The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-09-25
THE FIRST sTEABOAT VOYAGE.

THE FIRST STEABOAT VOYAGE.
Fulton's Trip mp the Hudson from New
York to Albany In 1907.
Three score and three years have roll
ed by since Fulton died, at the age of
forty nine, eight years after the trial trip
3 of the ClerMont on the Hudson river,
from New York to Albany-the first
practical demonstration that steam could
be applied to the propulsion of vessels
with entire success. OF those who en-
joyed the privilege of being on the Cler-
mont's deck before the start, during the.
"trip or just after the arrival at Albany,
there is but one alive, and he was car
ried in his mothers arms at the time, be-
ing only two years old. His personal
remembrance of the event, or course,
does not amount to much. but he has
nevertheless a store of information con-
corning the trip, not in the possession of
nobody else, for as soon as he became
old enough to realize the importance of
the matter he naturally sought with more
assiduity than q person less directly in
terested would exhibit for facts pertain
inc to the occasion. The gentleman is
Rev. Frederick Reynolds Freeman, a
Baptist clergyman, OF Illinois, now, with
his wife and children, on a visit to this
city. Mr.. Freeman is in his seventy
third year, white haired, but fresh-look-
ing and vigorous. ..-. ...
''The event is like dream to me-" says
Mr.. Freeman. "Probably my memory
would now be unable to reach it but for
1o ~ md
incidents made to me in my youth. These
wildly impressed the whole upon my
mind, and together with my faint reccol-
lections of the occasion left more faith
tul picture than unassisted tradition or
history could paint upon memory less
allied to the circumstances.
''The first steam packet (of 40 feet kee
aud 10 1-2 feet beam) was trim and hand
some enough, excepting the boilers, ma
chinery and smokestack, which were
rude, cumbrous and Of extremely tormid
able appearance. The side wheel, too,
was clumsy affair, uncovered and with
twelve huge paddles, held in their place
by ring half way between their extremi-
ties and the hub, that sent water splash
in upon the deck with every revolution.
The top of the smokestack was about
thirty feet above the deck--nearly as high
as the two masts, from the rear one of
which foated the stars and stripes.
'Hours before she started a great null
tude had ass 5led along the wharfs to
witness the expected inglorious ending of
what was generally known as 'Fulton's
folly Cries of God help you, Bobby!
Bring us back chip of the North Pole
"A fool and his money are soon parted !!
etc., we're frequent, loud and annoying
Fulton, however, knew that the crowd
were sincere in their ridicule, and with q
confident smile, went on experimenting
preparations for the start, as if he knew
that triumph would presently more than
overbalance the sneers, jibes and cat-calls
of the vulgar, and the plying manners Of
the more refined. Smoke issues from the
stack; the hawser is drawn in; the side
wheel qulvers; it slowly revolves; Full
tons own hand ut the helm turns out the
bow; he is pale, but still confident anG
self possessed; the Clermont moves out
into the stream, the porderous machin
cry humping and grooming, the Wheel
trantically splashing and the stack belch
ing like a volcano; but the Clermon1
steadily moves; all aboard swing thei1
hats in the air, and give cheer that is
Immediately taken up by the entire null
titude On land; the Pennsylvania has
triumphed, and the hitherto incredulous
and hooking populace of New York are
the first to do him honor; the crowd re-
main cheering him on the piers until thu
Clermont is out OF sig BIT I'D the Hudson
MI. Freeman says that the boat arrived
at Albany on September II, thirty si7
hours after starting from New York. I
had not been Continually in motion, tn
party having stopped at The residence o
Chancellor Livingston on the way up
The speed was at the rate of five miles al
hour. The appearance of the strang
vessel as she steamed up the river had
remarkable effect, even in day time, upo1
the crews of craft passing by, for com
Taratively few of the shippers coming
down could, IN those days of slow mai
and no telegraph, have been prepared t,
encounter such an oddity; but at nigh
the Clermont spread CONSERVATION ant
terror on all sides. It was very dark
and the fires were fed with dry, whit
pine wood, which, when stirred. would
send up columns Of flame and spark
from the mouth of the tall stack. Thi
apparent volcano moving steadil7
through the darkness up the middle o
the river and accompanied by the rum
bling and grooming Of the hard-laborin.
machinery, was we'll calculated to strik
terror into the hearts of sailors on tn
sloops and other craft coming down witt
grain and general farm produce, who ha'
never heard of any motive power TO
vessels except wind, and who withal ,wer
extremely supers itious.
"My father and others told me-" say
Mr.. Freeman, 81 that whole crews pros
trated themselves upon their kness an<
Desought Divine Providence to protec
them from the horrible monster that wa
marchinn ON the. tidac and l;orh4;ne. -,