USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 41
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CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION TO MACON
On the 6th of October, 1843, the mayor and aldermen as well as the citizens of Savannah, were invited to Macon to attend a festival there given to celebrate the completion of the Central Railroad to that eity. A committee of the Savannah council attended. This was what the Macon Telegraph of the 21st of May, 1839, had to say about Savannah's part in the completion of the road: "After a long and almost fatal slumber old Yamacraw has at length put out her front, determined to go ahead. She had slumbered so long it was ahnost feared by her friends they might as well provoke the river to run up stream as to arouse her into action. * * But Savannah once aroused it requires no mighty effort to keep her on the qui rire. Since the commencement of this gigantie Central Railroad other works, scareely less imposing, have been accomplished. are .in progress, or under consideration. She has erected a number of splendid public buildings, she has put several additional steam mills in operation, she has established various steam packet lines. she proposes to eonstruet one expensive bridge across the Savannah river, ete., etc. Had she shown the same spirit, possessed the same enterprise, twenty years ago, she would now have been at the very head of Southern Cities."
CONNECTING SAVANNAHI WITH AUGUSTI
The project for connecting Savannah with Macon by railroad hav- ing proved to be popular and suceessful, the next step proposed was to connect Savannah with Augusta in the same way. That design was set on foot by aetion of the city council of Savannah on the 6th of June, 1839, in giving to Mayor Robert M. Charlton power to confer with the mayor of Augusta as to the propriety of subscribing for stoek in the Waynesborough Railroad, but that action was taken only after a favor- able consideration of the matter by the citizens of Savannah in public meeting. The city council of Augusta was requested to unite with Savan- nah in a memorial to the legislature asking the state for a loan to each city of $100,000 to be invested in the proposed railroad, and to that proposition Augusta consented with the understanding that no invest- inent should be made by her unless by consent of her council, but Savan- nah, in proposing it, demanded that the Chatham county representa- tives prepare the bill so as to provide that the serip could only be used for that one purpose. and that should either city refuse to perfect or to commence the proposed work within a time limited it should forfeit its right to use the serip which in that case should be for the use of the city not so in default.
OCMULGEE AND FLINT RIVER RAILROAD
Late in the year 1842 Savannah's eitizens recommended that the council extend its help to the Oenmulgee & Flint River Railroad to the extent of indorsing that company's note for $5,000. That was done, and another meeting of citizens was held in October at which the city
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was urged to subscribe for $50,000 of the stock of the Monroe Railroad and Banking Company, to be paid in bonds of Savannah. The road so named was intended to connect the Central Railroad with the Western & Atlantic, known as the Georgia State Railroad, giving Savannah, through the Central, uninterrupted communication to the Tennessee river. The result was that an ordinance was passed anthorizing the issue of bonds to the amount of $50,000 to aid said railroad. In November, 1843, it was reported to council that the Monroe Railroad had been built to Griffin, sixty-one miles and that forty-one miles more would make it connect with the Western & Atlantic at Whitehall. Then it was stated that a branch road from Rome to the State road, about seventeen miles long, was in process of construction, then reaching a point seventeen miles above the terminus of the State road at the Etowaht river. The report stated that "when the State road is extended through this seven- teen miles the Rome road will be put in operation, and this will put Savannah within sixty miles of the Tennessee river. A fair prospect is opened up of a communication with the great West, the great object of our hopes, which is to crown our labors with complete sueeess. It be- eomes the city to preserve her credit by the imposition of the necessary taxation and her citizens to bear these burdens with cheerfulness under the assurance that they are but temporary. and that they have been created for the wise purpose of increasing in the end their wealth, pros- perity and happiness, and of elevating the city of their affections to the position of greatness and renown which nature intended her to fill."
In 1843 the Flint & Ocmulgee- River Railroad proposed to mort- gage its road and pledge its receipts to the city of Savannah to secure the payment of bonds amounting to $100,000 which Savannah was asked to guarantee, that amount to be used to complete the road; but couneil refused to grant the request after hearing the report of a committee appointed December 14th of that year.
