Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-10-10
WHOLE NO. 1875
The First Steamboat.

field writes q 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
the fisherman. At its southern point
The mountains open just wide enough
tor an outlet which, after furnishing the
motive power for number of mills,
pas es into the Connecticut.
A few rods from the lake, by the
side of this streamlct, stands an old
fashioned house, that was, long ago,
the abode Of Capt. Samuel Morey;
very ingenious though somewhat ec-
centric gentleman ofthe very ancient
regime.
In the early part of May, 1774. the
Captain might have been seen snugly
seated at the stern Of n large canoe, or
dug out, which was laying on the placid
bosom of the Connecticut, close by the
shore, lie was very busily employed
in arranging some curious machinery,
which rNmOr said he had been at work
upon all winter; but the old gentleman
had so many crotchets in his head, that
The people were not disposed to mind
much about him Or his faudangoes.
This, however, soon proved an ex-
ceptlon, for after he had got all things
ready-aller the smoke had cleared
away, aud the tea kettle, or tin kettle,
or whatever else he had had begun to
hi>s-thc master Of ceremonies let 90
Of the bush, and with his paddle showed
the craft into the stream.
Thus far this was mere common
place affair, bat presently he 9rasped
what we should call a starting bar,
gave it pull, and to the inexpressihle
establishment Of an old man and his
son, who had stopped their team at the
end OF the turrow to see the old man
take the boat ride the wheel at the
side began to turn, the steam began to
squizzIr, and the rods began 10 sprangle,
and, shade of the mother of witches
the dug-out began to move on up
stream.
Je.ru salem, father said John see
rhe old cap'n 90 right agin the kurrant
and sure enough away he weut--the
old veteran, who had studied, and
thought ald thought and contrived
while others slept. Day after day the
I'D canoe was seen gliding up and
down the river, guided by the old man,
with his drabcoat and Quaker hat, ard
was propelled by the steam power. That
Mr.. Editor, am sure, was the first
steam boat that ever moved on Ameri-
can waters.
Capt. Morey was the inventor of
numerous other machines, among
which was one carried by smoke, the
remains of which may be seen to this
dty. The thing although it would 20,
he saw that it ended in smoke.
In fact, he was known far and near
to be a man of great inventive powers,
aud Robert Fulton was one amoag the
very many who visited him for the pur-
pose OF securing his aid in unravelIing
some knotty points Of mechanism, and
at the same time assist Morey in his
various plans, he (Fulton) being a
practical mechanic. The old home
alludei to was their studio, Iabratory
and place of consultation, and very
many days they We're closeted there,
for reason CT which the curiosity of the
people was greatly moved. But it was
not until the year 1907 that Fulton
tried his great experiment on the
Hudson River, which has revolution
lied the world.
A discriminating and generous public
should award at least moety of the
credit to Morey, of which Fulton has
been the recipient; and the twain
should hereafter De named together in
connection with the subject. --Boston
True Fiag.