Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-09-30
WHEN THE SAVANNAH
CROSSED THE ATLANTIC
Story Recalled by the Full.
ton Celebration
English Thought Vessel
Part of a Scheme to
Liberate Napoleon

Savannah Ca, September 90
The Hudson-Fulton celebration re-
calls the incidents connected with the
first crossing Of the ocean by a steam
vessel. 1t had been the dream of Full
ton to apply his new invention to
ocean navigation. During the war of
1872 he proposed to build a steam war
vessel for the government, but it was
too daring a venture for the slow
coaches of the Madison administra-
ton. 1t was in 1919 that the Savan-
nah, steam craft built in New York
for some enterprising citizens of Sa-
vannah, Ga, crossed the Atlantic and
gave England the scare of her life
the rumor gaining currency that the
ship was designed to effect the escape
of Napoleon from ST. Helena. The
bare thought of such a thing at that
time was enough to set not only Great
Britain to shaking in her boots, but
to put all the monarchies of Europe
a-tremble. The steamer made her
trial trip first to Savannah, having as
a passenger from Charleston James
Monroe, then president of the United
States. 1t was then determined to at
tempt to cross the ocean.
The vessel was under the command
of Capt. Stevens Rogers, a former
| naval officer. A number of amusing
| incidents occurred during the visit of
the ship to the countries on the other
| side AS the Savannah approached the
Irish ocast the black smoke issuing
from her tunnels was discovered by
| the officers of the signal station at
Fastnet Rock, and information was
sent that a vessel on fire was APP
| preaching. The admiral in command
| sent fast cutter we'll manned to the
relief of the burning ship, but great
was the wonder of those on board at
their total inability, under all sail
and with a good breeze, to overhaul
a vessel under bare poles. Several
shots were fired by the cutter to at
tract the attention of the supposed
burning vessel. and after Capt. Rog-
ers had had his fun over the bewil-
| derment of the English officers his en-
| gines were stopped and the British
cutter permitted to come alongside.
Soon after the Savannah dropped
| her anchor in the harbor of Liverpool
a boat manned by sailors in the uni
form of the British navy and COM
manded by young lieutenant came
| alongside. In the tone then usually
employed by British naval officers in
addressing Americans, the young lieu
! tenant haughtily demanded of Capt
Rogers by what authority he carried
the pennant flying at the mainmast
head. The captain quietly replied
that it was by the authority of his
government. The officer still using
his supercilious tone, said his COM
mander considered it an insult and
I ordered the American to haul it down.
intimating that if it were not speedily
done his sailors would pull it down
This fired the Yankee, and turning to
his officer of the deck he instructed
him to take down the pennant and
| hoist in it's stead the broad blue pen
nant of commander of a squadron
and then in a loud tone ordered the
engineer to get the hot-water pipes
ready" This was enough for the
young Englishman, and he quickly
left the Yankee vessel.
The Savannah visited France, Swe-
den, and st. Petersburg, but every
where was followed at a distance by
several British war vessels, which
were ordered to keep her in sight and
find out what deviltry she was up to
Until Napoleon died on his lonely
| rock England was in constant dread
| lest some Yankee craft would steal
him away and was ever on the watch
to prevent the success of any such at
| tempt.