Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-06-16
& Cruz gkettb.
The First Trip Of the First Steam.
beat,

Here is something from the Jour
nal of Commerce, which possesses al
the interest of a romance:
During the past summer, cor
respondent of the Journal of Com
merce visited Eastport, Me, and
there ascertained that one Of Fol
tons employees, (who went to Albany
on the first trip of the "Clermont, J
was residing on Deer Island. DeeI
Island is ole Of those blue gems, be-
longing to the province Of New Bruns-
wick. which studs the St. CroiX
and the bay Of Fundy. These insu-
lar dots are the most charming fea-
lures in the beautiful scene which
one looks upon ircm the town OF East
port.
The correspondent referred to, was
at some pains to find out the story OF
this practical working man, who has
lived to see from Fulton's first expe-
riment, boats propelled by steam, CIR
ding the globe, and regulating the
commerce of all nations. Capt. Nc
Kinne is still a hearty old man, and
every ten days may be seen in East
port, where be goes to make the pur-
chases necessary for the use ol
the household Of his island home
He is a man Of probity, and a mem
ber Of the church. When in active
| life be was sea captain and
made many voyages to the West In.
dies in the employ of the Eastport
merchants. McKiune' father was a
loyalist in the Revolution, and hence
left his property near Nesburgh. on
the Hudson, and emigrated to the
provinces. NIcKinne was born at
Digby, Nova Scotia, in 1885. The
father of his family afterwards Came
TO Deer Island, where our hero siil
lives.
The property near Newburgb had
not been coDfscated, as the elder Mc.
Kinpe did not fight against the a
mericans. His father was prepared
| to 90 to New York to reclaim his
/ land, but died in the spring Of 1907.
/ This led the subject OF this article to
that city in May, 1907, for some
cause be remained, and sought en-
ploy ment. He Vas informed that q
steamboat was building on the East
river On the first Of June be hired
| himself to Robert Fulton for three
months. The boat had been launch
ed before be came, and it fell to him
to work with the engineer, au EN-
glishman. named Jackson. The boil
or was not put in for a month aftel
the boat was lauuched-the carpen
ters were arranging the wood work
and preparing the Clermont for ser
vice. The boat, Capt. McKinn,
says, "was built on the East river
near Hurl Gate, the last yard but one
dyiz: tina. Of. Charles Brown, Scotch
man. 1t started from this place VI
the river
Cant. McKinne says that the boa
was 140 feet long. She was flat
bottomed like a skitf, and was painte'
lead color. The Clermont drew 2.
inches Of water, and the rudder wen
, below the bottom of the boat; to tn
rudder-post two pieces Of wood wer
, fastened. These projected some fou
r or five feet, and a bolt extended acros
5 them to prevent the rudder from g
S ing down lower than it ought; In at
/ dition the rudder was so arranged ft
shcal water that it could be lifted t
n the surface, if necessary. Her whee
d extended below the bottom OF th
II boat. A fly wheel was auaehea
d the paddle wheel, having a run
e four inches wide, which Mr.. jackson
e the engineer, told Mr.. McKinn
r swas to make the paddle wheel pa
' the centre without jerk. Thel
e was a big hub" continued Capt. Nj
$ Kinne, ~iust inside the boat, in.
o which the shaft fitted. 1t could
d unshi2ped with crow bar, and II
IS revolution Of one Of the wheels stoI
,fl ned. when they wanted to turn Il
l. boat around. :,
"a There was two rows OF lire bricl
i. which the boiler rested upon. Inc
" we're imported from England at !,
8 cost of six cents each. The boil
e was ofacopper, top arehed; the oe q
nt,a haIteP 7,