The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-11-04
A Man Voluntarily I'm Bed for
FOrty-nine Wears.

ed to their final resting place in the church
yard Of Keighley, York shire. the mortal
remains of one of the most eccentric indi-
viduals that ever lived; in fact parallel
seems scarcely possible, of man volun-
tarily going TO bed in good health. and re-
naming there for period of forty nine
years. He went by the cognomen of Old
Threelaps,' in the reighborhood, but his
real name was William Sharpe. He lived
in an isolated house, called Worlds (pro-
badly an abbreviation of Worlds End)
not far from Braithwaite, in the parish of
Keighley.-He was the son Of small fur
mer, born A. D., 1777, and from an early
age showed little disposition to steady
work. When thirty years of age lie took
to his bed and room. which he never left
till carried thence OH the day of his funeral.
The cause of this extraordinary conduct is
believed to have been a matrimonial dixap-
pointment; his wedding day was fixed; ac
companied by friend he wcnded his way
down to the village church, aud there
patiently awaited the arrival Of his bride
elect; but she never camc--her father hav
ing sternly and steadily refused his consent.
Henceforth the young man consigned HIM
self to a small room, nine feet square, with
the determination of spending the remain
der of his existence between the blankets,
which resolution he kept most unhinc nchingly.
At the time of Sharpe's death, the win
dow of his room had never been opened for
thirty-eight years. In this drcary abode
did this strange being immure himself. Uo
constantly refused to speak to any one,
and if spoken to, never answered, even
those who were his constant attendants.
His father, by his will made provision for
the temporal wants of his eccentric son,
and secured him constant attendant
During the whole period of this sclf-im-
posed confinement, he never had any SER
ious illness, the only case of indisposition
those about him can remember was slight
loss of appetite for two or three days,
caused apparently by indigestion, notwith-
standing he eat on the average as mnch as
any laborer.
Though arrived at the age of seventy
nine years, his flesh was firm, fair and un-
wrinkled, save with fat, and his weight was
estimated at about 240 pounds. The curious
used to come from far and wide to see him,
but whenever a stranger was usLered into
his den, he Immediately buried his head
under the bed clothes. About a week be-
fore his death, appetite began to fail, and
his limbs became partially benumbcd, so
that he could not take his food in his ac-
customed manner. From this attack he
seemed to rally, and not until the evening
before his death were any apprehonsions
entertained that the attack would prove
ultimately fatal. However, during the
night of Sunday, the 2d inst, he became
rapidly worse, and died at four the follow
ing morning. Shortly before he expired
he was heard to exclaim-'Poor Bill-Poor
Bill-Poor Bill Sharpe!' the most connect
ed sentence he had been known to utter for
many year.
IHE REAL INVENTOR OF THE STEAM
BOAT.-From advance sheets of Lloyd's
forthcoming Steamboat Directory, we see
that he gives the credit of invention of the
steamboat to John Fitch, and not to Robert
Fulton. He produces good authority to
sustain him in his assertions, and the friends
of Fitch will no doubt be glad to find JUS
tice will be done to this work. 1t appears
that John Fitch invented and made q suc-
cessful trial trip with his steamboat at Phil
la6elphia, in 1886, which averaged nearly
eight miles an hour, and that afterwards,
while he was ill Paris, trying to obtan aid
from the French Government to further his
objects, lie met Robert Fulton, who was
there with his submarine battery for blow
ing up ships; and Fulton, by pretending to
take great interest in John Fitch, obtained
plans and drawings of his steamboat by
giving him some milk and water letters to
various persons. Poor Fitch remained in
Europe some time, trying to get capitalists
to advance him funds to prosecute his great
invention. bat without success.
They called him crazy, little dreaming of
the prize they were losing. Meantime
Robert Fulton returned to New York, and
obtaining funds from Chancellor Livingston.
b1ilt the steamer Clcrmont, on tho North
River in 1856, using in acr one of Watts
improved engines ordered from England
This was fully twenty years after John
Fitch had demonstrated the practicability
of stemming the mighty Mississippi with the
steamboat. IN 1911, Robert Fulton and
Livingston claimed the exclusive privilege
of navigating the Ohio and Mississippi by
steam. Several boats were thus tied up,
but at the great trial in New York it was
satisfactorily and couclusively proved that
Robert Fulton was not the inventor of the
steamboat, bat to John Fitch belonged the
high honor Of first moving in this wonderful
discovery Cincinnati I'tmes.
sv The Philadelphia Bulletin says that
the vote in the House of Bishops upon the
restoration of Bishop Onderdonk, was twen-
ty-one in favor, to eight against his res-
toratien. Bishop Atkinson voted in the