[[LP01732] Sun (M), 1868-03-24, p. 1:3]
[Reported for the Baltimore Sun]
About 9 o’clock yesterday [1868-03-23] morning the steamship Baltimore, the pioneer in the new line between Bremen and Baltimore, was announced in the river, and soon the tidings spread, creating a pleasant and congratulatory interest among all classes of the community, who had been anticipating her arrival in anxious expectation for the previous day or two. The reporter of The Sun took a tug at Fell’s Point, in company with Dr. Hunt, the boarding officer, and other customhouse officials, and boarded the Baltimore off Fort McHenry. The Baltimore presented a beautiful appearance as she entered the port with the American flag flying from the mainmast, the Bremen flag beneath, and the magnificent flag of the German Confederation at the stern, with sixty-one flags and private signals flying from her rigging. As the noble ship passed Fort McHenry she fired a salute, and another was fired as she entered the extensive new dock at Locust Point, of the south side of the harbor.
Meantime the joint committees of the city council and citizens, who had been busy with the arrangements for the proposed grand demonstration in honor of this important event in our commercial history, to take place on Thursday next, were duly on the alert, and the revenue steamer Northerner, Captain McGowan, having been tendered by Col. Webster, collector of the port, for the purpose, she at once got up steam and proceeded to Frederick street dock, in order to take the committee on board. At about 12 noon she left the wharf with the committee of the city council, Fred’k Raine, Esq., as its chairman, Hon. Mayor Banks, Messrs. Duvall and Webb, presidents of the two branches of the city council, Col. Webster, collector of the port, A. Schumacher, Esq., agent of the line; E. H. Keene, chairman of the citizens’ committee of arrangements; Gen. Van Vleit, D. Dorsey, Esq., Gen. J. S. Berry, R. Kirkland, Esq., John W. Davis, Esq., and various citizens, and at once steamed over to Locust Point, where there was already a number from the city on board the Baltimore, among them John King, Esq., vice-president of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and other officers of the railroad company, through whose agency in so large a degree has this steamship enterprise been secured to our port.
Repairing on board the Baltimore, Captain Vockler, his officers and crew, to the number of seventy-nine, all dressed in neat blue naval uniforms, met the company on the quarter deck. After the customary congratulations, F. Raine, Esq., chairman of the city council committee, addressed Captain Vockler as follows:
Captain Vockler: You see before you a joint special committee of the city council of Baltimore, accompanied by his honor the mayor, the presidents of the two branches of the city council, the collector of our port, and other distinguished citizens of Baltimore, to congratulate you as the commander of the first steamer of the new line to ply between Bremen and Baltimore upon your safe arrival on our shores. A feeling of great pride swells our hearts at beholding the realization of an enterprise which in its results must prove of the greatest advantage to the commercial intercourse between Baltimore and Bremen, between the old and new hemispheres. With railroads branching in every direction, Baltimore becomes at once a prominent station on the highway by which millions of people on both sides of the great Atlantic are interlinked. All classes of our community are rejoicing at the arrival of the first vessel of your line, and the city council, fully appreciating the magnitude of the enterprise, have unanimously adopted a resolution to render to you and your officers the hospitalities of the corporation.
It was in 1849—if I do not err—that the first steamer from the United States (the Ericsson) entered the port of Bremen, as the forerunner of the Washington and the Hermann, to open a regular steam communication between New York and Bremen. The people of Bremen celebrated the event in the most complimentary manner. Little was it thought at that time that so soon would the North German Lloyds Steamship Line be established, and that to-day thirteen first-class vessels of that line would traverse the Atlantic between Europe and America. Such, however, is the fact. That the number plying between Baltimore and Bremen soon will increase, I have no doubt. The enterprise of our merchants, the magnificent facilities offered by the great railroad which stretches from the waters of the Chesapeake to the Ohio, and has its connecting branches with all parts of our great country; the undeniable fact that our port eventually will be closer to the shores of the Pacific than even those of our sister cities; these geographical advantages of Baltimore, and the ever-ready hospitality of our citizens, of whom many are naturally related to you, will aid materially in verifying my predictions that a great future awaits our beloved city.
All hail, therefore, to all who promote and aid in developing the cosmopolitan tendency of that great civilizer commerce. Our greetings to the managers of the line, who made your vessel the pioneer of steamship communication between Bremen and Havre, Southhampton and Baltimore, and our grateful appreciation of the invaluable services rendered by Messrs. A. Schumacher and J. W. Garrett in directing the “Baltimore” and the “Berlin” to our port.
Once more, Captain Vockler, I tender you, in the name of the corporation of Baltimore, to you and your officers, the hospitalities of the city.
