience and at the action of this
new motive power, and predicted that
steam would soon revolutionize ocean
traffic.
On May 20 the Savannah sailed di-
rect for Liverpool, reaching that port
after voyage of twenty two days, u.s.
ing her sails part of the way. When
she approached Cape Fear, under steam,
the officers of the signal station thought
it was a vessel on fire, and SO signaled
the Admiral in command at Cork. The
Admiral promptly dispatched fast
sailing cutter to her relief, but great
was the astonishment of the officers
of the relieving vessel when they found
themselves unable to overhaul a vessel
sailing under "bare poles" Several
guns were fired to attract the attention
of the strange craft, and finally the Sa-
vannah stopped her engines and per-
mitted the cutter to come alongside.
The British officers were taken on board
and shown the engines and other ap-
pointments, they expressing their great
wonder and delight. The appearance
of the Savannah at Liverpool excited
not only great interest and curiosity,
but great deal of alarm among the
officers of the Government.
Soon after anchor was dropped at
Liverpool a boat was seen to leave the
side of a British war ship, rowed by
sailors in uniform and commanded by
Lieutenant. On reaching the side Of
the American vessel the Lieutenant, in
a naughty voice, demanded of the first
person he saw" ""Where is your mas
terp"
~ have no master, SIR" was the
prompt reply.
'Where is your Captain, thenp"
"He is below, SIR"
Capt. Rodgers made his appearance
and asked the Englishman what he
wanted, and was greeted with the fol-
lowing supercilious reply: my COM
mander demands to know by what au-
thority you carry that pennant, sirp"
pointing with his sword to o small
coach whip pennant flying at the main
mast head. Capt. Rodgers politely,
but curtly, informed him he wore the
pennant by the authority of his Gov
eminent, which permitted him to do 80.
The irate officer said his commander
regarded it as an insult to him and to
the British navy, and commanded Capt.
Rogers to Immediately haul it down,
intimating that if the demand was not
at once complied with his sailors would
haul it down themselves. By this time
the American began to grow angry. He
at once ordered the pennant down and
replaced by the broad, blue pcnnant
used by commanders of squadrons in
the U. s. navy, and ranking with that
of the highest in the English service,
and in a voice Of thunder commanded
the engineer to get the hot water pipes
ready for service. This order took the
braggadocio out of the Britton and he
hastily gave orders to return to his own
vessel. The Savannah was not supplied
with hot water pipes, and the joke soon
leaked out, and caused such laughter