The sun., 1918-09-05
THE FIRST SHIP TO USE STEAM ON A
VOYAGE TO EUROPE. '
The Her Engines Going Only -Four and Half Hours
-She Startled British Shipping Hundred Years Ago.
Trom the smsrpsney Fleet NsVs

'ncv Fteet NtOG
| 20 feet beam and 1871 feet depth. on
her trial trip in New York Bay In
March, 1919, she employed a steam
pressure of two pounds. while the esti-
mated pressure was 10 pounds, The
trial trip. however, was declared salts
factory.
On March 20. INA she sailed for
Atlanta, but did not ne her engines
until April 2, when her wheels were
placed on the paddle shafts. During
the remainder Of the trip the paddles
were shipped and unshipped at inter-
walls until the conclusion Of the voyage
on April 8. This voyage attracted 30
much attention that President Monroe
visited the ship while she lay at
Charleston, 8. c. On May "a OF that
year the Savannah sailed for LIVER
pool, carrying neither passengers nor
cargo.
On this first voyage from New York
to Savannah the ships engines were
running only four and a half hours
during the 207 hours required for the
trip.
The Savannah reached the coast of
Ireland on June II and was pursued
the captain of which thought the Sa-
vannah was on fire. Three days later
the steamship arrived of Liverpool.
According to record kept by Rogers,
who was captain Of the ship, steam
was raised six times on the voyage
and the engines were run for a total
Of eighty hours. This meagre use OF
the engines was explained on the
grounds that the vessel carried an in
sufficient supply Of fuel. 1t is re-
corded that when the Savannah
steamed up the Mersey thousands OF
persons gathered to witness her ar
rival. Some of them could hardly be-
lieve their eyes, so often had this voy-
age been described as impossible Of
accomplishment
A British sloop of war came along
side the Savannah as she lay in the
Mersey and her commander hailed the
sailing master of the American steam
ship, demanding that the captain be
called. The British commander there
upon pointed to the ships American
pennant and said, why do you wear
that pennant, sir?''
Because my country allows me to.
SIR"
MY commander thinks it was done
to insult him." said the Britisher. land
II you don't take it down he will send
a force that will do it."
Captain Rogers then exclaimed to
the engineer. Get the hot water en-
gine ready"
There was MOI such machine on
board. but the order had the required
effect and the British man-of-war
sheered off.
The Savannah later sailed for st.
Petersburg and called at Elsinore and
Stockholm. This voyage lasted thirty
three days. on ten OF which the YES
sci was under steam. and twice the
machinery was run for a spell OF fifty
two hours.
The homeward voyage was made In
the stormy months Of October and
November. The paddles were un-
shipped throughout that voyage and
were not again used until November
go, when the steamboat arrived at Sa-
vannah. the ocean journey having
been made under sail only.
The cost Of purchasing 1and fitting
out the steamboat for this expert
mental voyage was $4,000.
The Savannah ended her days as a
sailing vessel, her engines having been
removed after her return to New
York. In 1929. as one writer says.
"she left her bones on the shores OF
Long Island"