Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-06

Notwithstanding ths fact that her machinery had
been made of rude materials by the viiiac,
blscksmiths herv. who had certainly never seen
end probably never keArd Of a srsssnsngine in
thcir lives heforv.-
What became % Rumsey and his boat af,er
tAa' experiment." was my next inquiry.
His boat replied nay friend was left o. 70,
by the river side, and Rumsey. after having OBJ
tAined certificates from the most influential of
those who witnessed the experiment in the spring
OF SO. and having secured patents Il his inscn-
ton from the States of Virginia and NarylApd.
went abroad and died In London in iTga under
circumstances of the most touchinz interest.
But what particularly desire TO call yoUs
attention to," continued my friend -is this sig.
nihcant fact. that shortly beforr poor Errnscys
death, be wrote home his iriolld. here that he
had just returued from an sNearsion in the cossn.
try with n young artist-.reni from America
who was ia England Tor the purpose of sclhEs
70 the British Government plan for blowing
up vessels by means of torpcdo OF has inven-
tign. AMI thht the young Americans nanr, was
Robert Falton. Now, when you thus discover
;hat Fulton was on intimate terms with Rum.
sey just before his death. in London. and lind
by reference IN Fultonz biography that IL was
not until after Rumscy's death that he began to
turn his attention 70 steam navigation YOU VIII
DC at no loss 90 understand which II the two
men Is entitled a. the honor OF having been TN.
real inventor Of thu STEAMBOAT especially. when
YOU remember that Fultons successful expcri
ment upon tbs Hudson in le07 Was made " ith
machinery imported expressly for the purpose
from Watt and 3oultons celebrated works at
soho. and that the -Clermontr did not attain a
greater rate Of speed On her frat trial trip than
kuins-y's rudely constructed boat did mt shep.
herdstown, twenty years before. It's long
story. full Of melancholy iniensj that about
James Ramsey, his various Inventions, his life
long struggle. and his uniimely death. have
not time to tell it new, but YOU shall hear Il be
fore you leave me-
But, SAID |. You must tell Ine sometLinc
about i ltrh was he not beiors Ruins..y in dem
onstratins the PrActicability of STRAIN naviga-
lion p
Not at all rcPliod my companion. -IIe 60,
fne idea ia Kentucky. from n frtend Of Rum
sey. what he was about, AMI he came on here 10
ferret cut the sccrci of his invention but beinr
discovered prying about Rgmseyz workshop
he was threatened with coat pf tar aud feath-
ers II he did not leave the town immedat,ly-
From this fact alone yoa may form your own
ideas Of Fitchs claims To priority in this great
invention"
~what authority" said I. shave YOU for ,hesc
statements!
he most authentic and unquestioi,s,bls, be-
replied such n original letters from eo,rmr.,-
raries Of Rumsey here who knew him and saw
his eNPcrimrnts--Oral statements from his
friends-Pamphlets Publisht-i at that period--
tradition, and the unpublished report Of select
committee Of the Housc Of Representatives
which may IL found ON fle at Washington. II
you have any doub, about the oorrectnc-s Of ny
statement wait until we get home. and think
] can then satisfy YOU thai to Virginia belongs
tbs hOpor Of originating steam navigation. aud
that the first successful experiment wks made
A' shepberdstown by James Rumsey whose
name. nov hardly known IN the town cf which
he Wa citizen, deserves 70 be embalmed in the
grateful rccoliections Of the whole family uf man,
for whom he labored. lived. And died
Thus converting we arrived at Norgan's
| Spring, which is lees than mile from tls town;
and having consigned our horses 70 the carr of
tbs servant, We were glad TO leave tn earriAge
and take stroll about the premiseS.
No loveler spo, could be selected for a rural
festival In front Of an oldfsshiou.-i aud sorB-.
what dilap'dated house. long since ahanton.d
by It's prorrbtors for tnorv modern mansion
not far odl upon y loiier but less romantic ste
-lOpiag lawn sweeps down to the margin oi a
rnimir lake. which mirrors on it, silver surface
I th" high Der arching" tr,cs that bend ihsir
shclicrins arms above a. Here and ihefv. %.
I on the hill-sidc, arr grand old aaoe.traI oaks
vhich stand like scntinel- apart. while scnt,er.
! ed groups Il dcnser growth afo-d sulicisni shsl
ter from ihc .un. In ihe aiidle distu,cc Of de-
} landscape a 1llagc spirr.
/ '--~ ~hoss Silent finger Ieint. 70 Hsavsn"
I sppear above an intervening nil, ard beyond
I this j. sern successiog OF groves and mdsia.
ting fields. 80 gra.iuafed in tseir tots tbst be-
becoming dimucr IN thr dis,Ance. taeir outliuss
err ~ lat rnerrrd IN nountains Which mari tbs
limit II the sad which ss,i.. % have stolen
| their color from the skies
! AZ ,hs has u IN, bill On wbti the bes,ss -
situated. boneath sisslving mass n u,oss yrov
rork and ibe guaSisd rcot. of tkun1lsr ri,en
oah, gi0riNis sPriug lenps o1i ilto sunitzi.i a.
/ Il glad - sU reies-~i fsoss ~ dafk pf.aaa.
caves q esrtb, aad sowing over tho sms.pih
sids q ~ artificial rvsrr,oir. Il runs riptlins
[ aicng msking fsefry uiasic ~ is tsu.hics ssaf
,is rorty b,d into tis placid vatrrs of o.. ist.
Tbs is "NorEan's Spring saa surh has l.ssn
ifs designation for nslr. thsn n trutsry th, fr.r
oriy of shich it eoastitnies q pafi having eaa.
tnusd IN pos-sssiun a ihe sase family SINCE
the sfsi sisiement ~ ~ valley ~ f,fmsr
iimes Il j. said % have i,csa q fstorit, trysilny
piaes o. rir iaitifrl igvers 4 BE- aFiehtariu,
toeu bai sias IN il-tsa if.,snsrats dags. - i.s
fuaaane. p ~ disepaat sra rkeanatssaa ~.
walls shen catarrhal ais Z. ~ are ~ aisrs s,g
keah 81 fe ihsa thf~s q ihe hesrs. usoai,ssi
fss.hls- have f,'isa iass disrsputs. aaa 49, p,u
Arni riiisgsu 80 nas .eia.a san a. NJ h,yaihu
ntsr o. psbbl, spring
aali 49, Isu.ae
iltt iai.p SO Hsg Cd 8 HaHes
n however usrv srs orcss. 10 es.-.. ..t'.s.
I re = vho VIII ronuhas 81 r..f il.,ir l.r' 80.
iesll snt hspIarsss ly sitiius thsfl ~ 49,,
i -. -. "a 49,. =.