[45] Dod was killed in 1823 by the explosion of a boiler on a steamer whose engines he was testing after having made some experimental alterations. On this first voyage to Savannah, which occupied 207 hours, the engines were running for only 4¹⁄₂ hours. On June 17 she arrived off the coast of Ireland, where the revenue cruiser _Kite_ pursued her, under the impression that she was a ship on fire, and three days later she was off Liverpool. The voyage occupied 29 days 11 hours, and according to the record kept by Rogers, which is now preserved in the United States National Museum, steam was raised six times on the voyage and the engines were run for a total of 80 hours. The reason the engines were used so little was that she had a very insufficient supply of fuel. She steamed up the Mersey, her arrival--the arrival of the first vessel under steam from America--being witnessed by thousands of persons, some of whom could hardly believe their eyes, so often had the voyage been described as impossible of accomplishment. Extracts from the _Savannah’s_ log read: “_Saturday, May 22, 1819._--These twenty-four hours begins with fresh breezes at N.E. at 7 A.M. got steam up, winded ship, and hove up the anchor, at 9 A.M. started with the steam from Savannah, at 12 A.M. anchored at Tybee stowed the boat and spars and lashed them. Latter part light breezes at S.E. and flying clouds. “_Sunday, May 23, 1819._--These twenty-four hours begins with fresh breezes at east and clear, latter part light breezes and clear. “_Monday, May 24, 1819._--These twenty-four hours begins with light breezes and clear at 5 A.M. got under way off Tybee Light and put to sea with steam and sails, at 6 A.M. left the pilot, at 8 A.M. took off the wheels in twenty minutes, middle part pleasant. Course E.N.E., wind S.S.E., the ship going 6.7.8. to 9 knots, and without her wheels. “_Tuesday, May 25, 1819._--These twenty-four hours begins with light breezes and pleasant, all sail set to the best advantage at 12 A.M. Tybee Light bore W. 6 S. 8 leagues distant from which I take my departure.” [Illustration: THE “SAVANNAH.”] The ship continued under canvas until May 30, when at 8 A.M. steam was got up for ten hours. And on June 18 the captain entered: “4 P.M. Cork bore W. 6 S. 5 leagues distant. At 2 A.M. calm, no cole to git up steam.” A later entry on _Sunday, June 20, 1819_, reads: “5 P.M. shipped the wheels, frld. the sails, and running to the River Mercer at 6 P.M. came to anchor off Liverpool with the small bower anchor.” The voyage was not without its humorous side. The sailing master, Rogers, communicated to the New London (Connecticut) _Gazette_ an account of their experiences. The Cape Clear telegraph station had reported a ship on fire, and the Admiral at Cork despatched a cutter to her relief.