In behalf of Captain Voeckler, Mr. Schumacher said:
Captain Vockler and the officers of the Baltimore request me to say that they regret not being sufficiently at home in the English language to assure you by their own lips how deeply they are impressed with the honor of being welcomed on their arrival in so distinguished a manner, and to thank you for your kind exertions to make their visit agreeable. It will be their aim to merit the favorable opinion you have formed of them in advance, and they hope that ample opportunities will be afforded to them for doing this, as they expect to become now such frequent visitors that you will soon cease to regard them as strangers. It would please them still better if you would take passage in their ship and thus convince yourselves personally that she is worthy of your patronage. I also thank you in the name of the “North German Lloyd” for the promise that the steamer shall have your favorable consideration; and though this is perhaps no more than what can justly be claimed for an enterprise which is certain to benefit alike our city, State and country, yet it is always pleasant to learn that our public authorities unite in the disposition to render all services and civilities which will be at their command compatible with their duties.
E. A. Keene, Esq., chairman of the citizens’ committee, next addressed the captain of the Baltimore in the German language, as follows:
Captain—I have the honor, as chairman of the committee of arrangements of the citizens of Baltimore, to tender you and your officers, as representatives of this new line of steamers, an escort on the day of your official reception, such a reception as is worthy the great and grand occasion which is inaugurated by the arrival of the vessel which you command; and I have only to say that it is my heartfelt wish that the grandeur of the reception may be a good omen to the full success of the new line of steamers.
The ceremonies on the quarter-deck being ended, the company were invited into the spacious cabins by Capt. Vockler, where a glass of wine was partaken of, amid the good wishes of all present for the success of the line and the health of the officers of the ship. The visitors were delighted to find that the Baltimore is a first-class steamer in every respect. Her cabin is not only spacious but elegant; her rooms, departments, &c., presented a clean and neat appearance, and her equipments were perfect in every respect.—These social courtesies concluded, the company again repaired to the Northerner, and returned to the city, bringing with them Capt. Vockler, who desired to enter his ship at the custom-house, in order to enable his steerage passengers, mostly destined for the West, to leave by the evening train of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
The following is a list of the officers of the steamship Baltimore: Captain, W. Vockler; first officer, Th. Schubert; second do., Th. Deetjen; third do., F. Kuster; fourth do., S. Risins; purser, Johs. Flutting; physician F. Frei; first engineer, Walter Moffatt; second, do., Fr. Fanger; third do., Herm. Foge.; fourth do., Fr. Osthoff; fifth do.; Fr. Buschmann; chief steward, J. Lechenich; chief cook, E. Muller.
The Baltimore left Bremen on the 1st of March at 12.50 P. M., and passed the outer buoy of the river at 5.15 P. M. On March 2d made 114 miles, with head wind and squalls. March 3, passed Dungennes at 7.50 P. M., and arrived at Southampton dock. March 4, left Southampton dock at 7.50 P. M., and passed the Needles at 12.45 M., with strong head winds. March 5, made 138 miles, passing the Lizard at 12 noon, and with strong head winds, took the gallant yards down on deck. March 6, 162 miles; head winds increasing, with showers of hail increasing; no change of carrying sails. March 7, 166 miles, with strong northerly gale, rain and hail; no sail set. March 8, 123 miles, strong head sea, gale from northwest to southwest; set some gaffsails.—March 9, 150 miles, wind north, with heavy squalls, sea running very high; set some sails. March 10, 155 miles, strong northwest breeze, at night increasing to a heavy gale; had some sails set to keep the ship more steady. March 11, 113 miles, heavy storm from north and northwest, sea running over her deck, blowing violent; no sails on. March 12, 99 miles, heavy gale from the northwest, much water over decks, blowing so violently, no sails were set. 13th, 79 miles, sea very rough, strong northwest winds, at night increasing, sea running very high, no sals set. 14th, 98 miles, the gale increased violently, with wind from every quarter, high seas breaking over the deck, with showers of rain. 15th, 141 miles, fresh breezes from the north, with clear sky, carried some gaffsails, the weather piercing cold. 16th, 270 miles, light easterly breeze, carried all sails, passed some icebergs during the day and at night. 17th, 266 miles, at 6 A. M. passed out of the ice very suddenly, with wind from the east, light breezes, clear sky, brought the gallant yard up. 18th, 294 miles light southerly breeze, sea smooth, all possible sail set; 19th, 295 miles, fresh breeze veering from north to east, all sails set and studding sails act on both sides. 20th, 287 miles, light easterly winds, clear sky, carried all sails. 21st, 244 miles; in the morning light breezes, and in the evening increasing suddenly to a gale from the north, with squalls and snow showers; fastened all sails, put ship’s head to the high running sea, engine going slow. 22d, 193 miles, storm from the north-northwest, with heavy squalls, snow and hail, sea running very high, had some gaffsails set at 7 P. M., the ship going off at full speed. 23d, to Cape Henry, 33 miles; in the afternoon the breeze decreasing; at 4.35 P. M. passed Cape Henry, and at 5.10 took Mr. John R. Thompson, pilot, on board. Total distance 3,305 miles. Total duration of the voyage from the Needles to Cape Henry, 18 days and 3¾ hours, which, with difference of time, makes 18 days and 8¾ hours. During the trip a coaltrimmer, named Fred’k Fischer, died. He was from Hanover. He was buried at sea.