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THE MONROE RAILROAD
In 1845 the Monroe Railroad was levied on and was advertised to be sold in order to satisfy executions against it to the extent of $135.000: and the representative of Savannah, Mr. L. O, Reynolds, reported on the 15th of May, that it had been decided to let the sale take place for the purpose of re-organization which meant the loss of Savannah's $50.000, or as Mr. Reynolds stated it, "an entire sacrifice of the amount paid by the city."
STATUS OF RAILROADS IN 1842
While on the subject of the interest of Savannah in railroads, the following paragraph from the report of ex-governor Wilson Lumpkin, agent of the Western & Atlantie Railroad, to the legislature of Georgia, dated November 4, 1842, may be of interest to the reader:
"Notwithstanding the extraordinary times through which we have passed, and the embarrassments thereby brought upon railroad com- panies, in common with the rest of the community. nevertheless, the companies most intimately connected with our state enterprise have still
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persevered and progressed. In the course of twelve months, it is claimed that the Central and Monroe railroads will be in complete operation, and the fifty-two miles of the eastern portion of the Western & Atlantic Railroad being in operation, will give to our people a continuous line of railroad of 350 miles, commencing at our largest sea port, Savannah, and running diagonally through the state to the rich and beautiful valleys of northwestern Georgia. The fifty-two miles of the State Road being in operation, will be able to sustain itself under proper management, as soon as it is intersected by a road from the Atlantic. The Central and Monroe Railroads are entitled to all the aid and encouragement which the State may be able to extend them. The State now has a direct interest in their speedy completion. And the Georgia Railroad will cer- tainly be completed at a day not far distant. The importance of that work, its present progress, and the enterprise and capital enlisted in its accomplishment, insures its speedy success. Of the speedy and ultimate completion of these roads I do not entertain a doubt. It is true that the state, as well as private stockholders in such works. is at this time severely pressed, and a state of despondeney overspreads the minds of many of our most valuable citizens. Nevertheless, the state of our common coun- try will be permanently benefited and elevated in character by the pres- ent sacrifices of our enterprising and patriotic citizens. The name of Gordon, in connection with the Central Railroad, will live in honor on the pages of Georgia's history so long as the English language shall be read; and the patriotie and successful exertions of Dearing and Griffin, in accomplishing so much in carrying forward the Georgia and Monroe Railroads, will survive any detraction from their efficient services in con- nection with these works."
MEMORIAL TO W. W. GORDON
The reference in the foregoing to the services of William Washington Gordon in connection with the successful enterprise of the Central Railroad of Georgia, now known as the "Central of Georgia Railway." furnishes a fit occasion for the recital of the facts as to the building of a monument in memory of that gentleman by the company which he so faithfully served. Having determined, though tardily. to erect such a monument, the city council, on the 21st of December. 1881. on appeal from the dircetors, granted to the Central Railroad and Banking Com- pany of Georgia permission "to creet in the center of Wright square a memorial monument to the late William W. Gordon, first President of that Company." The monument stands on the very spot where history records the body of the great Indian Chief Tomo-chi-chi, friend of Oglethorpe and of Georgia, was interred on the 5th of October, 1739.
The monument is one of beauty, and is greatly admired by visitors . to our "forest city." It was placed in position in 1883, and on the south side a panel bears this inscription: "In Memory of William Washington Gordon. Born June 17, 1790. Died March 20. 1842.
"The Pioneer in works of internal improvement in his native State. and President of the Central Railroad and Banking Company of Georgia. to which he gave his time, his talents, and, finally, his life."
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Shortly after the death of Mr. Gordon his services in connection with the road were thus referred to by Chief Engineer L. O. Reynolds in his report for the year 1842: "The steadiness and determination with which he pursued the great object of benefiting his native state and this City, and promoting their prosperity, ought to give his name a place among the most distinguished of public benefactors. It was an object which was remembered in his latest aspirations to heaven, but a few moments before he yielded up his spirit to Him who gave it."
