Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-10-11
Fulton,s First Steam voyage.

Twenty years since, more or Iess-for cannot fix
the date with more certainty formed travelling
acquaintance upon steamboat upon the Hudson
river, with gentleman who, on that occasion, rela
ted to me some incidents of the first voyage of Full
ton to Albany in his steam boat the ClermOnt which
| have never met with elsewhere. The gentleman's
name have lost but | urged him at the same time,
to publish what he related; which, however, so far
as | know he has never done. | have several times
repeated the facts they told to me- and have
been often requested to secure them from oblivion
by giving them to the press.
| CHANGED, said my narrator to be at Albany on
business, when Fulton arrived there, in his unheard
of craft, which every body felt much interest IN
seeing. Being ready to leave, and hearing that this
craft to return to New York, repaired board
and"inquired for Mr. Fulton. was referred to the
cabin, and there found plain, gentlemanly man.
wholly alone, and engaged in writing
Mr. Fulton, presume.
Yes, sir.
Do you return to New York with this boat !
We shall try to get back, sir.
Can have passage down
You can take your chance with u.s. sir.
inquired the amount to be paid, and after mo-
ments hesitation sum- | think six dollars, was
named. The amount in coin laid in his open hand,
and with his eye fixed upon it, he remained so long
motioness that supposed there might be mlscount
and said to him, is that right sir This reused him
as from kind of reverie, and as he looked up
at me, the big tear trimming in his eye aDd his
voice faltered as he said me, sir; but memo
was busy as contemplated this, the hrSt pecunl-
airy reward have received for all my exertons
in adapting steam to navigation. | would gladly
commemorate the occasion bottle of wine with
you, but am too poor, for that, ust now; yet
trust we may meet again when this will not be so
The voyage to New York was successful all
know and terminated without accident.
Some four years after this, when the Clermont had
been greatly improved and her name changed to the
North River, and when two other boats, namely the
Car of Neptune and the Paragon had been built, ma
king Mr. Fultons fleet three boats regularly plying
between New York and Albany, took passage upon
one of these for the latter city The cabin, in thai
day, was below and as l walked its length, to and
fro, saw was very closely observed by one sup
posed stranger. Soon, however, recalled the fea
lures of Mr.. Fulton but without disclosing this,
continued my walk and awaited the result At length
in passing his seat, eyes met when he sprang te
his feet and eagerly seizing my hand exclaimed,
knew it must be you for features have escaped
me and although am still far from rich yet may
venture that bottle, now. 1t was ordered and du
ring its discussion Mr. Fulton rapidly but vivid
lv over his experience of the worlds GOODNESS, and
sneers and of the hopes fears disappointments and
difficulties that were scattered through his whole ca
reer of discovery up to the very point OF his hnal
browning triumph at which he so fully felt ne hat
at last arrived
And in reviewing all these, he said, have agar
and again recalled the occasion and the incident