Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-09-22
ruLToN,s STEAMBOAT. 1907.

10 December, 1906, Fulton arrived ~
New York, and in the following spring,
Notwithstanding the pecuniary and me
chauical obstacles opposed to his project,
had completed bis vessel, and in August
had the satisfaction OF geeice her moved
by her machinery from the East river 10
the Jersey shore.
And nothing" says Golden, "conld
exceed the surprise and admiration 81 an
who Witnessed the experiment. The
minds Of the most incredulous were chang
ed in few minutes befire the boat had
made the progress of quarter Of a mile,
the greatest unbelleyer must have been
converted. The man who, while he look
ed on the expensive machine, thanked his
stars tina. he had more wisdom than TO
waste his money 10 such IDLE schemes,
changed the expression Of bis features as
tho boat moved from the wharf aud gain
ed her speed bis complacent smile grad
ually stifIened into an expression OF won.
der--the leefs Of the ignorant, who had
neither sense nor feeling enough to re-
press their contemptuous ridlcule and rude
Jokes, were sienced for the Inument by
vulgar establishment, which deprived them
of the power Of utterance, till the triumph
Of Genius extorted from the incredulous
multitude, which crowded the shores,
shouts and accIamailons Of coDgratua-
tons and applause" THough her per-
Torrance far exceeded the expectation Of
his friends, Fulton perceived that there
was an error 10 the construction Of her
water wheels-he Iessened their dame.
ter, 50 that they did not dip SO deep into
The water and It was manifest that the
alteration had tended to increase the
speed.
This famed vessel, which was named
the Clermont, soon after sailed for Alba
nv and, on her first voyage, arrived al
her destination without any accl5rnt.-
She excitt d the establishment Of the in
hnbitants of the shores OF the Hudson,
many OF whom had not heard even Of the
engine, much less of the Steamboat -
There were many descriptions Of The eli.
lccts Of her first appearance upon the
people Of the banks of the river. Some
of these were ridiculous, but some of them
were of such character as nothing but
an object of real grandeur could have ex-
cited She was described by some, who
had lndstnctly seen her passing in the
night, to those who had not view Of her,
as a monster moving on the waters, defy.
ing the winds and tide, and breathing
flames and smoke"
"She bad the most terrific appearance
from other vessels, which were navigating
the river when she was making her pas
sage. The first steamboats,, as others yet
do Used dry pine wood for fuel, which
sends forth column of Ignlted vaPor,
many feet above the flue, and whenever
the fire is stirred, galaxy of sparks fly
off, which in the night have an airy, bril-
liant, and beautiful appearance. The
uncommon light first attracted the atten-
ton of the crews Of other vessels. Not.
wlthstandng the wind and tide were ad-
verse to its approach, they saw with as.
toniShment that it was rapidly coming to-
wards them; and when 1t came SO near,
as that the noise OF the machinery and the |
paddles were heard, the crews, in some
instances, shrnnk beneath their decks |
from the terrific sight; onI others left |
their vessels to go on shore, while others
Frustrated themselves, aud b sought Prov |
idence to protect them from the approach |
of the horrible monster which was march.
ing on the tides, aud lighting its path by
the fires which il vomited."