Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-09-20

funds to finish the perseverance, ana
in writing his manuscripts, which
were deposited in the Philadelphia
Library, to be opened in thirty years.
At this time he seems to have been
entirely destitute of means, with but
little clothing, and was considered by
many as ''wild protector and Wis
ionary madman.
In 1893 he went to France, hoping
to raise funds to carry out his plans,
but was unable to obtain aid, having
arrived at time when business was
nearly suspended, on account Of the
revolutionary troubles at that period.
He returned the next year as sailor
before the mast, and after spending a
few months in Connecticut, and max
ing some experiments in New York,
he returned 10 Kentucky. He also
made some unsuccessful efforts to OBJ
tain aid from the citizens of that
State. In spite of all rebuffs, the
steamboat still amused his idle hours,
working upon a model when his
health would admit of it. It is be-
lieved that modification in being
compelled to abandon bis steamboat
discoveries, and the lawsuits growing
out of bis land title, broke down his
health and spirits and disgusted him
with life. y ,a
I Some time between the 25th of July
and the 18th of August, 1798, this un-
happy man, weary of the world, dis
appointed in all his expectations, yet
IIost honestly believing in the cor
reetness of the darling dream of his
life, died at Bardstown, Ky. He
ended his life by suicide. He had
been sick few days, and instead Of
taking the opium pills as directed, he
saved them until he had obtained
twelve. He swallowed them at once,
and in slumber passed away. For
years there was nothing to mark his
grave. Some pains has been taken to
identify it, and a " trough, unhewn,
unlettered stone" placed upon it as a
memorial. /" For genius and misfor-
tune, neglected in life and unhonored
in DEATH ,n it is perhaps a more fitting
monument than any storied urn
which might be placed over his last
resting place.
His wish, he said, was to. be buried
on the banks of the Ohio, where the
sound of the steam engine would in
C1AC EEH4 4kc ENAOCo dDAOahs
The manuscripts before spoken of
were opened in 1923. and were found
to contain plans and specifications,
which, viewed by the light of subse-
quent events, show the correctness Of
his views in regard to the PRACTICABLE
ity of his Invention His unwavering
faith in the value and usefulness of
steam in navigation was not over
drawn. His declarations left on
record of the future value of steam
power for that purpose, seem at this
time to have been well nigh prophetic.
His anticipations and conceptions far
exceeded the shallow wisdom of the
times. History can hardly show a
case Of such perseverance, in spite Of
insults, discouragements and poverty
calculated to subdue all hope and
aggravate a sensitive mind. 1t seems
a pity that one so correct in his views,
shonld have been so neglected and
prosecuted in life. z
His experiments made from 1857 to
1870 were the first successful steam
boat trips in the world and to him
should be given the honor Of the in
vention. Justice to his memory
demands that his name be recorded as
the successful inventor of the steam
boat, having demonstrated its prac-
ticability by those experimental beyond
the power of denial.
About two years after Fitch COM
menced experimenting on the Della
ware, Miller and SymingtOn, in Scot
land, engaged with some success in a
similar enterprise.
In this country, Morey, Rooseveldt,
Fulton and others, at different periods
were engaged in making similar ex-
periments. Robert Fulton commenced
experimenting in 1903, He had been
a spectator Of Fiteh's efforts, having
lived at least portion of that time in
Philadelphia. Fitch's plans and spe-
cifcations had been in his possession
for several months. He had also
visited the Charlotte Dundas, Sy-
mington's steamboat, on the Forth
and Clyde canal. Thus armed with
the plans of other inventors, with
Livingston as rich and liberal pat
ron, Fulton commenced his expert
ments. After procuring an improved
engine of James Watt, the best that
could be made in Europe, he was able
to propel the Clermont, in 1907, at the
rate of four miles an hour.
Fitch made his own, by the aid of
common blaeksmiths, being COM
pelled to discover its relative proper
tons by experimenting, and succeeded
in moving his boat st seven or eight
miles in the same time. Fulton
began after years spent by others in
trials, appropriating to himself the
result of their efforts, andis now held
out as the original inventor of steam
boats.
Fulton and Livingston obtained
from the Legislature of New York, a
transfer of all the rights previously
given to Fitch, basing their claims on
It, until it was declared unconstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court of the
United States.
For years John Fitch has lain in
his lone grave, with no influential
relatives to support his claim. Some
effort has been made at different times
to rescue his name from the fate
which seems impending over it, but
oblivion is fast spreading her mantle
over his deeds, which at one time ex-
cited great interest.
Let honor be given to whom honor
is due. If to Fitch be not given that
honor, it must go to English waters,
for Fulton is not entitled to it. He
and his heirs have already reaped a
rich reward. in honor and wealth, for
the honorable part borne by him in
perfecting the steamboat. His success
and the manner in which his biogra-
ply has been written, have long
obscured Fitch's merits he who had
demonstrated the feasibility of his
plans years before the uninformed
suppose steamboats, were invented.
Is it not time the banks of the Del
aware. were graced by something
commemorative of the deeds Of John
Fitch?
The State of Kentucky should not
forget what is due to him whose
bones lie mouldering by the beautiful
river. ---..ts -. ....t...
4 Potato Race.