STEAM
COFFIN
__________________________
Captain Moses Rogers
And
The Steamship Savannah
Break the Barrier
“Searching for Ireland”
1 May 2012: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by The Journal of Commerce—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by The Journal of Commerce:
"Steam Coffin is meticulously researched and well written. Busch provides a wealth of detail... An absorbing, recommendable book about an innovation that changed shipping and commerce forever."
The Journal of Commerce is one of the leading magazines in the United States for transportation executives. The review appears online here.
***
13 April 2012: Presentation made at the Ninth Biennial Automotive History Conference-
At the Ninth Biennial Automotive History Conference, held at Philadelphia, I made a presentation entitled:
“On the Shoulders of Steam Giants: Necessary Evolutionary Precursors to the Automobile”
In this presentation, I described the physical and psychological reasons why early attempts to create a "horseless carriage" ended in failure. Then I outlined how the creation of the first high technology (steamboats) and the first globalized high technology (the steamship Savannah) served as logical precursors to all other forms of high technology. This repeated breaking of physical and psychological barriers by steam vessels and other early forms of high technology eventually laid the groundwork for the successful introduction of the automobile in the late 19th century.
Then, I offered the new, additional definition for the term "high technology," to wit:
"An invention with the power to alter artificially a person's location to practical effect faster than by natural means."
This was followed by a graph of high technology milestones, which naturally included the automobile.
I'm very pleased to report that, as anticipated, the presentation sparked a lot of discussion, questions, debate and compliments.
***
12 April 2012: Presentation made at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Annual Conference—
At the combined annual conference of the Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association (held in Boston), I made a presentation that was entitled:
"Why a 'Steam Coffin' Serves as America's Very Own Sea Saga"
In this presentation, I defined the term saga as "a detailed account of a series of events," noting that the very first sagas, as created by the Vikings, were in fact sea sagas. Then I offered a small sampling of sea sagas from a variety of countries, including China, Spain, Britain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Russia. The purpose of each saga's voyage was categorized as being some combination of:
—discovery;
—trade;
—or colonization.
Regardless of their purpose, I pointed out that all of these sea sagas shared one important characteristic: the underlying objective was geographical in nature, because our species was limited by natural methods of movement, which left large swaths of the planet unexplored.
Then I described how the creation of "steamboats" gave humans their first practical form of artificial movement that was faster than natural means. In a few short years, this led Captain Moses Rogers to create the first "steamship," to prove that this new artificial power could be used to cross entire oceans. As such, the voyage of Captain Rogers and the steamship Savannah represents America's very own and unique sea saga, because its underlying objective was not geographical, but psychological.
I'm gratified to report that the presentation generated much in the way of questions, discussion and compliments.
***
15 March 2012: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Maryland Historical Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Maryland Historical Magazine:
"Steam Coffin is the definitive account of the first transatlantic steamship and the mariner who helped conceive and command it... Busch should be commended for his prodigious archival research and imaginative use of sources... Steam Coffin offers the general reader a captivating sea yarn bookended by panoramic descriptions of life and labor in and around the young republic by the sea."
Maryland Historical Magazine is the official publication of the Maryland Historical Society. The review appears on pages 382-384 of Volume 106, Number 3.
***
24 February 2012: Presentation made at the Annual Conference of the Georgia Association of Historians—
At the Annual Conference of the Georgia Association of Historians, held at Macon, I made a presentation entitled:
“Steam Coffin: Georgia’s Conception of the First Globalized High Technology in History”
In this presentation, I described why the first example of globalized high technology in history, the steamship Savannah, came into being thanks to the financial backing of a group of merchants from Savannah, Georgia. In summary, it was due to:
— Post-war prosperity in the South, thanks to insatiable demand for cotton from Britain and France;
— Geographic superiority of Savannah's position, thanks to a Savannah River highway that transported both Georgia and South Carolina cotton to the port's merchants;
— Technological familiarity with steamboats, thanks to the active presence of The Steam Boat Company of Georgia;
— All of which met the man with a plan, Captain Moses Rogers.
Then, Georgia's contribution was clearly placed at the beginning of the line of high technology milestones, which end (for the moment) with the internet.
I'm gratified to report that the presentation generated numerous questions and compliments.
***
15 February 2012: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by The British Journal for the History of Science—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by The British Journal for the History of Science:
"Busch has masterfully produced a dual biography of both the steamship Savannah and its creator, Moses Rogers... meticulously researched... well written... Steam Coffin is both a great read and a vital reference for serious scholars."
