Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-26
THE1NVENTOROF STEAMBOATS,.

lCOrreeponOenCo CluClnnaLl
The most interesting historical TACT
connected with Bardstown, KY, is that
it was the last residence and burial
place OF John Fitch, the inventor OF
steamboats,. This wonderful genius
was born in Connecticut in 1743, and
died here in 1898. He was clock
maker, silver and gunsmlth, and was q
lieutenant IN the revolutionary war.
He made himself very useful in repair
ing the guns of the soldiers. For some
real or supposed slight he left the serv-
ice, emigrated to the wllds OF Kentucky
IN 1878, and entered one thousand acres
OF land in this county. While sitting
one day on the bank of the Ohio river
in 1880 he was inspired with the idea of
propelling boats by steam, and immedi-
ately set to work to accomplish it. He
made sketches, drafts, models. and ex-
perimsnts, and in 1885 memorialized
congress in reference to his steamboat.
He petitioned the legislatures OF half
dozen OF the states for the exclusive
privilege of navigating their waters by
fire and steam. In 1873 he built sew
eral boats, and succeeded in making
trips between Philadelphia and Burling-
ton, N. j., at = speed of seven miles
per hour. His success was only tenn
porary. His machinery was too light
and often broken, and finally the burst
ing OF boiler on one of his trips COM
PEELED him to abandon his scheme. In
1890 he petitioned congress to grant
him a patent for his Invention. He
sought aid in vain from England, France
and Spain. Discouraged poverty
hn To olr
farm, and gave himself up to habitual
intoxioatlon. He deposited in the
Philadelphia library large volumes OF
manuscript, sealed up, with directions
that they should not be opened for thir-
ty years. When opened they were
found to contain full history of his
trials, embarrassments and disappoint-
ments. He confidently predicted the
final success of his plan. He said
1.-The day will come when some more
powerful man will get fame and fortune
from my invention. But nobody will
believe that poor John Fitch can do
anything worthy of attention" This
prediction was verified before the thirty
years expired. In 1918, when Rober,
Fulton brought suit in New York to en-
force his claim as the inventor of steam
navigation, he was defeated by the pro-
duOtiUu iu cuurt Uf one OF John FlIcn'.
pamphlets. A committee OF the legis-
lature of New York, alter thorough
investigation, decided that the boats
built by Livingston and Fulton were in
substance the invention OF John Fitch
Judge Rowan, OF Kentucky. Fitch's ex.
ecutor. says: Il was convinced iron,
his statements, and papers, that Fitch
was the inventor of steamboats,"
The last days OF poor Fitch were sad
enough. When his farm was reduced
to 800 acres he contracted with the tav-
ern-keeper to give him one-half OF his
farm to board him while he lived and
furnish him with pint OF whisky pei
day. He aitsrward increased the land
grant on condition that he should have
a double supply of liquor. At the age
of SO. defeated in his plans, disappoint.
ed and demoralized by drink. the pool
fellow died, "unwept, unhonored, and
unsung." He LETT no family. Hi
ashes repose in the Old graveyard Al
Bardstown. No stone marks the spot
but many years ago when the precise
locality was known, survey was mad.
and recorded in the county clerks otfic.
by which the exact spot is ascertained
Within the past few years some CORES
pondence has been had with reierenc,
to the removal OF his dust and the erec
tion of suitable memorial.