Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-04-12
boat" by the towns people, and they
gave him the name of ''crazy Rum

gave nlIn the udlne VI crazy hiA
sey"
After the experiment before alluded
to, Ru1nsey being under the strong
conviction that skilled workmen and
perfect machinery were alone want
ing to insure perfect success, what
was known as the 'Rumseyan Socie-
ty'' was formed, during the following
year, in Philadelphia, of which Ben
iamin Franklin was president, and
money was raised to send Rumsey to
Europe. He went TO London, and
built a steamer TO be exhibited on the
Thames, securing patents from the
British government for steam naviga-
ton, bearing date in the beginning of
the year 1888. Several of his inven-
tions. in one modified form or anoth-
er, were afterwards in general use; as,
for instance. the cylindrical boiler
(which was found much superior TO
their old tub or still-boilers, in the
presentation of fire surface, and ca
pacity of holding raritied steam), Is
described both single and combined.
in his specifications, and is identical
in principle with the one he used i'll
his Potomac experiment.
He was attended in England with
the difficulties and embarrassments OF
pecuniary nature which so often have
obstructed the progress of the inven-
tor. He was frequently obliged to
abandon his main object and turn his
attention to other labors in order to
obtain means TO resume it. Thus he
struggled on, undismayed, until he
had constructed a boat of about 100
tons burden, and pushed 1t forward so
near to completion that he fixed day
OH which TO give public exhibition.
This was not accomplished without
transferring, at ruinous sacrifice, a
large interest in his inventions, TO en-
able him TO raise funds to escape be-
ing incarcerated in a debtors prison.
Notwithstanding this sacrifice, and
his extraordinary efforts, his boat was
seized by his unsympathizing credl'
tors, and he was not allowed TO loose
it from its moorings, but only permit
ted 10 show how its machinery would
work.
Some, however, were found TO sym
pathize with him in his distress, who
were also intelligent enough to appre-
ciate some of the merits of the inven
ton. These urged him to deliver a
lecture in order TO raise funds, and in
terest the public in his behalf, to
which he consented The evening
came, and with it, to his astonishment
and CONSERVATION, he found himself
confronted with an audience which
filled the house to overtlowing, and
was composed of the elite Of learning,
fashion and beauty of London. He
was overwhelmed and embarrassed at
this unlooked-for token of interest,
and his revulsion of feeling was in
tense and overpowering. He arose,
under these circumstances, TO deliver
the first (as well as the LAST lecture OF
his life. His agitation was observed
by a gentleman, who handed him a
glass of water; in a few incoherent
sentences he returned his thanks, sank
back in his chair and never spoke
again. The physicians, who were inl-
mediately summoned, pronounced 1t
an apoplectic fit, and from its effects
he died the next day-another martyr
to the cause of human progress. Some
time after his death (in 1889, the boat
which he had constructed was set in
motion on the Thames. Robert Full
ton (the reputed inventor OF steam
nayigation) was with Rumsey in Lon
don; was associated with him at the
time of his death; and the next year
he applied for the right of protection
for boat to be propelled by steam.
Chancellor Livingston, afterward min
ister to France, has the credit of final
ly bringing out the steamboat Gn 1870
on the Hudson, from the drafts fur
nished by Robert Fulton, who knew
little of mechanical principles at the
time, except what was taught him by
the inventive genius of James Rum
sey.
In 1889, Congress voted to James
Rumseys only surviving child a gold
medal, commemorative of the father 5
agency in giving to the world the ben
Off Of rho StpambOat