The Journal is the official publication of The British Society for the History of Science; the gentleman who wrote the review is Professor Larrie D. Ferreiro, the director of research at the Defense Acquisition University. The review appears on pages 605-606 of Volume 44, Number 4.
***
1 February 2012: Stevens Rogers’ possessions come home to the New London County Historical Society—
Two valuable possessions of Savannah first mate Stevens Rogers, which were previously thought lost, have been returned to their rightful owner, the New London County Historical Society, in New London, Connecticut.
During the course of my research for STEAM COFFIN, I had asked the NLCHS if I might examine the snuff box which Lord Lynedoch had gifted to Steve during the Savannah's voyage. I was informed that the snuff box, while previously known to have been in the Society's collection, was not listed in a full inventory done in the 1970s, and therefore was considered lost.
As my research continued, I discovered that another institution held not only Steve's snuff box, but his spyglass, which had been loaned by the NLCHS many decades ago. (The paperwork for the loan had been lost, not an uncommon occurrence in the curatorial world.) I informed the holding institution that the rightful owner of the artifacts was the NLCHS, but this advisory apparently was misplaced through a turnover in personnel.
Upon learning that the artifacts had not been returned, I contacted the holding institution again, and encouraged it to reach out to the NLCHS, which it promptly did. After nearly one-half a century, Steve's snuff box and spyglass are back home where they belong, in the collections of the New London County Historical Society.
***
15 January 2012: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Naval War College Review—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by the Naval War College Review:
"With exemplary research, Busch followed an archival trail that led to twenty-two historical manuscript depositories...Equally impressive is his productive research in nearly 150 contemporary newspapers that matches his archival range...All of this, Busch has marshaled into a beautifully written and engaging narrative that places his solidly based factual details within a broad context...John Laurence Busch has made a major contribution to American maritime history with this fine book."
The Naval War College Review is the official journal of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island; the gentleman who wrote the review is John B. Hattendorf, the Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College. The review appears on pages 173-175 of the Winter 2012 issue.
***
1 January 2012: Article published in Mechanical Engineering Magazine—
Mechanical Engineering Magazine has published my article entitled:
“ ‘Something Trouble the Matter with the Engine’: Steamboat Design during the First Generation”
This article describes the many choices in design and construction that entrepreneurs had to make during the first generation of steam-powered vessels, which can be dated from Fulton’s triumph of 1807 to the early 1820s. Mechanical Engineering is the official magazine of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The article appears on pages 36-39 of the January 2012 issue.
***
15 December 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Baird Maritime Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Baird Maritime Magazine of Australia:
"The Savannah...was easily one of the most important ships ever built in the thousands of years of maritime history...The modern world owes a lot to Moses Rogers and his colleagues. This big, impressive, informative and entertaining book does its subject justice."
Baird Maritime is published by Baird Publishing, one of the world’s premier maritime publishing houses. The review appears on page 41 of the December 2011 issue.
***
1 December 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by The Journal of Southern History—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by The Journal of Southern History:
"This book is well researched. Busch tracked down a myriad of manuscript sources and consulted over one hundred newspapers from eight countries...The maps are excellent...and nautical terms and activities are explained so that a nonspecialist can profit from the reading."
The Journal is published by The Southern Historical Association. The review appears on pages 934-935 of Volume LXXVII, Number 4.
***
20 November 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by The Journal of Interdisciplinary History—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by The Journal of Interdisciplinary History:
"Steam Coffin is a substantial work, a popular history with...helpful end notes and an extensive bibliography...Busch takes the time to develop his story fully...The research is thorough, the writing clean."
The Journal is published by MIT Press; the gentleman who wrote the review is Professor Joshua M. Smith of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The review appears on pages 310-311 of the Autumn 2011 issue.
***
22 October 2011: Presentation made at the First Global Conference on the Transformation of Human Nature—
At the First Global Conference on the Transformation of Human Nature, held at The Helix, Dublin City University, in Dublin, Ireland, I made a presentation entitled:
“How a ‘Steam Coffin’ Served to Transform Humanity’s Conception of Time and Space”
In this presentation, I illustrated the ways in which humans accepted for millennia the limitations that Nature imposed upon their ability to change location. Then I described how the first generation of steamboats proved that we could alter artificially our location, and the amount of time it takes to change it, to practical effect. This first high technology accordingly transformed humanity’s conception of time and space, and heralded the emergence—psychologically—of the post-human.
