The daily Alaskan., 1916-10-13
MAKES
 RECORD VOYAGE
Photo by American Press Association.

The honor of first navigating the sea with n steamer belongs to an Amer. lcan. Colonel John Stevens of New York. Transatlantic steam navigation was long discussed before any one com. binlng sufficient skill with courage and a spirit of adventure made the bold attempt.
 The London Times in Its issue of May II. 1919, thus announced the ex- pected event: Great Experimental new steam vessel of 300 tons has been built in New York for the express pur- pose of carrying passengers across the Atlantic. She Is to come to Liverpool direct"
 On the very day that this brief notice appeared the vessel referred to was visited by the president of the United States and suit and made a short trial trip previous to her depar- ture on the hazardous voyage.
 This steamer, named the Savannah, the first that crossed any of the oceans, was built at the city of New York by Francis Picket for Daniel Dodd- She was launched on the 23d of August, 1918. She could carry only seventy | five tons of coal and twenty-five cords of wood. The Savannah sailed from the city of Savannah. Ga, on the 25th of May. 1S19 bound for St. Petersburg, via Liverpool. She reached the latter 1 port on the 20th of June, having used steam eighteen days out of the twenty six, and thus demonstrated the feastbil' 1 ity of transatlantic steam navigation.
 As the Savannah approached Cape 1 Clear. on the southern coast of Ireland, and smoke was seen to issue from her, it was at first supposed that sailing vessel was on fire. and one of the kings cutters was dispatched to her relief. l But great was their wonder at their inability, with all sail in a fast vessel, ! to come up with a ship under bare l poles. After several shots were fired from the cutter the engine was stop ! ned and the surprise of her crew at the mistake they had made. as well as their curiosity to see the singular Yankee craft. can be easily imaginAL. They asked permission to go on board and were much gratifed by the inspec- tion of this naval novelty" Upon ap- proaching Liverpool hundreds of peo, pIe came off in boats to see the Savan. nah On approaching the city the ship ping nicrs and roofs Of houses were thronged with persons cheering the ad. venturous craft. Several naval officers noblemcn and merchants from Lon dcn came down to visit the boat and were very curious to ascertain her specd. destination and other particu lars.
 During the sOtourn of the Savannah at Liverpool the British public re- garded the boat with suspicion, and the newspapers of the day suggested the idea that this steam operation may be in some manner connected with the ambitious views of the United States. One journal recalling the fact that Jerome Eoaa"arte had offered a large reward to any one who would sue. ceed in resnuiug his brother Napoleon from St. Helena. surmised that the Savannah had this undertaking in view
 The Savannah remained twenty-five days at Liverpool and sailed for St. Pe tersburg on July %, getting under way with steam" and "a large fleet Of vessels in company" The boat touched en route at Copenhagen, where 1t ex, cited great curiosity, and also at Stock holm. where she was visited by the royal family.
 On the 9th of September the steamer left Stockholm. On the 9th she reached Kronstadt, having used steam the whole passage, and few days later reached St. Petersburg.
 Here the vessel was visited by the Russian lord high admiral, Marcus de Travys, and other distinguished mill, ] tary and naval officers, who also tested her superior qualities by trip to Kron stadt. The Savannah remained at St Petersburg until Oct. 10 and then sci sail on her homeward voyage "in com pany with about eight sail of shipping. She arrived at Savannah on Tuesday \ Nov. 30. and shortly afterward was taken to the navy yard at Washington. The subsequent history of the Savan , nah can be,told ina few words Qn-0c