THE SAVANNAH HOSPITAL
Among the public buildings referred to as having been built in Savannah about this time by the Macon Telegraph, quoted a little farther back, was the Savannah Poor House and Hospital, now known as the Savannah Hospital. As early as 1795, it was deemed necessary that a hospital should be built in the city, and a lottery was authorized to raise the means for such an institution. In the month of February, 1803, commissioners were appointed by the justices of the inferior court to build a Seaman's Hospital and Poor House on a lot granted by council, and in 1805 the city donated the sun of $3,000, with which to purchase a building. The mayor and one alderman were appointed to attend to that business, and the money was spent in the purchase of a house from Dr. Lemuel Kolloek. A petition was sent to the legis- lature in 1809, signed by council, asking for a charter for the hospital, and it is known that in the year 1811, as many as 240 persons were in- mates or treated as patients, and that of the total number "131 were cured, S were taken out by the collector [of the port], 5 relieved. 5 left the hospital, 29 remained at the close of the year, 19 were out-of-door pa- tients, and 43 died."
Authority was given by the legislature in 1815 for three lotteries for the benefit of the hospital. In 1817 the managers, through Mr. L. C. Dunning, their chairman, asked for aid to build a new edifice, and the appeal brought a contribution from the city of $4,000.
In 1791, lots thirty-three and thirty-four, Washington ward on Broughton street, were granted to a hospital by an ordinance dated January 12th, and those lots were held until March 10, 1817, when coun- eil authorized the president and managers of the poor house and hospital to sell them so as to increase the fund for putting up a new building. The managers, in 1818, asked the city to grant to them certain lots in Brown ward. That was in January. In June the Georgia Medical Society asked council to set apart five aeres of land for building an institution of the kind under consideration, specifying a spot either near the Fair Lawn traet (now the location of the East Broad Street Colored School) or in the western part of the city, and three aldermen were appointed to act with the committee of the society in choosing a . site which it was understood the city would pay for. The persons so authorized reported on the 29th, that they had selected a site on which the hospital was finally built, and from that time the history of the institution was marked with a variety of misfortunes. The building was erected in 1819, and "in 1852 in order to carry out the plan of
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Forsyth ward it became necessary to exchange some land for other. As a result, on May 6, an ordinance was passed to exchange certain parts of the public domain then occupied by the Savannah Poor House and Hospital for an equivalent on certain conditions. Mayor Arnold was authorized to execute a conveyance to the Poor House and Hospital of the domain between Gaston street on the north, and Huntingdon on the south, Abercorn on the east and Drayton on the west, in con- sideration of the relinquishment of all and every claim by it to any por- tion of the public property or domain of the city of Savannah, and on the express condition that the lands therein before described and directed to be conveyed should never be improved or used for the purpose of pecuniary profit, or for any other purpose than the care and comfort of the poor and siek according to the charitable intentions of the founders of the Poor House and Hospital, and on the further condition that the said land should not be in any manner subject to the debts contracts or engagements of the said Savannah Poor House and Hos- pital, but in case that corporation should at any time attempt to sell or in any way enenmber the said lands, or in case of the insolvency or dissolution of the said corporation, the said land and all the improve- ments thereon should at once revert to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah."
The institution was incorporated in 1835, and in 1877 the buildings were re-modeled so as to make an almost new affair, and it is managed entirely by its directors, relying for its support mainly on the interest upon its investments, but receiving annual appropriations from the city of Savannah and Chatham county.
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CHAPTER XXVI THE "PULASKI" DISASTER
NEWSPAPER MENTION OF BOAT-STATEMENTS BY FRANCIS SORREL, AGENT -ADVERTISING THE FATAL TRIP -- FIRST NEWS OF DISASTER-POEM ON THE LOST "PULASKI. "'
The summer of 1838 had scarcely begun when Savannah, in com- mon with other communities of the South, was called upon to mourn over the results of one of the greatest disasters she has ever known. The recent sinking of the new and powerful steamship "Titanic," is fresh in the minds of the people of all the world, and the loss of life by her destruction brought pain and sorrow to the whole world because of the fact that her passenger list included citizens of prominence, not from one particular locality. but from many places. The loss of the steamer "Pulaski," in June. 1838, was a disaster which, though small in com- parison with the destruction of life by the sinking of the " Titanic," taken in connection with the percentage of loss of life of Savannah citizens. caused a greater degrec of mourning among our own people than can be shown by any single city whose citizens went down in the latter.
