The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-07-15
FuLroN,s STEAMBOAT.
Receiiections of an Old Man who WINS n
Passenger ON Her First Trip.


81 was attending Union College at Sche-
neotady, N. Y, but was not satisfied with
the institution, and so determined to enter
Harvard. On my way home 1 arrived at
Albany, and there, to my discomfort, learn
ed that must endure long delay, for
none of the river boats then in use were to
start for several days. went to the tavern
and engaged room. But early the next
morning man hurried into the barroom of
the inn and announced: The steamboat
arrived last night and is going to start down
tie river at nine O'clock I decided at once
that would be a passenger on the strange
craft, whatever 1t might be. There was
lady of Connecticut under my charge on her
way to New York city, and when told her
that we could take the new steamboat she
expressed her willingness to travel that way.
But it took her SO long to get ready that
when we reached the wharf the boat was
steaming off. However, they were more
accommodating on that trip than they would
be Low. The officers heard us call, and,
stopping the vessel, sent back small boat
to take us on board. Then we were off on
our voyage.
At first it was smooth sailing, or rather
steaming, but in the nfternoon-this, you
know, was August 10, 1s07-she ran
aground and we had to wait for high tide
before we could float off. After that the
boat got into more serious trouble, but I
did not happen to be on board at the time.
When we arrived at Kingston 1 thought
would stop over q day and visit my brother
there, and SO went ashore. The Katherine
of Clermont continued her course, but had
gone only few miles further when hei
boiler burst and she had to be laid up for
repairs for several days. Soon after that
she began to make regular trips between
New York and Albany
Do you remember how the boat looked,
Doctor ?"
As distinctly as though it happened yes
terday. She was rude built craft, about
one hundred and twenty-five feet long and
nearly twenty feet wide, with side paddle
wheels and a sheet iron boiler. She could
make about six miles an hour. You recol
lect what trouble there was afterwards about
the rights of the boat, do you not"
az can't say 1 do. Unfortunately my
recollection does not reach SO far back"
Beg pardon; I forgot it was so long
ago. Well, the owners of the sailing vessels,
who previous to this had had the monopoly
of the river transportation claimed that the
right TO navigate the Hudson belonged to
them and they secured an injunction re.
straining Fulton from using his steamboat
But they couldn't hold their case, for Daniel
Webster appeared in behalf of the steamer,
made his first great plea and won the case.
That gave Mr.. Webster wide reputation.
Afterward Fulton Lad many lawsuits, for
his patent, covering as 1t did only certain
points relating to the attachment of the pad.
die wheels to the axle of the crank, left a
great opening for infringement. All his life
he was fighting for his claims in that respect
although he and Livingston had the mo.
nopoiy of steam traffic ON the waters of the
State through grant of the Legislature
Fulton constructed not only the first prac
ucsoie steamboat for passengers and freight
but also, in 1914, the first war steamer OF
the world-the United States steamer Full.
ton the First. She suffered worse than the
Katherine of Clermont, for she was blown
to pieces by accident. Great Britain receiv.
ed her first practical steamboat in 1912, five
years after the trial trip of Fulton's boat,
but 1t was not until 1919 that the efficacy Of
the putting craft for transportation between
the two countries was made manifest. Then
the little Savannah steamed across the ocean,
making the trip in twenty-six days. A few
months ago, according to the record of the
papers, the Oregon made the distance in q
little over six days."