Evening star., 1919-05-11

10 utt'Hs tndl tnlS spring ShOulQ
witness the first transatlantic
voyage in an airplane as a sort OF
centennial memorial OF the first
transatlantic voyage in a steamboat
since exactly one hundred years ago
this month the first trip made across
the ocean in a boat propelled by
steam was made by American seamen.
The ship which thus opened a new
era in ocean travelling was full rig
ged sailing vessel of $50 tons burden,
built at Corlears Hook. New York. in
the year 1918, After being rugged
with sails. the plans of the owners
were changed and she was, in addi-
tion. fitted with a 90-horsepower en-
gine and paddle side wheels. When
on the ways at New York she was in
spected by Capt. Moses Rogers, who
had been associated with Fulton and
stevens in their early steamboat ex-
periments He induced some friends.
members of shipping firm in Savan-
nah. Ca. to purchase the ship and
equip her for ocean travel. 1t is ow-
ing to this incident that a southern
city, instead of New York, should have
the honor of launching her upon the
Grst transatlantic steam voyage. and
that she received the name of the
Savannah.
AS far back as 1891 patents for
steamboats, had been issued and
number of river steamboats, were in
yarinnc nf world hv
1900. In 1903 the first steam vessel to
brave the perils of an ocean voyage
was constructed. and this boat. the
Phoenix. built by Robert l.. Stevens.
went from New York to Philadelphia,
navigating the Atlantic from Sandy
Hook to Cape May. Incidentally. Capt.
Rogers. who later was captain of the
Savannah on the first trip across the
Atlantic. commanded the Phoenix
during this trip.
The application of power to paddles
or paddle wheels attached to ships
was not a new idea when these exper-
iments took place. Indeed as far back
as the Punic war. the Romans trans
ferred an army to Sicily upon ves-
sells moved by wheels that were ope-
rated by oxen but the application of
steam to the propulsion of vessels
was still at this time in a doubtful
state, awaiting the development Of
the steam engine.
1t is not strange then that many
vexing delays in the outfitting of the
Savannah occurred. Patrons" had to
be made for most Of the parts and
many were the Disbursements that
ensued. ]. Elfreth Watkins. curator
of the section Of transportation and
engineering at the National Museum
In 1880, collected for this institution
all the material extant upon this
voyage. He discovered not many years
ago copy of the original record Of
expenses OF this outfitting. Some of
the items are as follows:
STEAM SHIP OF SAVANNAH, DR..
To paid Enos Bonnel 8 dollars for
carting 4 cillcnder from, E. Town. $500
To bosrng a 20 inch cnlender. 8 feet
inches into 1t and 1t proved bad,
and casting of sinking head. 10000
To two pounds Of candles at Is. Sd. 40
To one peston rod at 40 lbs. before
ii was turned. at Is. Cd. 1Sc. ..... 1881
To lengthening the peston rod with
90 pounds of iron after 1t was part
turned there being 4 n,istake in
the draft that Mr. Dodd submitted
to me. $e2s7,s Observation-Disclosures. 22.s7ls
Cne large pillow block patron. ....... 1000
One brass patron for do............ $50
To morticeing socket for peston. n...... 800
Aultering the boults for water wheel
atmeS ............... ............... lVW
8 large screw boults for to hold down
pedesteils ..............,...... 16.UO
To !, chaldron OF Goals to work for
the ship in N. Y...............,. 8.26
To screw swifels for water wheel
arms At $40. Observation-Disclosures. 5000
X X X X
At last, however, the machinery was
all installed, several "chaldrons" of
coal were purchased, the last casting