Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-03-30
A SURVIVOR OF FULTON'S FIRST
STEAMBOAT CREW.

port, Me-, and there ascertained tha
one of Fulton's employees. who went t
Albany on the first trip Of the Clermon'
was residing on Deer Island. Dee
Island is one of those blue gems, be
longing to the Province of New Bruins
wick. which stud the St. Croix and tn
Bay of Fundy. These insular dots ar
the most charming features in the beau
tilul scene which one looks upon from
the heights of Eastport.
The correspondent referred to, was a
some pains 10 ind out the story Of thi
practical working man, who has lived Il
see from Fullon's first experiment, boat
propelled by steam girdling the globe
and regulating the commerce of all ma
lions. Captain Mckinney is still hale
hearty old man, and every ten days may
be seen in Esstport, where he goes tC
purchase the household necessities o.
his island home. He is man cf probily,
and a member of the church. When in
active lie he was a sea captain, and
made many voya .es to the West Indies
in the employ of Eastport merchants
Capt. McKiuney's father was Ioyalist
in tue revolution, and hence left his
property near Newburgh, on the Hud
son. and emigrated to the Province -
Capt. Mex. was born at Digby, N. S.
10 785. The family of his father after
wards came to Deer Island, where our
hero still lives.
The property uear Newburgh had not
been confscated, as the elder Mckinney
did not fight against the Americans
His father was preparing 10 go to New
York to reclaim his land, but died in the
spring of 1907. This led the subject of
this article to this city in May. 1907
For some cause he remained here, and
sought employment. He was informed
that steam boat was building on the
East river. On the first of June he hir-
ed himself to Robert Fulton for three
months. The boat had been launched
before he came. and it fell to him to
work with the engineer, an Englishman,
by the name OF Jackson.
The boiler was not puG in for a month
after the boat was launched. The car
penters were arranging the wood works
and preparing the Cermont for service.
The boat, Captain Mex. says. was built
on the East River near Hurl Gate
Fulton's boat was built in the last yard
but one, viz, that of Charles Brown, a
Scotcbman. 1t stared from this place
on her trip up the river"
Capt. Mex. says the boat was not 14O
feet long. She was fiat boltomed like
a skiff. She was painted lead color,
The Ciermont drew 22 inches of water.
and the rudder went below the bottom
of the boat. To the rudder-post two
pieces Of wood were fastened. These
projected some four or five feet, and a
bolt extended across them, to prevent
The rudder from going down lower than
it ought" in addition, the rudder was
so arranged for shoal water that it could
be lifted TO the surface if necessary u
Her wheels extened below the bottom Of
he boat. A fy-N heel was attached to
the paddle wheel, having a rim four
inches wide, which Mr.. jackson, the en-
gineer, told Capt. Mex. "was to make
he paddle wheel pass the centre with
,ut a jerk" "Therc was a big hub"
continued Capt. Mex, lust inside the
,oat, inio which the shaft fitted. 1t
could be. unshipped with crowbar, and
he revolution of one of the wheels stop
Jed aVhsn they aOdnLed to haul tie boat
sund. There were two rows Of fire
'ricks which the boiler rested upon.-
hese bricks were imported from Eng
and, and cost six cents each. The
'o;ler was of copper. top -arched; the
ottom curved upwards. The boiler fed
self.
The Captains description of some of
ne machinery will be both amusing and
TO those who have watched
lie progress of this branch of mechanics.
lis own language, used in describing
lie apparatus for supplying water TO the
oiler, will give far more graphic idea $
ian any which we could hope to convey. t
A grindstone was suspended from its +,
,ntre by wire inside the boiler. A I
ad pipe ran from The boiler to the
ater. +
The top of the grindstone was level ]
ith the water in the boiler; as the wat Q
boiler away, the stone would fall; as a
e boiler was filed up, the stone would d
le. Machinery working like pump >,
indie connected this grindstone with |,
e cock of the water pipe outside to the d
'iler. As the grindstone fell. it would
en the cock wider, and the reverse,
C.
Captain Mex. says that when the .NC =
Jlermont" stated on her trip to Albany, Il
e left New York. according 10 his &c
about 8 o'clock in the NOR
,g, and went up as far as the Living b