By logical extension, the voyage of the steamship Savannah represents the point at which the human race realized they would be able to alter time and space planet-wide, and as such serves as the first milestone in the creation of the globalized post-human.
I'm gratified to report that the presentation generated numerous compliments, as well as a request for speculation regarding what might become the next high technology.
***
15 October 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Naval History Book Reviews—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Naval History Book Reviews:
“Busch has meticulously examined all materials relevant to Savannah and...tells an entertaining story in Steam Coffin. He has an ability to give life to the events and people he describes.”
Naval History Book Reviews is an official publication of the Naval Historical Foundation. The review appears in Issue Number 11.
***
19 September 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by The History Teacher—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by The History Teacher:
“Extensively researched...fascinating reading...The life of Savannah’s skipper, Moses Rogers, is also well-chronicled...The wealth of information it contains makes the book an asset for libraries. Teachers pointing students to research projects can be assured that this is a reliable, scholarly resource.”
The History Teacher is the official publication of The Society for History Education. The review appears on page 303 of Volume 44, Number 2.
***
13 September 2011: Presentation made at the Conference for the Public History of Science and Technology—
At the Conference for the Public History of Science and Technology, held at the University of South Carolina, I made a presentation entitled:
“How a Steam Coffin Can Revolutionize the Public’s Perception of Technological History”
In this presentation, I illustrated the ways in which the public’s perception of technological history is skewed at best, to woefully incomplete at worst. Then I showed how steam-powered vessels—including the globalizing steamship Savannah—can be viewed as the first "high technology" in history. Once again, a new, more precise definition of the term "high technology" was offered, to wit:
An invention with the power to alter artificially a person's location to practical effect faster than by natural means.
The presentation then illustrated how this new, additional definition of "high technology" clearly placed a long line of inventions within the meaning of the term. Finally, I pointed out that this new definition also offers the opportunity to create a new framework of high technology milestones, which will aid in the study of all forms of modern scientific and technological history.
I'm gratified to report that the presentation received many questions and much curiosity.
***
1 September 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Nautical Research Journal—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Nautical Research Journal:
“From the political movements of the time to the intricacies of the interconnected relationships of those whose power could and did affect Savannah, Busch demonstrates his comprehensive knowledge and attention to detail...Steam Coffin is a very informative and entertaining volume.”
Nautical Research Journal is the official publication of the Nautical Research Guild. The review appears on pages 127-128 of Volume 56, Number 2 (Summer 2011).
***
15 August 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Warship International—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Warship International:
“While a detailed history of the ship’s career should be available to interested readers, it has not been until now...Though the Savannah was never commissioned as a warship, her place in maritime and naval history is undeniable.”
Warship International is the official publication of The International Naval Research Organization. The review appears on page 119 of Volume 48, Number 2 (2011).
***
1 August 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by the International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by the International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology:
“The fruits of extensive research, substantiated by notes and references, the book is presented very much as narrative rather than technical history. Illustrations are of people rather than machines...The author is, however, successful in rescuing Rogers from obscurity, and giving him his rightful place, complete with portrait, in maritime history.”
The Journal is an official publication of The Newcomen Society of the United Kingdom. The review appears on page 157 of Volume 81, Number 1 (2011).
***
14 July 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by WoodenBoat Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by WoodenBoat Magazine:
“Busch has done a remarkable job of researching and describing the wide cast of characters involved in the Savannah...All are brought into the story with detailed biographical information that brings them to life as people...This is a well-written and thought-provoking exploration of the earliest days of what was to prove a transformative technology.”
The review appears on pages 101-103 of the July/August 2011 issue.
***
5 July 2011: SIA-New England Newsletter publishes article on casting the Savannah’s cylinder—
The Society for Industrial Archeology-New England Chapters Newsletter has published my article describing one particular aspect of the Savannah’s construction. The article is entitled:
“Casting a Cylinder for a ‘Steam Coffin’ was No Small Feat”
The Society for Industrial Archeology is a national organization focused upon the study and preservation of the industrial heritage of the United States. The article appears on pages 6-7 of the Summer 2011 issue (Volume 32, Number 1).
***
30 June 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Seapower Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Seapower Magazine:
“The steamboat was a paradigm-breaking accomplishment that revolutionized marine technology and transportation. The next step, a steamship, was the dream of Capt. Moses Rogers... ‘Steam Coffin’ chronicles Rogers’ path from steamboat captain to forming a company to build the world’s first ocean-going steamship.”
