Show I 1 FIRST TO CROSS PACIFIC 8 de wheel steamer aroused much interest in japan I 1 saw the first steamship flying the american kmer ican flag that ever crossed the pacific ocean enter the harbor ot of hongtong Hong kong said frederick R ster ling a merchant of hongtong Hong kong that vessel was the colorado and it landed in gongong Ho ngong in 1869 it was the first day of january and there was a big crowd of people of all natio national nall ties to see her being a side wheeler ot of the old fashioned type she was a curiosity at the request of isaac J alien allen the american consul general the ship gave an excursion around the island on which the city Js situated I 1 was among the 1200 on board it was a gala day whistles blew people shouted and numerous small sailing boats and tugs escorted us As I 1 remember now the vessel be longed to the pacific mail line and galled from san Fran francisco pisco she made the trip of 8 miles in 30 days and when she arrived was in perfect trim and good order everybody realized thit it means the beginning of the great development of the pacific |