Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-05-20
Fnlton,s first Steam Voyage.

THE following reminiscence Of Fulton's
first steam voyage, and the reception OF
the pnssape money, was communicated d 10
the Buffalo Commercial ddDertiSsr by II
w. Haekins Some years eince | formed
n travelling acquaintance upon a steamboat
on the Hudson river with a gentleman
who, on that occasion, related TO me some
incidents of the first voyage of Fulton to
Albany, In his steamboat the Clermont,
which never met with elsewhere. The
gentleman's name / have now lost, but l
urged him ut the time to publish what he
related, which, however, so far as know,
he never has done;
"I chanced," said my narrator, ITO be at
ALBANY. on business, when Fulton arrived
there In his unheard of craft, which every
body feltso much interest in seeing. Be-
ing ready to leave, and hearing that this
craft was to return to New York, / re-
paired on board, and inquired for Mr..
Fulton. / was referred to the cabin, and
there found plain, gentlemanly man,
wholly alone, and engaged in writing"
Mr.. Fulton, l presume"
eyes, sir"
edo you return to New York with this
boat ?"
"We shall try to get back, sir"
"Can have passage DOWN
you can take your chance with us,
sir"
/ inquired the amount to be paid, and,
after moments hesitation, a sum, think
six dollars, was named. The amount, in
coin, ] lad in his open hand, and, with
an eye fixed upon it, he remained so long
moiionless that | supposed there might
be miscount, and said to him, " Is that
right, sir 2"
This reused him as from kind of rev.
erie, and as he looked up at me tear was
trembling in his eye, and his voice faltered
as he said, Excuse me, sir, but memory
was busy as i contemplated this, the first
peo1nisry reward l have received for all
my exertions in adapting steam to naviga
tion. would gladly commemorate the
occasion over bottle of wine with you
but, really, / am too poor even for that
1ust now yet trust we may meet again
when this will not be So"
ar Some four years after this, when the
p lermont had been greatly improved, aDG
twA~new boats made, making Fultonl
Ri>f zsSEEhree boats regularly plying be
Herween New York and Albany, took pas
ssge in one of these for the latter city
, Ne cabin in that day was below, and a.
- sNealked its length to and fro, saw wa
eaTery closely observed by one supposed
a stranger. Soon, however, l recalled tht
features of Mr.. Fulton; but, without dis
closing this l continued my walk anC
waited the result. At length, in passing
his seat, our eyes met when he sprang Il
his feet, and, eagerly seizing my hand
exclaimed, 81 knew it must be you, to
your features have never escaped me, and
although am still far from rich, yet
may venture that bottle now"
1t was ordered, and during its discussion
Mr.. Fulton ran rapidly, but vividly, owe
his experience Of the worlds coldness an
sneers, and of the hopes, fears, disaI
pointments and difficulties that wer
scattered through the whole career {
discovery, up to the very point of its fina
crowning triumph, at which he so full
felt he had at last arrived. "And in rC
viewing all these" said he, 81 have agai
and again recalled the occasion and th
incident of our first interview at Albany
and never have done so without its r,
newing in my mind the vivid emotion
originally caused. That seemed, and sti
does seem, to me the turning point in N
destiny the dividing line between ligl
ana darkness in my career upon eartt
for it was the first actual recognition
my usefulness to my fellow men,"