The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-25

fOOR JOHN f1TCH.-In Judge n all 8 - Notes,
on the Western States" is the following interest
ing account Of John Fitch, who, in his endeayors
to solve the great problem of steam navigation,
long preceded Fulton:
s'In 1856, John Fitch, matchmaker in Phila-
delphia conc eived the design of propelling boat
by steam. lie was both poor and illterate and
many difficulties occurred, TO Illustrate evei y AZ
tempt which he made to try the practicable ty Of
his invention. He applied to Congress for as
sistance but was refused; and then offered hi is in
vention to the Spanish Government, to be used
in the navigation of the Mississippi, but wi ,hoat
any better success. At length a company was
l6ormed and funds subscribed for the buildi ng of
. steam boat, and in the year 1888, his es, vel
was launched on the Delaware. Many GRO wd ed
to see and ridicule the novel, and, as they sup
posed the chimerical experiment. 1t seemed hat
the idea Of wheels had not occurred to Mr.. Itch;
but instead of them, oars were nsed which vvol X
ed in frames. He was confdeet of success, a. nd
when the boat was ready for trial, she started off
in good style for Burlington. Those who h; I'd
sneered began to stare, and they who had smile d
in derision, looked grave. Away went the boat.
and the happy inventor triumphed over the skep.
tcism Of an unbelieving public. The boat per-
formed her trip to Burlington; distance of TWEEN
Ity miles, but unfortunately burst her boiler in
tide foated her back to the city.
Stitch persevered, and with great difficulty
procured another boiler. After some time the .
boat performed another trip to Burlington and re-
| turned in the same day. She is said TO have
moved at the rate of eight miles an hour; but
something was continually breaking, and the UNI
happy protector only conquered one difficulty to
encounter another. Perhaps this was not owing
to any defect in his plans, but to the low state Of
the arts at that time, and the difficulty of getting
such complex machinery made with proper ex-
aetness. Fitch became embarrassed with debt,
and was obliged to abandon the invention, after
having satisfied himself of its practicability This
ingenious man, who was probably the first inven-
tor OF the steamboat, wrote three volumes,
which he deposited in manuscript, sealed up, in
the Philadelphia Library, to be opened thirty
years after his death. When, or why he came
to the West, we have not learned; but tits record
ed of him, that he died and was buried near the
Ohio. His three volumes were opened about FIVE
years ago, and were found to contain his specu-
lations on mechanics.
'.He details his endorsements and disap-
pointments with feeling which shows how ar
IDENTIFY he desired success, and which WINS for
| him the sympathy of those who have heart
enough to mourn over the blighted prospects of
genius. He confidently predicts the future sue
cess Of his plan, which in his hands, only failed
for the want Of pecuniary means. He prophesied
that in less than half century, we shall see our
western rivers swarming with steamboats,, and ex-
presses wish to be buried on the shores Of the
Ohio, where the song Of the boatman may enli-
ven the stiffness Of his resting place, and the mu
sic OF the steam engine soothe his spirit. What
| an idea! Yet how natural to the mind of an ar
dent protector, whose whole life had been devo-
ted to one darling object, which it was not his
destiny to accomplish! Andhow touching is the
sentiment found in one of his journals: The day
will come when some more powerful man will
get fame and riches from my invention; but nobo-
dy will believe that poor John Fitch can do any
thing worthy Of attention.