Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-06-03
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.

One hundred miles north of Green
field, writes a correspondent, up the
dark rolling Connecticut" in the town
of Fairlee, VT, and embosomed among
the mountains, lies the most beautiful
lake that ever gladdened the heart of
fisherman. At its southern point the
mountains open just wide enough for
an outlet, which after circuitous course
for miles, and after furnishing the mo-
tive-power for several mills, passes into
the Connecticut
A few rods from the lake, by the side
of this streamlet, stands an old-fashion-
ed house, which was, long ago. the abode
of Capt. Samuel Morey, very ingen-
ious though somewhat eccentric gentle
man of the ancient regime.
In the early part Of May, 1874, the
captain might have been seen snugly
seated in the stern of large log canoe,
OF 'dug-out," which was lying on the
placid bosom of the Connecticut, close
by the ehoro. He was very busily en-
ploycd in arranging some curious ma
chinery, which rumor said she had been
at work upon all winter" but the old
gentleman had so many crochets in his
head, that the people were not disposed
to mind much about him or his fandan-
goes.
This, however, soon proved an excep.
ton, for after he had got things ready
after the smoke had cleared away, and
the tea-kettle, or tin-kitchen, or what
ever else he had, had begun to isis
the master of ceremonies let go of the
bush, and with his paddle showed the
craft into the stream
Thus far this was mere common
place affair, but presently he grasped
what we should call the starting bar,
gave it pull, and, to the inexpressible
astonishment of an old man and his boy,
who had stopped their team at the end
of the furrow to see the old gent take a
boat-ride, the wheel at the side began
to turn, the steam began to squizzle,
the rods began to sprangle, and, shade
of the mother of witches the dug-out
began to move up stream.
"Je-ru-sa-lem, father % said John
''see the old cap'n go right agin the
kurrant' and sure enough, away he
went-the old veteran, who had studied
and thought, and contrived while Others
slept. Day after day that old canoe
was seen gliding up and down the river
guided by the old man, with his drat
coat and Quaker hat, and was propelled
by steam power. That, Mr.. Editor. was
the first steamboat that ever moved or
American waters
Capt. Morey was the inventor of nu
merous other machines, among which
was one to be carried by smoke, the re
mains of which may be seen to this day
The thing would go, but it wouldn'
pay it ended in smoke.
In fact, he was known far and neal
to be man of great inventive powers
and Robert Fulton was one of the man,
who visited him for the purpose of secur
ing his aid in unravelling some knott,
points in mechanism. and at the SAM
time assist Morey in his various plans
he Fulton) being practical mechanic
The old home alluded to was thei
STUDIO, laboratory and place of consult
alton, and many days they were closetec
there. by which the curiosity of the peo
pie was greatly moved. But it was no
until 1907 that Fulton tried his grea
experiment upon the Hudson River
which has revolutionized the world,
A discriminating and generous publ
should award at least a moiety 0
the credit to Morey of which Fulto
has been the recipient; and the twai
should hereafter be named together i
connection with the subject.-Bosto
True Flag.