Norwich bulletin., 1910-11-23
EARLY STEAMERS
 RUNNING FROM NORWICH. The First Was The Fulton, Which Began on the Route in 1918.

The first steamboat to run from New London to Norwich was the Full . ton, which began on this route in March, 1S19 says the Springfield Re- publican in an illustrated article on Sound Steamers. She ran between New Haven, New London and Nor wich, connecting at New Haven with the Connecticut that ran to New York. In the year 1877 there was a. small steamboat at Norwich, built there. in fact, by Gilbert Brewster, named the John Hancock She had a small en- zine and a very primitive boiler, and it is not recorded that she ran on a regular route. of any length In 1877 President Monroe visited this section and about the time he was expected to arrive at New London the little John Hancock took 50 persons from Norwich there to greet him. When the steamer was approaching New London the back end of the boiler blew out, but as all of the passengers were in the bow, no one was injured badly. One man was slightly scalded by escaping steam. In 1892 the Flush ing, 98 feet long and owned by Jona- than Peck, was on the route between Norwich and New York. In 1885 the Henry Eclfert and General Jackson were running on this route.
 Competition was especially sharp on the Norwich route in the years of 1S40-42 between Captain Sanford s Charter Oak and Commodore Wander bilts Cleopatra, and later, the Wor- cester, which was built in 1S42. Final ly Vanderbilt and Sanford formed a combination and came into control of lines farther west on the Sound They desired to control the Norwich busi- ness, taking over the steamer Nor wich and connecting with the Nor wich and Worcester railroad, which had been operated in 1S40. This rail- . .g- Point, seven miles below Norwich on the Thames river. Commodore Van derbilt had the only connection with this railroad from 1S42 to 1S48, when Daniel Drew entered the field with the nickerbOcker.
 The Norwich route received a val. uable addition in 1846, when the Att lantic was completed by Bishop & Simonson of New York and vas placed on the route by the Norwich and New London Steamboat Co. She was the first boat on the Sound to bs illuminated by gas, which was manu factured on board She was an able boat, but her career was short. She was lost on the rocks of Fishers Island in furious gale at 4.30 o'clock on the morning of Nov. 27. 1846, only about three months after she was put into commission. Her commander, Captain Dustan, and about 5 persons were drowned. The primary cause of the disaster was the breaking of the main steam pipe leaving her helpless in the heavy sea,
 During the short time the Atlantic was running to the Thames river, the steamer Oregon was on the Seoning ton line, and they had several trials of speed. The two boats were evenly matched, being of about the same size and having engines of equal power The Oregon was owned at this time by George Law, for whom she was built in 1S45. Law placed her with Two years later she was sold to Dan iel Drew, who made her one of the Peoples line fleet on the Hudson riv CT. On Sept. 3, 1S46. George Law issued the following challenge in be- half of his boat, the Oregon:
 Friends of the Atlantic have claimed that she was faster than the Oregon and that they were ready to back their opinion and that if I of fered a bet 1t would be taken up be- fore it was dry. For the purpose of testing their statements and their con- fidence In the speed of the Atlantic, I now offer to back the Oregon against the Atlantic to run from New York to the lighthouse at Stratford for 5000 to be run any day this week, two days notice to be given, and the money to be deposited if this notice should be ac- cepted. I will then show the public that have kept my promise never to allow the Oregon to race on her regular trips to Stonington"
 The friends of the Atlantic speed fly accepted Laws challenge, and it was arranged that the rab:e was to be run during the month of December, without passengers but as the Allan tic was lost on Nov. 27 the bets were cancelled.