The Baltimore was built at Greenock, Scotland. She is an iron screw steamer, of the following dimensions: Length 285 feet, breadth of beam 39 feet, depth of hold 23 feet, height between the first and second decks, 7 feet, height between the second and third decks, clear of the beams, 7 feet; tonnage 2,065 tons; draught of water 17 feet, when loaded with 1,270 tons dead weight; the keel is hammered iron, 10 by 3 feet; the stern 10 by 3 feet, tapering to 7 feet by 3; the the outer sternpost 10 by 4 1/2 feet; the inner sternpost 10 by 6 feet, the lower part 10 by 6; carries two six-pounders, with teakwood carriages; fitted for 100 cabin and 700 steerage passengers; has a donkey engine with double acting pumps; has a hose engine in case of fire; has a crew of seventy-nine men, officers included. The bunkers are capable of containing 700 tons of coal, and the actual horse-power of her engine is 300-horse power, with a consumption of 24 tons of coal per day. [The Baltimore is the second iron steamship that has made the voyage from Europe to this port, the first being the Mexican, chartered by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company over a year ago.]
The following is a list of the passengers by the steamship Baltimore from Bremen, 13 cabin and 107 steerage. In the cabin:
Fritz Schiens, of Baltimore; Gustav Tasch, family and servant, New York; Amalie Harolin, Bohmen; Carl Theod. Adolph Gruner, Harste; Dr. Reuling, Darmstadt; Theodor Hahn, Stuttgart; Anna Gierow, Bremen; Rud. E. Focke, Baltimore.
The following are her steerage passengers:
Fr. Albr. Bollenius, Westerstedt; John Seipp, Baltimore; Christe. Goldschmidt, Carlsruhe; Louise Hercher and children, Freiburg; Heinr. Frick. Steinbrink; Heinr. Elbrecht, Westrup; Pauline Haller, Ulm; Conrad Maier, Bayern; Kunigunde Guthlein, Bayern; Heinrich Ehlers, Preussen; Dorothea Schwarze, Preussen; Christian Schlechte, Preussen; Hermann Hing, Preussen; Jacob Schneider, Wurtemberg; Andreas Schneider, Wurtemberg; Heinrich Grabow, Preussen; August Tensmerse, Baltimore; Marie Durigen and children, Dresden; Bertha Hersturth, Dresden; Elizabeth Seufert and son, Wurzburg; Hubert Celler, Hundshofen; Bernard Hinr. Mayrose and family, Oldenburg; J. H. Schroder and wife, Oldenburg; Heinr. Pappen Aurich; Valentin Steinmetz, Frensdorf; Fr. Wilh. Seiker, Han. Strohen; Herm. Muhlenhardt, Han. Strohen; Friedr. Harms, Han. Strohen; Chr. H. Krucke, Rabden; Johs. Gunbel, Kurhessen; Elizabeth Scherer, Kurhessen; Sjabbe Bockhoff and family, Hanover; Math. Pelischek, Bohmen; Gerhard Ennen, Scharrel; Thekela Th’amelin, do.; C. M. Lincoln and children, Baltimore; Eduard Thiele, Leipzig; Simon Joh. Stengel, Weiden; Bernard Thiele, Schwanebeck; Elizabeth Maas, Lambshelm; Carl Kemmerich, Huckerswagen; Joh. D. Hinrichs and family, Torsholt; Joh. F. Brunken and family, Kielborg; Gesche Sophie Brunken, Kielborg; Gesche Sophie Tobias, Neuwinkel; Johann Abels and family, Morburg; Sophie Bolenius, Westerstede; Helene Bohlherr and child, Halsbeck; Engleke Buss, Felde; Anna Behler and children, Felde; Herm. H. Stigge and family, Holwege; Joh. R. Logemann, Halsbeck; Joh. J. Martens, Halsbeck; Joh. Hamm and family, Elsheim; Heinrich Furst, Elsheim; Jacob Hirsius, Essenhelm; Gottlieb Schmidt, Ochsenbach; Jost Curth Balz, Frankenberg; Charlotte Bielefeld, Dudinghausen; Ferd. Volkmann, Liebenau; Heinrich Friedrichs and wife, Pennigsehl; Sophie Kattelmann, Strohen; Henriette Meyer, Westrup; Cath. Elis Reinbeck, Erkshausen; Anna Marg. Frank, Gilfershausen; Carl Restle, Freiburg; Wilh. Struckmann and wife, Lemforde; Wilh. Kunter and family, Dielingen; Hemr. Aug. Fischer and family, Marl; August Klatte, Diepholz; Engel Struckmann, Lemforde; Otto Schaun, Sobernheim.
