Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-02-12

From the q Free Press"
We promised, in our notice OF the officers ana
privates who served in The war of the revolution 10
give an account of the experiments OF James Rum
tsey in steam navigation. Although we feel pre-
pare to prove thar the world is indebted TO the &c
Mus and perseverance of eiizcn OF ShePlsr
for the most useful invention of any age, VIC must
express regret that cannot describe, in ce-
tail, all the circumstances and events connected
with his history Most, indeed nearly the whole,
Of those who were eye-wituesses to his wonderful
and successful experiment. have been gathered 10
theiffatliefs and is 10 be deplored that many OF
the slSy they lSusss were
buried with them in their graves.
We do not claim that Rumsey was the inventor
of the engine; on the contrary, we are Tree
10 admit that the power and usefulness OF steam rs
an agent was known more than century before his
birth, but we do contend HAT it was he who first
conceived aud carried into successful execution the
"plan of propclling boats by the application OF a
mysterious agency"
In a work published in Spain many years since.
is said that auong the original papers relating 10
the voyage of Columbus, preserved III the royal ar
chivcs at Samancas found narrative. stating,
"a that Basco dc Garay, sca-captain exhibited TO
the emperor and king Charles W in the year 1913,
an engine Ly which ships aud vessels OF the largest
size could he propelled, in calm, without the
aid oroors or sails" But the editor of the Frank
lin (EuglisN Journal from which this extract has
been made observes ~ when the public records
shall appear in an authentic FORM hsevidcnce must
be admitted until Ltcl, he should not be inclined TO
commence history of the invention of the steam
boat, SO far back as l543. For circumstan:ial Us
the account is il seems 10 have been written SiHce
the days OF ofFuIton."
Ii is generally conceded, that the first-stcam en-
sfne was invented by the Marquis of Worcester in
the year 1855 but it adapted only to raising wa
ter, and that BIZ the expansive force of steam alone.
In June II, 1890 Capt Savcry had so far improved
on the engine of the marquis as to apply it, with
| g moderate success" 10 the machinery OF mills.
further improvement was added by James Wait in
the year 1868.
lie was maker of mathematical instruments
at GLASGOW, and being man ot truly philosophical
mint and we'll conversant with all branches OF sci
cnce he was in the habit OF asSoclang with the noS
celebrated scientific men at that time in Scotland,
particularly with DR.. Black. DR.. Rosbuck, and Dr.
Robinson, :hrn young philosopher Ills engines
became i'll general use. They were actuatcd both
by the pressure Of steam, and the vacuum acting AT
the time upon the opposite surface o. the piS-
iou"
We have read with great diligence and attention
the detailed history of the improvements in and she
/ purposes to which these inventions were applied,
and no where do we discover the slightest alIusion
TO thcr being employed in Propcing ships or boats.
honor OF tie latter application of steam. justly be-
longs to James Rumscy.
| The following extract, from Howes History Of
( Virginia is full Of interest:
JA:iEs RrafsEY who is believed to be the first per
son that succeeded in proPcinS boat ty steam.
was native of Maryland. When young man,
he removed to Shepherdstown, where he devoted
much OF his lime 10 mechanics.
He was at one period Of his life, engaged
/ merchant in company with Mr. Crrick, at Bath.
: In SSaDe ,Ipr
from letter of his, before US, that lc was EN-
ployed by the Potomac company, OF Which w ash
ingion member, TO improve the navigation OF
the Poo River In the summer Oi the year lIo5.
he directed his attention TO the subject OF steamboats,
/ and in the autumn of 1884 succeeded in private
but very imperfect experiment. in order to test some
of the principles of his invention In the October
session of that wear, he obtained the passage oil an
act from the Virginia Assembly, guaran;ylns to
him the exclusive use Of his invention in naviga-
ting the Of that state, Tor the space OI III
! wears. from date. In January, 1885, he obtained
natent from the General Assembly OF Maryland, for
navigating their waters Through the whole OF this
year he was engaged in working al his boat, but
was not ready for public trial until 1856 the year
/! following. In this experiment he was elninentiy
successful. He succeeded in propellng his boat by
steam alone, at ShePherdstown. against the current
ofthe Potomac, na al the roe Of oEr or fire miles
In the correspondence of Washington, compiled
bv SHARKS is a letter to Rumsey, dated anterior TO
the public experiment in 1856, advising him to has
ten The construction of his boat TO prevent be-
ing foreslalled by another individual and to con-
vince the public of its practicabIity Also IN let
ter 10 Hugh Williamson. W. c., dated Mount Yer
non March 18th 1885, Washington says, in allu-
ding to Rumsey's boat: " If model of thing, in
miniature, is just representation of greater OBJ
iect practice there doubt of the utility ofhe
| invention view of his model, with the cxplana-
tion removed the principal doubt ever had OF the
practicability of propeng against a-strea, by tic
aid of mechanical power but as he wanted TO avail
himself of my introduction OF II to the public atten
tion, chose, previously to see the actual perform
ancc OF the model in descending stream, before
passed my certificate. and having done SO, all my
/ doubts are satisfied"
| While at Shepherdstown MIR. Rumaey dwelt in
small los-h house now standing near the town Jall IN
the outskirts of the village. He supplied with
/ funds for the undertaking by his brother -in-law,
| Charles Morrow, which proved tho ruin OF the lat
ter. The boat was built upon the banks OF the Po-
toinac about halfa mile above the town. She was
called by the towns-people, not the steamboat h1t
the fviug-boat - and Mr. RuBnsoy himself received
! from the same source the appellation of : Crazy
/ Ruosev" There is place upon the banks of the
4 Potomac formerly called 'Rumseys Walk, !, where
Rumsey was often seen for hours walking to and
fro in deep meditation upon his tavorite PROJECT
] Rumsey was assisted in the construction of this
boat by the late Jacob Haines and Michael Fouke,
! of Shepherdstown. The boiler was for some time
in the possession of Alexander R. Bo1eIeI, Esq., but
we understand he presented it few years since to
Professor Mitchell of Philadelphia.
| % After the experiment above alluded TO. Rumsey
being underline strong conviction that skilu work
men and perfect machinery were alone wanting to
4 the most perfect success and sensible that such
could not be procured in America resolved go 10
England. With slender means OF his OVID, and aid
ed or rather aHoeE.d, by some timid and unsteady
patronage, he there resumed with uutIrinS energy
| his great undertaking. He proceeded TO procure
patents ofthe British government for steam naviga
ton these patents bear date In the beginning cfthe
year 1885 Several Of his inventions, IN one rnodi-
| fed form or another, are in general use as,
for instance, the cylindrical boiler superior to
the old tub or stilLboers, in the presentation of
FIRE surface and capacity for holding highly rare
fled steam is described, both single and confined
in his Specifications and is identical IN principle
with the tnb. boiler which he used in his Potomac
IexpeFinent,s sfe ~ - 80
q Difficulties and embarrassments Of a pecuntary
nature aud such as invariably obstruct the progress
of a new invention attended him in England: He