Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-01-19

conceived the ldea ol pfDreiilng bOats hrof%s-
and against rapid watsrs b, steum.
MIR. James Rumsey possessedlittle p-arerfV
OF value, had small family to- maintain and
no wealthy connexions, yet Under these cir.
cumstsnces. be commenced, the untr,ed the
difficult task of propeliing boatsby the -TpaIi-
cation ofsteam. He was compelled 10 invent.
and form with his own hands, sll the eomplex
machinery, composed Of Wood, Irox, Bass
and Steel. He was little assisted in the ne
chanical part of the labor, by Joseph Barns, hss
Brother in law, who was kind Of secondary
character, but no donbt Useful BY directions
from Mr.. Rumsey .---All the werk was performs
ed and a variety of experiments made With
closed doors, whilst the mass Of his acquain-
tances. derided his schemes, pitied bis folly,
denounced his temerify, called him eohceited
protector, &c. &c. nothing however couid, or
did divert him, from. this most ardent pursuits
he perseyered for perhaps year and atAalf,
before he perfected the machinery Hevsnd
Barns then built boat so or go feet long, fat
bottom, but drawn to q point at each end, in
the stern they placed short Rudder or Steer
ing Oar This boat they launched at the ferry
landing, placed therein or ton OF stone. to.
gether with all the variety OF machinery ne
cessary tor creating steam. Notice was thea
given that on certain day, the boxt was to be
propelled ~ force of steam. and the people
of the vicinity were thus invii ed to view its
progress and passage, up the river against
the stresm. The bank Of the river on the dsy
appointed. was lined with anxious spectators,
several ladies' were taken into the BOAT, Capt.
Charles Morrow, placed himself sit the helm
and James Rumsey nesr the boiler' OF the en-.
CINE, the boat was let loose, and began firss
gradually and then a little more rapidly to
move against the stream, while losid pisudits
were bestowed by those on shore The boat
thus propelled by the force Of steam. ascend
ed the river 70 some distance above the large
Rock. supposed TO have proceededN up about
quarter OF mile. when Captain Morrow, a.
the helm, turned the beat with the head dNswn
stream, and returned her to where she he'd
started. Having now convincedhs neighbors Of \
the practcability ofsteam navigstjon,h he obtained
certificates signed By prominent characters who
witnessed the moving of the boat propele d by
steam. Ameng others. that OF Gen horstio
Gates, Col John Morrow Captain Abraham
Shepherd, John Kearsley, John Mark. &c &c.
The certificate, If | recollect right, specified
the size of the boat, the burthen in her, the
distance she ran against the stream, and that is
was performed by the application of steam. also
the time in which the boat performed the dis.
tantt of, say a quarter OF = mile.
II was ut that time believed to lie the first
sttempt or experiment made to propel boats
by steam, and it vas as great measure OF sur.
prise that James Runsey should accomplish this
with his very limited means and imperfect ma
chinery Rumsey hoped, that after this
exhibition. he could By some means raise funds
to put his invention into practical and bene-
fetal use, and although their was ocular de-
monstration of its prsctcability, ii was still
treated as visionary thing by many, and fai led
in his applications The main principles OF APP
plying steam TO boats, was however still retaln-
ed as secret by Mr. Jsmes Rumsey, and for
this he bad good reasons, no patent law exist
ing at that time. by which he could secure to
himself the benefits of the invention. He ap.
piled to the Legislature Of Virginia, without
success, after which he went to London,
where, had he lived, he would have accom-
phshed all his wishes, having made consider
able progress by the aid of friends and the
best of mechanics there. enc dag in making
elaborate snd necessary explanations to tho
society, he fell senseless on the floor, and soon
thereafter expired!
Some years passed. before the name Of Full
ton became conspicuous, and II is believed by
the friends of Rumsey, that Fulton's lame is
botiomed on The inventions and experiments
of James Rumsey, whose ultimate fate, has de.
prived his posterity of the benefits bestowed
on a successor
You will pardon the inaccuracies Of this state
ment, many years have passed since the occur
renccs therin related took place.
Very respectfully, yours, Sc
HENRY BEDlNGER