Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-11-30
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.

Fulton, in a conversation with Judge Story, gave
the following account of this experiment: 'When,'
said he, Il was building my first boat the Cler-
mont at New York, the project was viewed by the
public either with indifference or with contempt
a visionary scheme. My friends were civil, but
they shy. They listened with patience to
my explanations, but with settled cast OF Incredull
ty on THEFT countenances. felt the force of the
lamentatiOn of the poet.
"Truth would you teach, to save a sinking land
All shun, none aid you, and few understand
As [ had occasion to pass daily to and from my
building yard while my boat was in progress, had
often loltered, unknown, near the idle group OF
strangers, gathered In little circle, and heard va
rious enquiries relative to the object of this
hlce. The language uniformly that OF scorn,
ridicule The loud laugh rose at my ex-
pense, the dry ests the wise calculations of losses
and expenditures, the dull but endless repettions
of the Fulton Folly. Never did single encourag-
ing remark, bright hope or a warm wish cross
my path. Silence itself was but pollteness yelling
its remarks or hiding its reproaches. AT length
the day arrived when the experiment to be
brought into operation. To me it most try
ing and interesting occasion. | invited my friends
to 90 board and witness the first successful trip
Many did me the honor to attend a matter of
personal respect, but it was apparent they did it
with reluctance, fearing to be partners In my mis-
fortunes and not in my triumphs | was well aware
that in my then there many reasons to
doubt my own success.
The machinery was new and i'll made, and many
parts We're manufactured by mechanics unacquaint-
ed with such work and unexpected difficulties
might reasonably be presumed to present them
selves, from other causes. The moment arrived
when the word was to be given for the vessel to
move. My friends were in groups on the deck
There was anxiety mixed with fear among them.
They silent, sad and weary. | read in their
souls nothing but disaster, and almost repented my
efforts The signal was given, and the boat moved
on short distance, and then stopped and became
immovable. To the silence of the preceding mo-
ment, now succeeded murmurs of discomfort, and
agitations, and whispers and shrugs. | could hear
distinctly repeated-''I told you it was SOFT is
foolish scheme | wish we were all out of it,"
elevated myself on platform, and addressed the
Assembly. | stated there | knew not what was
the matter,-but if they would be quiet and in
dulge me for half an hour, | would either 60 on
or abandon the voyage for that time. This short
respite was conceded without objection. | went
below and 'examined the machinery and discovered
that it was a slight maa djustment of of the
work. In short period it was obvated. The
boat was again in motion she continued to move
on: all were incredulous none seemed willing to
trust their own senses. We left the fair city OF
New-York we passed through the ever changing
scenery of the highlands described the cluster
ing houses of Albany: we reached its shores-and
then, even then, when all seemed achieved, | was
the victim of disappointment. Imagination sue
ceeded the influence of fact. 1t was then doubted
whether it could be done again, or if done, if it
could be made of any value