The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-10-09
POOR JOHN FITCH


In Judge Halls "No.cs on the Western
States" is the following interesting account
Of John Fitch, who in his endeayors TO solve
the great problem OF steam navigation, long
preceded Fulton. who reaped not only fame
but wea tn from his labors
"In 1895, John Fit h, watch maker in
Philadelphia, conceived the design Of propel-
ling boat by steam He was both poor and
ilterate, and many difficulties occurred, TO
illustrate every attempt which he made to try
the rraclicabity Of his invention. He ap-
piled 10 Congress for assistance, but was re-
fused and then offered his inv, ntion to the
Spanish government, to be used in the navi-
cation of the Mississippi, but without any bet
ter succe At Atlepgth company was form
ed, and funds subscribed for the building Of q
steamboat, and in the year 1893 Lis vessel
was launched on the Delaware. Many
crowded to see and iilicule the novel, and as
they supposed, the chmerical experiment.
1t seemed that the idea of wheels had not oc-
Cured to Mr.. Fitch but instead Of them,
oars we're used, which worked in frames,-
He was confident of success and when the
boat was ready for the trial, she started off
in good style for Burlington. Those who
had sneered began 10 stare, and they who
had smiled in derision, looked grave. Away
went the boat, and the happy inventor tri-
unphed over the scep icism Of an unbeliev.
ing public. The boat performed her trip to
Burlington, distance of twenty miles but
unfortunately burst her boiler in rounding to
the wharf at that place, and the next tide
ed, and with great difficulty procured anoth-
L.. f. l. L.
formed another trip 10 Burlington and Tren-
ton, and returned in the same day. She is
said TO have moved at the rate of eight miles
an hour; but something was continually
breaking, and the unhappy protector only
conquered one difficulty TO encounter anoth.
or. Perhaps this was rot owing TO any de-
feet in his plans, but the low state of the arts
at that time, and the difficulty of getting such
complex machinery made with proper exact
ness. Fitch became embarrassed with debt,
and was Obliged 10 abandon the invention,
after having satisfied himself OF its practical
bility. This ingenious man, who was proba-
bly, the the first inventor OF the steamboat,
wrote three volumes, which he deposited in
manuscript, sealed up in the Philadelphia
library, TO be opened thirty years after his
death. When, or why, he came TO The west
we have not learned but it is recorded Of
him, that he Ged and was buried near the
Ohio. His three volumes were open, and
were found to contain his speculalions on
mechanics. lie details his embarrassments
and disappointments, with a feeling which
shows how ardcntlv he desired success and
Which wins for him the sympathy of those
who have heart enough to mourn over the
blighted prospects of genius. He confidently
predicts the future success Of the plan, which,
in his hands, failed only for the ant of Pc
cuniary means. He propbesies that in less
than a century, we shall see CUR western
rivers swarming with steamboats, and ex-
presses wish to be buried on the shores Of
the Ohio, where the song Of the boatmen
may enliyen the stiffness OF his resting place,
and the music OF the steam-eneine sootne his
spirit. What an ideal Yet how natural to
the mind of an ardent protector, whose whole
life has been devoted 10 one darling object,
which it was not his d, stiny to ccOmplish J.
And how touching is the sentiment found in
one of his journals - The day will come
when some more powerful man will get fame
and riches from my invention, but nobody will
believe that poor John FIFTH can do anything
worthy of attention.