Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-07-24
Fulton and the First Steamboat.

" When" said AIT. Fulton. - wa
building my first steamboat in New Yor,
the proJec; was viewed by the publ
either with Indifference or cou,empt a
a s'9aaTy scheme. Ny friends, IN
decd, were civil. but they were shy
4 Iaey listened with patience to my cx-
( plantations. but with a settled east of IN
! credullty on their counteuances. | fel
+ the full force OF the lameutatioa of the
poet,
Truth would Won teach. to save sinking LAND,
All fear, atd you, anu few uuaerslHn4.'
As | had occasion to pass daily through
the building yard, while my boat was ia
progress, have often loitercd unknown
near the idle group of strangers, geth.
ering in llttle circles, aud heard various in
quirles as to the object OF this new We
hicIe. The language was uniformity
that of scOrn, or sneer, OF rIdle ule. The
loud laugh often rose AZ my expense :;
the dry jes ; the wise calculation of the
Fulton folly. Never did single en-
couraging remark, bright, or warm
wish, cross my path. Silence Itself was
but polileness, veIlIng lis doubts, OF hid
ing lis reproaches. ~ length the day
araived when the experiment was 10 be
put IN operation. To me 1t was most
trying and Interesting occasion. IN
vIled many friends 10 60 on board to
witness the first successful trip. Many
of them did ms the favor % aaeud as u
matter of personal respect; bat It was
manifest that they did II wrh remittance,
fearing 10 be the partners Of M motif
tlcatlon, and MT OF my triumph. / was
well aware that IN my case there were
many reasons 10 doubt Of my success
The machinery was new auI Iil-made
many parts of Ii was constructed hv me-
chanics unaccus,omed 10 such work; and
unexpected difficulties NIGH; reasonably
be presumed TO present themselves from
other causes. The momen, arrived ID
which the word was 10 be given for the
vessel 10 move. AIv friends were IN
groups on the deck There was anxiety
mixed with fear, among them. Flcy
were silent, and sad, and weary. | read
IN their looks, uo;hIng but disaster, and
almost rcpened of my efforts. The
signal was gwen, the boat moved
small distance, and stopped, aud became
lmmovable. To the silence OF the pre-
cediug iHomeut uoE succeeded muruurs
Of dIScoutcnt, auI ag.laiions, and wins
pers, and shruLs. | could hear distinct
iy repeated, told you i Won lie So
1t is a foolish schemc-I wish we were
all out of =" elevated snysaf upJu Il
platform, uud addressed the assembly. |
stated that | knew not what was the
matter; but il they would be quiet and
indulge me for half an hour. would
eilhe go on, or abondon the voyage for
that time. THIS short respite was con
ceded without objection. l went below
examined the machinery, and discovered
that the cause was a slight mlsadIustment
Of the work. In short period /. was
obyiated The boat was pat again IN
motion. All We're still creauious. None
seemed willing 10 trust the evidence OF
their own senses. We left the fair city
of New York; we passel through the
romantic aai ever changing s. II -ry
OF III highlands; We deserted tn
clustering houses OF Albany; we reach
ed lis shores, and then, even then,when
all seemed achieved, | WAS the victim Of
disappointment. Imagination superced-
ed the influence of fact. 1t was then
doubted II IL could be done again; or II
done. il was doubted whether !. couid be
made Of any great value
Such was The history OF the first eX-
pertinent. as il fell, not IN the very lang
uare which have used, bur III lis suJ-
stance, from the lips Of the inventor. lie
did not live, indeed, TO enjoy the glory
OF his invention. 1t IS mouruful TO say
that attempts were made to rob hIu in
the first place of the merits Of his IN
vention, and next of It's fruits. lie fell
a victim TO his efforts TO sustain his title
10 both. When already his invention
had covered the waters o. the Hudson
he seer 4 little satisfied with the re-
suits, and looked forward 10 far more
extensive operations. My ultimate
/ triumph, my ultimate triumph" he used
10 say, :. viii be on the Mississippi.
/ know, indeed. that even now It's deem
/ ed impossible by many that the Difficult
ties OF lis navigation can be overcome
Bull am confIen, of success, | may
not live to see 1t; but the Mississippi
/ ,vin Vet be covered by steamboats,; and
thus an entire change be wrought IN the
course of the internal navigation and
commerce. Of our country"