Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-05-26
Fulton,s first steam Voyage.

THE following Renaissance of Fulton's
first steam voyage, and the reception OF
the passage money, was communicated to
the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser by X.
w. Haskins. Some years since l formed
q travelling acquaintance upon a steamboat
on the Hudson river with Q gentleman
who, on that occasion, related TO me some
incidents of the first voyage of Fulton 70
Albany, in his steamboat the ClermonTI
which I never met with elsewhere. The
pentleman's name ] have now lost, but l
urged him at the time to publish what he
related, which, however, so far as know,
he never has done:
81 CHANGED" said my narrator, ITO be at
Albany, on business, when Fulton arrived
there in his unheard of craft, which every
body felt so much interest in seeing. Be-
ing ready to leave, and hearing that this
craft was to return to New York, l re-
paired on board, and inquired for Mr..
Fulton. / was referred to the cabin, and
there found a plain, gentlemanly man.
wholly alone, and engaged in writing"
"Mr. Fulton, 1 presume"
"Do you return to New York with this
boat ?"
ave shall try to get back, sir"
"Can 1 have a passage DOWN."
"You can take your chance with US,
sir"
Il luQulIC0 III dL1Ouub W OO paw oAAA41
after a moments hesitation, a sum, l think
six dollars, was named. The amount, in
coin, 1 laid in his open hand, and, with
an eye 1xed upon it, he remained so long
motionless that 1 supposed there might
be a miscount, and l said to him, " Is that
right, sir?"
This reused him as from a kind of rev.
erie, and as he looked up at me a tear was
trembling in his eye, and his voice faltered
as he said, Excuse me, sir, but memory
was busy as l contemplated this, the first
~pec1niary reward l nave received for all
my exertions in adapting steam to naviga-
ton. I would gladly commemorate the
occasion over a bottle of wine with you,
but, really, | am too poor even Tor that
just now; yet l trust we may meet again
when this will not be so"
Some four years after this, when the
Clermont had been greatly improved, and
two new boats made, making FuItons
fleet three boats regularly plying De
tween New York and Albany, l took pas
sage in n of these for the latter city
The cabin in that day was below, and as
1 walked its length to and fro, 1 saw / was
very closely observed by one l supposed
a stranger. Soon, however, l recalled the
features of Mr.. Fulton; but, without dis
closing this, / continued my walk and
waited the result. At length, in passing
his seat, our eyes met when he sprang tC
his feet, and, eagerly Selling my hand
exclaimed, al knew it must be you, FOL
your features have never escaped me, and
although I am still far from rich, yet
may venture that bottle now"
1t wal ordered, and during its discussion
Mr.. Fulton ran rapidly, but wildly, owe
his experience of the worlds GOODNESS ant
sneers, and of the hopes, fears, disap
pointments and difficulties that wer
scattered through the whole career O
discovery, up to h very point of its fna
crowning triumph, at which he so full.
felt he had at last arrived. "And in re
viewing all these" said he, az have agail
and again recalled the occasion and tn
incident of our first interview at Albany
and never have I lone so without its re
newing in my mind the vivid emotion i
originally caused. That seemed, and still
does seem, to one the turning point in m,
destiny-the dividing line between ligh
and darkness in my career upon earth
forit was the first actual recognition c
my usefulness to my fellow.men."