The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-08-18
CAUSED A REAL SENSATION.

She Was the First Steamship to Dare
bition of Yankee ingenuity Aroused
the Wonder of All Europe.
The honor of first navigating the
sea with steamer belongs to an Amer
lean, Colonel John Stevens of New
York Transatlantic steam navigation
was long discussed before any one com
bining sufficient skill with courage and
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 ut the city of New York by
Francis Ficket 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. 1919. bound for st Petersburg.
via Liverpool She reached the latter
port on the Goth of june. having used
steam eighteen days ont OF the twenty
six, and thus demonstrated the feasibil.
ity Of transatlantic steam navigation
As the Savannah approached Cape
Clear, on the southern coast of Ireland.
and smoke was seen to issue from her.
1t was Mt first supposed that a sailing
vessel was on fire. and one OF the king $
cutters was dispatched to her relief
But great was their wonder at their
inability. with all sail in Il fast vessel
to come up with a Ship under bare
poles After several shots were fired
from the cutter the engine was stop
ped and the surprise of her crew at
the mistake they had made. as well
as their curiosity 70 see the singular
Yankee craft. can lie easily imagined
They asked permission TO 20 on board
and were much gratilied by the inspec.
tion Of this naval novelty" Upon ap
preaching Liverpool hundreds Of peo
pie came off iu boats to see the Savan
nah ON approaching the city the ship
ping piers and roofs Of houses were
thronged with persons cheering the al
venturous craft Several naval officers
noblemcn and merchants from Lon
don came down to visit the boat and
were very curious to ascertain hel
speed. destination and other particu
lars
During the soiourn of the Savannah
at Liverpool the British public re
garded the boat with suspicion, and tho
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 tha
Jerome Bonaparte had offered a large
reward to any one who would sue
ceed In rescuing his brother Napoleon
from st. Helena, surmised that tn,
Savannah had this undertaking il
view.
The Savannah remained twenty tiy,
days at Liverpool and sailed for st Pc
tersburg on July %, getting unde
way with steam" aud "a large tleet .
vessels tn company" The boat touched
en- route at Copenhagen, where 1t eX
cited great curiosity, and also a Stock
holm, where she was visited by th'
royal family.
On the 9th Of September the steame
left Stockholm. On the 9th she reached
Kronstadt, having used steam tia
whole passage, and a few days late
reached st. Petersburg.
Here the vessel was visited by tn
Russian lord high admiral, Marcus d
Travys. and other distinguished mill
tary and naval officers. who also teste
her superior qualities by trip to Kron
stadt. The Savannah remained ut 81
petersburg untll Ocl. ~ anu lllen Se
sail on her homeward voyage Sin CON
pany with about eight sail of shipping.
She arrived AZ Savannah on Tuesday
Nov 80, aud shortly afterward wa
taken to the navy yard at Washington
The subsequent history of the Savar
nah can be tll in a few words. On az
count Of the 2rcat fire in Savannah he
owners We're compelled to sell her, an
she was purchased to run as a packe
between that city and New Yorl
whittier she was bound when she wa
lost on the south side OF Long Island.
philadelphia Press.