The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-11-05
49, DR suasCalpF.oN:
..poor Iobn Fitch

In Judge Halls "Notes on the Western
States,D is the following account of John Fitch,
who, in his endeayors to solve the great prob
lem of steam navigation, long preceded fli-
ton, VINO reapcd aot only fame bat wealth
from his labors:
ain 1885, John Fitch matchmaker in
Philadelphia, conceived the slesign of propel-
ling boat b. steam. lie was both poor and
illiterate, and many difficulties occurred to
frustrate every attempt which ne made, to try
the practicabity Of his invention He applied
to Congress for assistance, but was refused;
and then offered his invention to the Spanish
Government, to be used in the navigation Of
the Mississippi but without any better sue
cess. At length, company was formed, and
funds subscribed FOR the building Of 4 steam
boat, and in the year l768, his vessel was
launched on the Delaware. Many crowded
to see and rdicule the novel, and as they sup
posed. the chemical experiment. It seemed
that the idea of wheels had not occurred to
Mr. Fitch. but instead Of them, oars were
used, which worked in frames He was con-
fdent OF success; and when the boat was ready
for the trial. she Started OF in good style for
Burlington. Those who had sneorod began
to stare. and they who had smiled II 1erlson
looked grave. Away went the boat and the
happy inventor triuInphed over the skepticism
of an unbelievin5 public. The boat perform
ed her trip to Burlington, q distance of tweu-
ty niles but unfortunately burst her boiler
in rounding to the wharf at that place, and
the next tide he@ted her baclc to the city
Fitch perseverad and with great difficulty
procured another boiler. After some time,
the boat performed another trip to Burlington
and Trenton, and returned in the same day.
She is said to have moved at the rate of
eight miles an hour but something was con-
tinually breaking, and the unhappy protector
only conquered one difficulty to encounter an
other. 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 complex machinery made with proper
exactness. Fitch became embarrassed wilh
debt and was obliged to abandon the inven-
ton, after having satisfied himself Of its prac-
ticabilty.
This ingenious man, who was probably the
first inventor of the steamboat, wrote three
volumes, which he depo ;ted 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 recordedsof him. that he died
and was buried near the Ohio. His three vol
umns were opened and found to contain his
speculations on mechanics. lie details his
embarrassment and disappontments, with a
feeling which shows how ardently he desired
success and which wins for him the sympathy
of those who have heart enough to mourn
over the blghted prospects of genius. He
confidently predicts the future success of the
plan, which in his hands failed only for the
want of pecunary means He prophesies
that in less than century, we shall see our
Western rivers swarming with steamboats,;
and expresses wish to be buried on the
shores of tho Ohio, where the song of the
boatman may enliven the stiffness of his rest
ing place, and the music of the steam-engne
sooth his spirit. What an idea. Yet how
natural to the mind of an ardent protector
whose whole life had been devoted to one dar-
ling object, which it was not his destiny to ac
complish And how touching is the senti-
ment found in one OF his journals: The day
will come when some more powerful mar
with get fame and riches from my igventions
but nobody viii believe that poor John Fatcl
can do anything worthy Of attention.