The Nevada Democrat., 1856-12-31
John Fitch, the Originator of the First
Steamboat.

In Judge HALLS ''Notes on the Western States
the following interesting account Of John Fitch,
who, in his endeavors to solve the great prob
lem OF steam navigation, long preceded Fulton,
who reaped not only fame but wealth from his
labors:
In 1885, John Fitch, matchmaker in Phila-
delphia, conceived design for propelling
a boat 10y steam. He was both poor aud illIte-
rate, aud many difficulties occurred to Illustrate
every attempt which he made to try the prac-
ticability OF his invention. He applied to Con-
gress for assistance, but was refused; aud then
he offered his invention to the Spanish govern
ment, to be used in the navigation of the Mis- :
issippi, but without any better success. At
length a company was formed, aud funds sub
scrlbed for the building of steamboat, and in
the year 1888 his vessel was launched on the
Delaware. Many crowded to see and rid cule
the novel, and as they supposed the chimerical
experiment. 1t seems the idea Of wheels had
not occurred to Mr.. Fitch; but instead of them,
oars were used, which worked in frames. he
was confident of success, and when the boat
was ready for trial. she started off in fine style
for Burlington. Those who had sneered began
to stare, and they who had smiled in derision,
looked grave. Away went the boat, and the
happy inventor triumphed over the sceptcism
of an unbelieving 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 hoated her back to the city. Fitch
persevered and with great difficulty procur,d d
another boiler. After some time, the boat per-
| formed another trip to Burlington and Trenton,
aud returned the same day. She is sad to have
moved at the rate of eight miles an hour; but
something was continually breaking. and the
unhappy protector only conquered one difficult
ty to encounter another. Perhaps this was not
owing to any defect in his plans, but the low
state of the arts at that time, and the difficulty
of getting such complicated machinery made
with exactness. Fitch became embarrassed with
debt, and was obliged to abandon theinventon
after having satisfied himself of the practcabili-
ty. This ingenious man. who was probably the
first inventor Of the steamboat, wrote three vol
umes, which he deposited in manuscript, sealed
up, in the Philadelphia library TO be opened tbir-
ty wears after his death. When or why he came
to the West we have not learned; but it is re-
corded of him that he died and was buried mean
the Ohio. His three volumes were opened and
were found to contain his speculatons on me-
chanics. He details his embarassments and dis
appointments, with feeling which shows how
ardently he desired success and which wins for
! him the sympathy for those who have heart
enough to mourn over the bIighted prospects OF
genius. He confidently predicts the future sue
cess of the plan, which in his hands failed only
r for the want of pecunary means. He prophe-
| sizes that in less than century, we shall see
our western rivers swarming with steamboats,;
and expresses q wish to be buried on the shores
Of the Ohio, where the song ofthe boatman may
enlven his resting place, and the music of the
steam engine soothe his spirit What an idea
! Yet how natural to the mind of an ardent pro-
jector, whose whole life has been devoted TO
one darling object which it was not his destiny
to accomplish And how touching is the scnt-
ment found in one of his journals "The day
will come when some more powerful man will
get fame and riches rom my invention; but no
body will believe that poor John Fitch can dc
anything worthy of success"