The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26
How the Originator Of Steamboats, Go
NJ 900 on a Finch.

How the Originator Of Steamboats, Got
NJ 900 on Pinch.
"Hai haI' said a charming old gem
tleman whose memory was wonderful
for his age. for he was born during the
first ten years of the present century.
''lnventionsi You cant hit them al
ways right. It's like a lottery. A man
twenty years ago came to me with
something and offered me quarter
share in il for S25. didn't think it
was worth shucks We'll, to-day that
quarter interest would be worth a quar-
Ter million OF dollars. You see. the in
ventive faculty is one thing and the
business talent to work out inventions
successfully something else a good
many people have the first, but very few
the other. There was my father and
Robert Fulton It's family story. !
dare say it has been i'm print often and
often, but You can't wear out good
thing. You see, nv father and Fulton
We're quite intimate. Fulton was in the
habit OF coming to see my father. and
having steamboat on the brain he prob
ably talked my father, John McKesson,
TO death. 1t was always endless chains
or something or other. NY father was
patient listener, and that's a talent.
Cultivate it. Young man. One day dur
ing Office hours Fulton came to see my
father.
John said he, I have got it sure.
/ can make her 20
- i am too busy TO listen to you now,
Fulton. tell you what you DO. come
round to my house tonight"
=" 4 can't said Fulton. What want
TO see you about is this: / must have
$1,000
"'Well. haven't got it to give you.
But, anyhow, come TO the house all
the same. You can take tea with us.
Then you can talk with me up TO 10
O'Clock ut night; then if you are not
through | shall go TO sleep. l always
60 to bed Mt 10.
Fulton seemed to hesitate for
while, and at last said he would come.
Fulton did come round and took tea
with father. Fulton told him about the
paddle-wheel. Father thought that a
paddle-whecl would never do. You see,
i'll those times they were cocksure that
the power used to lift up the water by
the wheel would about neutralize the
propelling force. Ha! hal those old fell
lows were smart We always are in
our generation.
:" 'Well, father said, Robert Fulton,
your wheel is no good. Ii would never
work. You talk about making the boat
60 four miles an houri That's an I'M
heard of speed. No, sir With a wheel
on your boat she'd stand stock-still.'
Then Robert Fulton argued it out
with father, and 10 o'clock came, and
father was getting sleepy. just then
maybe Fulton got more excited or fa-
Their more attentive, and it was IL
o'clock and they were talking over it
STILL
i" It's time for YOU to 90 home, Rob-
ert, said my father, unless you would
like to have bed here. and you might
as well do that
. If do, answered Fulton, Il only
adjourn the talk until tomorrow. for
you must get me the $1,000 Maybe
Fulton buttonholed father before break
fast; anyhow Fulton's persuasive pow
ers overcame fathers doubts. and he
agreed that he would do his best to raise
the $1,000 for Fulton. Right after
breakfast father went out, and the first
man he met was Robert Lenox. See
here. MIR. Lenox.' said father, L want
some money from you to help one of
Fulton : schemes. You may not be-
lieve il ever viii be done. bur the man
fancies that he can make boat 90 four
miles an hour. think he intends using
steam. and wheel. or something.
am going to let him have 800 Would
you mind putting down your name for
the same sum-
1t seems quite prepos;crous, said
Mr.. Lenox to my father. and have no
reason to believe that Mr.. Fu.ton's boat
will ever accomplish what he thinks it
Will Still, II your name Is down. Won
may let him have 800 from ms
= Then. said my father. j VIII write
down. Robert Lenox. $780,
No. no. answered Mr.. Lenox. lust
put down the 500 with no name 10 it,
because | shouldn't like the people who
come after me 70 learn that | Was such
Ounce rs to think that Fulton or any
body else could make boat 20 with
steam or wheels four miles an hour
'.That's the story my father told me.
See here. said the pleasant old gentle
man. '.you never can exactly tell what
does come from an invention. | wonder
what Fulton would have to say could he
learn how those rocks at He'll gate had
TO be blown up because they bothered
that fleet of steamers which has to pass
there every day. Eli? el?" and the old
gentleman gave here merry laugh.
Anyhow, Robcr; Fulton got his 81, 900. y