Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-10-01
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR Is DUE

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR Is DUE |
! observed in your paper few weeks since
the name OF John Fitch. a. being the first in- !
venior OF a steamboat. and represe nting him
as Belonging 10 the Southland This is mere
" to correct an error. As to HE birthplace, |
IN looking Into the historical collections OF |
Sonnecucut, i ind an engraving of John |
titehs steamboat, under the town of East
NinsoT, together with the following. viz -
John Fitch VAS a native Of this town. To
this individual belongs the honor OF having
constructed the first Steamboat in this comI-
Try. Although this honor has so generally
been ascribed 20 Robert Fulton. yet il is
well known fact, that tieeHty ysays before
the great experiments Of Fulton and Liviucs-
ton ON the Hudson. a STEAMBOAT was con-
I'D and pat in operation in PHILADELPHIA.
under the sole direction OF a then obscure.
aud stu almost unknown individual. This
person was John Fitch lie was born ia the
south part oil East Winsor, near the East
Hartford line. on what is called The Old road
he was appreniiced as watch end cloVk ma
ksr 10 MIR. Cheney, who carried GA the bust
ness IN the eastern paTi OF East Hartford, aow
Manchester. lie married la early lie, and
had two children; such however. was the
temper sud unhappy disposition OF lis wife.
that he left and went To New Brunswick
N: - where I've set zap the business of clock
making, engraving and repairiag llislskets. be.
fore the Revolution. When New J.rsey
was oNerrun by the British troops, MIR. Fitch
removed into the interior OF Pennsylvania,
Where he employed himself in repairing arms
Tor the Coniinenml Army
In the year 1881, Mr. Fitch conceived the
project OF propeliing vessel by the force OF
condensed vspor. When the idea occurred TO
him, as he himself tells rs, he did not know
that there was such thing as steam engine
IN existence"
In 1858, he obtained patent for applca-
ton OF steam navigation By Onwearied ex.
eri'on he succeededin interesting about TWEEN
~ persons in bis plan. and inducing then, to
take shares OF $50 each. A boat was built
IN 1851. mile was measured off in front
oi Water street, and the boat was found 10 90
at the rate OF miles an hour; il afterwards
went eO miles in day. The Governor and
Council OF PENNSYLVANIA were SO much graft
neu with the experiment, that they presented
them with superb silk flag Abont this
time the Company sent MIR. Fitch TO France
AZ ihe request OF MIR. Vail. our consul Al
l. Ouent who WAS one of the COMPANY. and
wished toiotroduce the invention into France.
Being IN the midst of revolutions i'm that
country, and as no. men could be- obtained
Tor The purpose OF building boats Mr.. Fitch
the examination OF Mr. Fulton. when in
France, .he papers and designs of the steam.
boat apperaining TO the Company" Ia 1870
ne made an Alternating in his boat and she
performed iolersble Sseil, but still if.neo,,ired
further alterations. DIR. Fitch. however
WIS not able TO Obtain the necessary neansin
order 10 perfect his Invention.
The conviction OF Fitch respectiiteE the
power ole steam confined firm he oddfgssed
a letter TO Mr.. Rittenhuuse Que of the shs,e-
holders speaking OF steam power, hek sid:
. rms. sir, will be the mode of crossing ,lhe
ausnlic IN time whether shall bring Itto
perfection or not" IT
lie complains OF his poverty, and to raise
unds he urges Mr.. Rittcnhouse TO buy his
and IN henpckg, tina be might have The
'onor on en49iifg ll,to to coIn1 ,iefc the arenf
Undertaking. Upon one occasion np 1h
NTH who had worked upon has boat. and az
ef dwelling forsome time upon his favorite
oplc, concluded with these words -. Well
gentlemen, although J shall not live TO see
.'ihe' you Will when steamboats, will be pre-.
erred TO all other means OF conveyance. es.
oeeisiiy Tor passengers, aud they viii be par
'isslppi. Tie retired. when person present
observed, IN a tone OF deep syinpathy' .spoor
fellow, what pity II is be is sIezy."
The distress OF mind aud modification ne
suffered rom the failure oil his prniracted cS-
ertons aud his poverty were too much for
hiin and To drown the reflections he had re-
course 10 the common bar deceptive rrmsl,
strong drink, in which lac INDUCED 60 excess
and retiring to Pittsburgh, he ended his DAYS
by pungng into the Allegheny He had
filled several small Ms. books with personal
and general narrative, more or les, connected
with has great scheme and which he b-oue,,b.
ed to The Philadelphia Library, with the pro.
'iso That lhey were to remain closed tor tbiry
years. The BOOKS were opened IN due time
and were losnd 10 con ain minute account
oi ms peTplexitIes and disappointnents--
"Oi the bOllless OF his conceptions b" f.oys
writer IN the Mechanics Magazine. Janna.
~, 1850 " and the perseverance with which
he followed IL up, there can be but one ooiu.
ION; and had fortune attended his efforts anil
hls means been eqnai To the accomplishment
OF his designs, there eau b. no doubt that he
would now hold undisputed the honor of h,. /
wing given TO lhe country this most noble and
useful invention"
American ed. Edinburgh Encyclopedia.