NEWSPAPER MENTION OF BOAT
The steamer "Pulaski" was mentioned several times during the latter part of 1837 by the Savannah Georgian when news was printed in that paper. as having been received through the arrival at Charleston of that vessel from Baltimore. In the shipping news of that paper on Monday, February 26. 1838, it was announced that the "Pulaski" had arrived at Savannah two days before. in eight hours, and in the editorial column this item appeared: "By the steamer 'Pulaski.' Capt. Dubois, we on Saturday afternoon received Charleston papers of that morning." Extraets are subjoined.
"Frem a passenger we learn that the boat left the wharf at 9 o'clock precisely-passed the outer buoy at 12 minutes before 10-lost sight of the light ( the atmosphere being smoky) at 25 minutes before 11 o'clock-made Tybee light ten minutes before 3, and passed the bar at five minutes past 3 o'clock, and reached the city quarter before 5; making seven hours and three-quarters from Charleston to Savannah. We also learn that but for the strong current in our river the boat would have reached the city half an hour earlier."
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The next we hear of that new steamer is through the following, taken from the Georgian of March 1, 1838: "We are rejoiced to learn from the following communication that this splendid steam packet, identified in name, as her owners are in affection and in interest, with our soil, is not to leave our waters except to bear from or to onr wharves the traveler for pleasure or for business. As a regular packet between this city and New York, via Charleston, indueements will be held out in her superior accommodations to the citizen or stranger, which must make them prefer a conveyance in which speed and comfort are com- bined. Her recent voyage from Charleston evinces her power in the water, while a visit to the steamer will convince all of the superiority of her accommodations.
"We cherish this noble steamboat as a standard of that spirit which in 'enterprises of great pith and moment' will not 'lose the name of action,' but increase nutil Savannah in her prosperous state -- her great railroad, and her splended steam vessels. will silence the idle taunts of jealous scribblers. As the "Pulaski" will not probably commence her trips to New York until April. we suggest, for the consideration of the directors, a trip or more to Charleston or elsewhere, on a pleasure ex- cursion, in which we expect many would participate."
"The long mooted question of the future destiny of this splendid steam packet has been finally settled. The directors, with patriotism worthy of citizens of Savannah, have assumed the responsibility en- trusted to them by the stockholders of running the boat and employing her according to the letter and spirit of the act of incorporation, as a means of communication between this eity. Charleston, and New York. With our railroad on one hand. and steam packets on the other, who shall fix the limit to the rapid increase of our beautiful city in popu- lation, and in wealth ? To.the directors we would say, well done! 'All's well that ends well.' "'
The next time the steamer is mentioned is in an advertisement of the "agent and treasurer of the Sav. and Charleston Steam Packet Company." . Francis Sorrel, in the newspaper of March 12th, announeed that she would leave Savannah "on the 14th, at 9 o'clock a. m. pre- cisely and return the day after, or remain in Charleston one day." provided "a sufficient number of passengers offer:" and the shipping news next day recorded as having departed "Steamboat Pulaski, Dn- bois, Charleston." She returned to Savannah on Friday. the 16th, in seven hours. After making several round trips to Charleston, in the nature of excursions, the company determined to place her regularly on the line from Savannah to Baltimore, including the stop at Charles- ton, and we take the following from the announcement to that effect as advertised in the Georgian, beginning April 10. 1838: "For Charles- ton and Baltimore. 'Steamer Pulaski,' Capt. Dubois.
"For the greater convenience and despatch of travellers going north and sonth. the Savannah and Charleston Steam Packet Company have built at Baltimore a splendid Steamer called the .Pulaski.' No ex- pense has been spared to have a vessel to answer the purpose she is intended to accomplish. Her engine is one of the best ever made in
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this Country, of 225 horse-power : her boilers are of the best copper, and of great strength. She has ample accommodations, and everything that is requisite for the comfort of passengers. Her qualities as a sea vessel. for ease, safety. and speed, are superior to any steamer that ever floated on the American waters. This superb steamer will begin her regular trips to Baltimore, touching at Charleston, on Wednesday, 2d day of May next, and on every other Wednesday thereafter, from Baltimore and from Savannah. The 'Pulaski' will run as follows"- then is given the schedule up to the 18th of July when she was to leave Baltimore coming south, and ending with the words "and so on during the season." The schedule was strictly adhered to until Wednesday, the 13th of June. 1838. when she departed from Savannah in the afternoon, arrived at Charleston on time, took on passengers and left for Baltimore, which place she never reached, for reasons which will be shortly given.