The following is the cargo of the Baltimore:
200 bags rice, Von Hapff & Arens; 500 bags rice, Levering & Co.; 412 pigs lead, 1 case, affects, 2 parcels merchandise, &c., A. Schumacher & Co.; 16 cases wine, 1 case of beer, 1 box China goods, 1 parcel books, W. Dresel; 1 case merchandise, T. Husgen; 4 cases do., Alberti, Brink & Co.; 5 cases do., W. H. Brown & Bro.; 2 cases do., H. Brunner; 9 cases do., Peabody Institute; 3 cases do., C. M. Stewart; 7 cases do., Trust & Hahn; 1 case do., H. Rosendale; 1 cask colors, Lankan & Kruger; 1 case minerals, C. Lohse & Co.; 1 do. do., T. Thevessen; 37 packages wine, G. W. Soine; 14 casks beer, 1 case paintings, W. Wilkens & Co.; 1 bale woolens, F. W. & E. Dammann; 4 cases merchandise, Gail & Ax; 1 box samples, G. A. Septeus & Co., 1 case merchandise, C. F. Hillebrand; 37 bales hops, H. Wehrhane & Co., 6 cases merchandise, O. Brehme & Co.; 2 cases do., 1 parcel do., Stellmann, Hinrichs & Co.; 1 case do., L. & C. Speck & Co., 1 box plants, C. Bulling; 1 case books, B. F. Behrend; 4 cases effects, G. Von Tasch; 2 cases watches, Canfield, Bro. & Co.; 4 bales carpets, J. Turnbull Jr. & Co.; 1 parcel, Gayer & Wilkens; 1 parcel, T. Von Dartein; 1 parcel, Bros. Boninger; 1 parcel, F. W. & E. Dammann; 1 parcel, T. Uthoff; 1 box, Geyer & Wilkins; 1 box, C. Loose; 1 box, John Schaer; and the following cargo from Havre: 1 case merchandise, J. P. Dubreeul; 1 case do., Peabody Institute; 3 cases do.; 2 packages books, Kelly & Piet; 2 cases silk goods, 1 package merchandise, H. Easter & Co.; 1 package do., B. M. Rhodes; 1 package do., T. W. Betton; 1 package do., Alberti Brink & Co.; 1 package do., Stellman, Hinrichs & Co.
The officers of the Baltimore have been invited to partake of the hospitalities of the Eutaw House while in port, and have accepted, as will be seen by the following correspondence:
Eutaw House: Baltimore, March 9, 1868,—A. Schumacher, Esq.—Dear Sir: Desiring to second, in our humble way, the inauguration of the line of steamers between Bremen and Baltimore, we propose to extend the hospitalities of the Eutaw House to the officers of the Baltimore (soon to arrive) during their stay in this port.
Please give us notice as early as practicable of their arrival, and the number that will accept this offer, that we may reserve suitable rooms for them, Very respectfully, yours, GILMOUR & SONS
Baltimore. March 23d, 1868,—Messrs Gilmour & Sons, Eutaw House.—Dear Sirs: Capt. Vockler and the officers of the Baltimore request me to thank you for the offer of the hospitality of the Eutaw House during their stay in this port, the honor of which they accept, but doubt whether it will be in their power to avail themselves of your kindness, as their presence on board the steamer is likely to be required, without intermission, on their first short visit,
Very respectfully, A. Schumacher.
Captain Vockler reports having left at Bremen the Berlin, the consort of the Baltimore, and a similar ship in every respect. She was to leave for Baltimore on the 1st of April, and it is gratifying to state that nearly all her passenger room was engaged, and a fair amount of freight offering. The Berlin was to stop at Southampton, and is announced to leave the latter port on the 4th.
As an augury of one of the trade facilities afforded by the Bremen line, a telegram from Havana yesterday gave notice of tobacco to be shipped by the next Baltimore and Havana steamer from the latter port, to go hence direct to Europe by the Bremen line.
During the afternoon a salute, in honor of the arrival of the first ship of the Bremen line, was fired from Fort McHenry, by order of the War Department.