Seapower is the official magazine of the Navy League of the United States. The review appears on page 49 of the July 2011 issue.
***
15 June 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by The Northern Mariner—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by Canada’s The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord:
“STEAM COFFIN is a well-written comprehensive work...The breadth and depth of the historical record Busch uses is impressive...A welcome addition to any historian’s library.”
The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord is published by The Canadian Nautical Research Society in conjunction with the North American Society for Oceanic History. The review appears on pages 75-77 of Volume XXI, Number 1.
***
22 May 2011: The Steam Coffin re-appears in National Maritime Day Proclamation—
President Obama has cured a seventeen year case of bipartisan historical amnesia by specifically mentioning the steamship Savannah in the 2011 Presidential Proclamation for National Maritime Day. This represents the first time since 1993 that the Savannah has been noted within the text of the proclamation as being the basis for the May 22nd celebration of America’s merchant mariners.
Click here to read the opinion editorial on this subject that I submitted to five news organizations in late April/early May—all of them declined to publish it.
In any case, mission accomplished.
***
12 May 2011: Presentation made at the Annual Conference of the North American Society for Oceanic History—
At the 2011 NASOH Conference held at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, I made a presentation entitled:
“How a Steam Coffin Can Revolutionize the Maritime’s Place in Technological History”
In this presentation, I described steam-powered vessels—including the globalizing steamship Savannah—as the first "high technology" in history, because they allowed humans to alter artificially their relationship with time and space to practical effect. I also offered a new, more precise definition of the term "high technology," to wit:
An invention with the power to alter artificially a person's location to practical effect faster than by natural means.
This new, additional definition of "high technology" would place a long line of inventions within the meaning of the term, namely steamboats and steamships, railroads, the electromagnetic telegraph, telephones, automobiles, airplanes, wireless radio, television and the internet. This definition also offers the opportunity to create a new framework for the study of modern history, with maritime history at its foundation.
I'm gratified to report that the presentation received many compliments, questions and commentary.
***
25 April 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by the International Journal of Maritime History—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed by the Canada-based International Journal of Maritime History:
“Busch’s excellent biography of Captain Moses Rogers and his history of PS Savannah...is a commendable and distinguished contribution to the maritime historical literature...The author’s narrative is made all the more interesting by his detailed research into the life of Captain Rogers, which provides a tremendous volume of previously unknown information.”
The IJMH is the official journal of the International Maritime Economic History Association. The review appears on pages 394-395 of Volume XXII, Number 2.
***
11 April 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Archive Journal—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed in the United Kingdom’s Archive: The Quarterly Journal for British Industrial and Transport History:
“What makes this volume is the excellent research and the fitting of the achievement into the historical events of the period...extremely well executed...If only all history books were as readable.”
The review appears on page 35 of issue number 67.
***
28 March 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Sea History Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed in the Spring 2011 issue of Sea History Magazine:
“Moses Rogers, a remarkable individual, saw in steam power the capacity to...make oceanic travel reliable and predictable. Busch sets out the odyssey with the support of beautiful maps and illustrations of many of the people and places Savannah encountered on its adventure. The book, manufactured to high standards, is worth the purchase price and the time to read it.”
The review appears on page 55 of the issue (Number 134).
***
21 March 2011: Sea History Magazine publishes article on Captain Moses Rogers—
Sea History Magazine has published my article on the early sailing career of Captain Moses Rogers, and his presence at the creation of the “new mode of transport” in 1807, when Robert Fulton first ran his North River Steam Boat on the Hudson River. The article is entitled:
“It Seems Moses Caught the Fever--He was Never the Same Again”
Sea History is the official magazine of the National Maritime Historical Society. The article appears on pages 23-25 of the Spring 2011 issue (Number 134).
***
1 February 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by (mt) Marine Technology Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed in the January 2011 issue of (mt) Marine Technology Magazine:
“Busch’s supremely readable account of the development and construction of the Savannah...and the passionate career of Captain Moses Rogers, represents the creation of a long-needed missing piece of maritime history...It may properly be termed a page-turner, and is strongly recommended.”
(mt) Marine Technology is the official magazine of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME); the gentleman who wrote the review, Barry Thomas, is a Life Fellow of SNAME and the former chairman of the SNAME History Committee. The review appears on page 78 of the issue.
