Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-02-14
The First Successful steamboat.

Inc E1fSt SucCcSsfnl Ste0mDO8t.
Popular Science Monthly for February.]
The experiment was sufficiently
successful to induce Fulton and Liy'
ingstOn to order an engine OF Messrs
BOultOn aad Watt, directing 1t to be
sent to America, where Livingston
soon returned. In 1906 Fulton follow
ed, reaching New York in December
and at once going to work on the vessel
for which the English firm sent the
engine. without being informed OF d
intended use. ....t--.
In the spring of 1907 the Clermont ss
the new boat was christened, was
launched from the ship yard Of Charles
Brown, en- the East river, New York.
In August, the machinery was or
board and in successful operation. The
hull of this boat was one hundred and
thirtythree feet long, eighteen feel
beam, and seven feet In depth.
The boat soon afterWard made triE
to Albany, making the distance OF one
hundred and fifty miles In thirtytwC
hours running time, and returning liz
thirty heurs. The sails were not used
on either occasion. ..-..... ..-..-
This was the first voyage of consider
abs length ever made by steam
vessel, and the CIermont was soon
after regularly employed as passenger
boat between the two cities. ,..-..
Fulton, though not TO be ciassed
with James Watt as inventor, is entitl
ed to tn 70 great honor of having beer
the first to make steam navigs tion al
every day commercial success, and o
having thus made the first application
of the steam engine to ship propulsion
which was not followed by the retire
ment of the experimenter from th'
field of his labors before success wa
permsntIy insured.
The engine of the Clermont was ol
rather peculiar form, the engine being
coupled to the crank shaft by q bel
crank, and the paddle wheel shaf
being separated from the crank SHAFT
but connected with the latter by gear
ing. The cylinders were twentyfOul
inches in diameter and of four fee
long with q dip of two feet.
An old drawing made by Fulton'
own hand, showing this engine as i
was improved, in 1903, is in the reli,
corner OF the lecture room of the authO
at the Stevens Institute of Technology
The voyage Of this steamer to Albany
was attended with some ludicrous in
cidents, which found their counterpart
whenever subsequently, steamers were
for the first time introduced.
Mr.. Golden, the biOgrapher Of Full
ton, says that she was described by
persons who had seen her passing q
night, "as monster moving on the
waters, defying wind and tide, and
breathing flames and smoke"
This first steamboat used dry pins
wood for fuel, and the fame rose to {
considerable distance above the smoke
pipe, end, when the fires were disturb
ed, mingled smoke and sparks rose
high in the air.
"This uncommon light" says
Golden, "first attracted the attention Ol
the crews of other vessels. NOtwith-
standing the wind and tide were
ayerse to its approach, they saw with
establishment that II was rapidly COM
ing toward them, and, when IL came 90
near that the noise of the ma
chinery and paddles was heard, the
crews III what was said in the news
papers OF the time be true), Ia some
instances, shrunk beneath their decks
from the terrific sight, and left their
vessels to go on shore; while others
Frustrated themselves and besOught
Providence to protect them from the
appFoaeh Of the horrible monster which
wss marching on the tides, and light.
ing It's path by the fires which 1t vom-
ifad ~