STATEMENTS BY FRANCIS SORREL, AGENT .
On the 14th of May a communication signed by Mr. Francis Sorrel. agent of the "Pulaski," appeared. in which he begged leave to assure the public, on the statement of Captain Dubois and several of the passengers who were on board the "Pulaski." that during the whole passage [from Baltimore to Savannah] the steam was never raised above twenty-six inches, and more frequently not above sixteen to nineteen inches, whereas she could with the greatest safety carry thirty inches.
* * * The directors are unwilling that the . Pulaski' should ever be used as a race boat, with passengers on board."
He went on to say in regard to the rivalry between the owners of the "Georgia" and those of the "Pulaski"; "It will be borne in mind that the present position of the two boats before the public was not sought by the Savannah and Charleston Steam Packet Co. * * It must be obvious to all that the course pursued by the owners of the 'Georgia' is to compel all other boats to subserve the interest of their monopoly to the Chesapeake Bay. It would be needless for the owners of the 'Pulaski' to change her day of departure, which they would do at onee, and thus remove every apprehension as to any race being run: but it is known on good authority that the agent at Charleston has positive instructions to alter the day for the 'Georgia' to any day and hour that may be fixed upon for the 'Pulaski.' Further comments are unnecessary .- Francis Sorrel, Agent."
This matter was further written up by the Georgian on the 19th of May when a long editorial appeared, showing the determination of the owners of the "'Georgia" to keep up the fight on the "Pulaski." The article is too long to be reproduced, but it began with the statement : "The owners of the 'Georgia' steam packet have greatly mistaken their own interest in ordering that boat to start, as advertised, on ' the same day and honr with the " .Pulaski.'" It is a contempt of public opinion which the public will resent, for there is no blinking the matter: it is well known that the object is monopoly. * * The contest between the two boats has not been, and is not, sought by the owners of the
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'Pulaski.' As appears by their publieation in the Courier, were they to eliange the day for the departure of their boat, the orders are for the 'Georgia' to alter hier day accordingly, to ensure the race."
On the 28th of May, the Georgian announced that " The steam packet 'Georgia' will not hereafter leave Charleston at the same hour with the 'Pulaski,' but in the afternoon. The advertisement published in our columns speaks of the 'superior speed of the Georgia.' We doubt it. and were the owners of the 'Pulaski' willing to endanger the lives of the officers and crew for a temporary gratification, we doubt not a purse could soon be made up to test the 'superiority.' But other motives actuate thiem, and she will continue to run as a safe paeket for the eon- venience of the public."
In the same issue appeared the advertisement in these words: "For Baltimore, via Charleston-Only one night at sea, and passing Cape Hatteras by day light, the new and splendid steamer . Pulaski,' Capt. Dubois, is now receiving engagements for passage to Charleston and Baltimore. She will leave here precisely at 6 o'clock on WEDNESDAY MORNING, 30th inst.
"Slave passengers must be eleared out tomorrow. May 28 .- FRAN- CIS SORREL, Agent.
It happened that on the 30th of May the tide made it necessary for the "Pulaski" to "drop down below the wrecks previous to her time of departure" and that the steamboat Florida had to be engaged to take the passengers down in order to board the "Pulaski" there; and that was the last successful trip of the ill-fated steamer. She reached Baltimore on Saturday, June 4th, making the run from Charleston in 48 hours. On the return trip they reached Savannah June 10th, making Charleston from Baltimore in 4616 hours and running from Charleston to Savannah in 7 hours.
ADVERTISING THE FATAL TRIP
The advertisement of the leaving for the north on the 13th of June- her fatal trip-contained the statement of her being "only one night at sea," coupled with the announcement that persons could secure "passage to Charleston and Baltimore, and also to Philadelphia, as an arrange- ment has been made with the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail Road Company to carry passengers of this boat in the cars that leave Baltimore only at half past six and half past nine in the morning, and arrives at Philadelphia in six hours."
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