***
15 January 2011: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Connecticut History Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed in the Fall 2010 issue of Connecticut History Magazine:
“This important, well-researched, and extensively illustrated book should appeal to readers interested in...[the] trailblazing efforts of the Savannah’s entrepreneurial principals, including the ship’s Connecticut-born master. Busch helps readers understand and appreciate the struggle of Savannah backers to introduce a radical, next-generation steam powered vessel to blue water.”
The gentleman who wrote the review, Ira Breskin, is a Mystic Seaport Research Fellow and professor at SUNY Maritime College. The review appears on pages 291-292 of the issue (Volume 49, Number 2).
***
15 November 2010: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by Nautical Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed in the November 2010 issue of Nautical Magazine of the United Kingdom:
“The author displays a remarkable array of historical research in developing this substantial account...There are comprehensive source notes and a splendid index...It should delight anyone with an interest in the history of the development of the steamship...a story well worth telling.”
The review appears on pages 321-322 of the issue (Volume 284, Number 5).
***
1 November 2010: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by PowerShips Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has been reviewed in the Fall 2010 issue of PowerShips Magazine:
“Steam Coffin is remarkable in that it is able to present the macro and micro pictures in a graceful and engaging narrative...Busch wrote this book for a general, non-nautical audience, because he explains everything, including the most basic terms...He has an eye for the telling quotation...A fascinating account of early 19th century technology..., and the entrepreneurial spirit of the age.”
The review appears on page 81 of the issue (#275).
***
16 September 2010: Presentation made at National Maritime Heritage Conference—
At the Ninth National Maritime Heritage Conference in Baltimore, I made a presentation entitled:
“How to use a ‘Steam Coffin’ to engage...The Maritime Nexus: Reconnecting Landsmen with their Seagoing Heritage”
This presentation, tailored to address the Conference’s theme of seeking ways to renew the link between a land-centric public and our rich maritime heritage, focused upon a five-step process:
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1) Mind Re-Calibration;
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2) Humanize the History;
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3) Define the Historical Subject;
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4) Reconnect the Landsmen by Showing the Maritime’s Relevance;
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5) If All Else Fails, Throw Them a Zinger!
The presentation was very well received by audience and fellow panel members alike.
***
1 September 2010: STEAM COFFIN reviewed by WindCheck Magazine—
STEAM COFFIN has received a full-page review in the September 2010 issue of WindCheck Magazine:
“Written in a very readable narrative style, Steam Coffin is compelling, engaging and highly recommended.”
The review appears on page 39 of the issue, as well as on the magazine’s website.
***
Is it a “boat” or a “ship”?
One of the many confusions in ultra-Modern English remains when to use the word “boat” and when to use the word “ship.”
These terms are not synonymous, and the difference in their meanings plays a very important role in STEAM COFFIN.
The earlier of the words is probably boat, which comes from the Old Norse word beit, which evolved into the Old English word bāt, and then became boot in Middle English. In each case, these words meant any vessel used to float upon the water. But since the first forays of humans in such craft naturally stayed close to land, a beit / bāt / boot / boat came to denote any vessel used for travel near the shore.
But for the Norseman of old, longer voyages upon the ocean—particularly attempts to explore or colonize distant lands—required a different kind of vessel. Such a craft had to be larger and more complex, and therefore required more planning in order to build, equip and man it. In Old Norse, the verb skipa was used to describe the effort to organize and provision such a vessel. In time, this bigger, better-organized craft intended for long voyages came to be described in Old Norse as a skip, which in Old English became a scip, and then in Middle English, a schip or ship.
This differentiation in the meaning of the words in Modern English continues to this day. A boat is generally used for travel near shore, whether on a river, lake, bay or along the coast, while a ship is a vessel used for long-distance voyages on the ocean.
There is no such thing as a tugship, since those vessels are used only for work near shore.
And while there are such things as lifeboats, they are only to be used in emergencies upon the ocean (and hopefully for only short periods of time).
Otherwise, the delineation in meaning between the two words is fairly clear. By further example, steam-powered vessels used upon rivers, lakes and bays are “steamboats.” But steam-powered craft intended for long-distance voyages far from land are “steamships.” And therein lays the rub of STEAM COFFIN.
***
Is it a “he,” or is it a “she,” or is it an “it”?
Way back in 2002, Lloyd’s List of London, which claims to be the world’s oldest daily newspaper, announced that it would no longer describe vessels as being feminine. Instead of “she,” a vessel would be referred to as “it.” In explanation, Lloyd’s List declared that the paper only wanted to “catch up with the rest of the world,” since most other news organizations already had begun to refer to vessels in the neuter.
But numerous institutions, including the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, England, and the British Marine Industries Federation, and the Royal Navy, insisted that they would continue to refer to vessels in the feminine.
Why the resistance to this change?
Tradition.
As the U.S. Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC points out, vessels have been referred to as “she” for centuries. The reasons why date back to the Ancient Greeks, who often named their ships after goddesses, in the hope that the honored one would protect their vessel at sea. In other cases, the ship would be named after the departing commander’s wife, to remind him of his loved one while he was gone. More generally, because a vessel served as the only source of protection and sustenance while facing a dangerous ocean, mariners naturally thought of their ships as their mothers, and therefore, as being feminine.
Lloyd’s List countered such views by pointing out that vessels are just inanimate objects. "Ultimately they are commodities...not things that have characters," stated the newspaper’s editor.
Except when one spends any time talking to veterans of any country’s navy, or merchant marine, or coast guard—what they will tell you is that they felt as though the vessel upon which they served was alive. To them, “it” did have character, and so deserves to be treated accordingly.
Admittedly, ascribing the feminine to a particular vessel type (such as a tanker, or a freighter, or a frigate) might seem odd, and in those cases, it should be alright to refer to the vessel as “it.”
But once the vessel’s name is invoked, character—real or imagined—is implied, and tradition should hold sway.
Again, using the feminine might seem awkward when the vessel has a clearly masculine name, such as the USS Harry S. Truman, or the USS Ronald Reagan. In those cases, one might be forgiven for referring to them as “he.”
But as any purist will tell you, even in those cases, and certainly in all others, tradition should be respected—
When it comes to vessels, “it” is really “she.”
***
“Larboard” and “Starboard”? What about “Port”?
STEAM COFFIN uses any number of nautical terms, which are all readily defined within the text. Even so, some veteran maritime readers may encounter a few words with which they are unfamiliar.
Starboard is not one of them. As any maritime reader knows, this term refers to the right side of a vessel. Because the early craft of Scandinavia were steered by a rudder attached to the right-side of the stern, this became known in Old Norse as the stýriborð, or “rudder side” of a vessel. In time, this word for the right side evolved into stēorbord in Old English, then sterbord in Middle English, and finally starboard in Modern English.
Larboard is a different matter. This term is probably a new one for many readers. Once again, its creation can be traced back to Scandinavia. Since the rudder of an ancient Nordic vessel was attached to the right-side of the stern, these ships could not be docked and loaded on the stýriborð (or right side). This meant that the left side of the vessel became, in Old Norse, the hlaðaborð, or “loading side.” In Middle English, it became laddebord, and in Modern English, larboard.
This nautical term for “left” was still in use in the early 19th century, and the Savannah’s first mate, Stevens Rogers, used larboard exclusively in the steamship’s logbook. Out of respect for the times in which the story takes place, STEAM COFFIN uses larboard exclusively to denote nautical “left.”
But what about port?
This nautical term for “left,” which again refers to the “loading side” of the vessel that faced the “port” when docked, was not in general use in the early 19th century. Mariners—traditionalists that they were—still referred to “left” as “larboard.” Eventually, however, the similarities between larboard and starboard forced a change, brought about in part by a new generation of seamen. In 1844, the Royal Navy officially dropped the use of “larboard” for “left,” replacing it with “port.” The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1846, and eventually, so did the rest of the maritime world.
***
The Ubiquity of “Steam”
No one should doubt the incredibly powerful impact that the steam engine, and its adaptation for use in steam-powered vessels, has had on the human race. The effect goes far beyond the physical benefit of artificially altering a person’s location and the amount of time it takes to change it. Steam-powered vessels also served to alter the way human beings think about time and place.
One example of this is the way people unconsciously allude to steam-powered vessels and vehicles in their everyday language. Below are but a few examples:
“Getting up steam…”
“Keeping up steam…”
“Letting off steam…”
“Blowing off steam…”
“Losing steam…”
“Gaining steam…”
“Gathering steam…”
“He/She is really steamed…”
“Full steam ahead!”
Even two centuries after their introduction, steam vessels, and their younger sibling, steam-powered trains, continue to exert such an influence that their subtle effects on behavior and language often go unnoticed.
***
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