The Globe-republican., 1890-06-11
"FULTON'S FOLLY"
so Il Was Called BY the Slsep-
tics.
Some Interesting "reminiscences Of Early
6teamboatinS Days on tho Hud-
son - Tho First American
Steamboat.

It is difficult in these days of rapid
ocean travel, says George r. Hasbrouck
in brakes Magazine. to realize that In
tho beginning of the century, people
were wondering over q strange new
thing in navigation. boat moved by
steam. That the application OF steam
to boats as a motive power had been
considered by many minds as matter
certain of accomplishment long before
it became an actual fact. admits Of no
doubt, and just as the names OF Treve-
thick, Hackworth and Stephenson must
be bracketed together in connection
with the locomotive. SO must those OF
Fitch, Stevens, Fulton and others be
associated with tho invention OF the
steamboat.
That the name Of John Fitch stands
prominent at tho head of the list. there
IAN be no question. for while it must be
admitted that numerous models were
made of steamboats,. accompanied by
illustrations of their working, both in
France and England prior to Fitch's
time. there is nothing to show that he
benefited by the work which preceded
his, and it is an absolute fact that no
boat moved by steam. OF any practical
value, ever existed until Fitch launched
the first steamboat on tho Delaware on
the Goth Of June, 17S6. This boat made
the then remarkable speed OF seven
miles an hour. In 1857 tho Legislature
secured ito John Fitch the solo right
and advantage Of using tho steamboat
lately invented by him" and in this and
tho following years his boats ran
regularly on the Delaware. 1t was not
until 1796'tha New York had her first
exhibition Of steam boat, a screw pro-
pcllor built by Fitch being placed on q
fresh water pond called the Collect,
near Canal street.
1t has been tho fate of pioneers to SOW
for others to reap. and John Fitch, the
inventor of the steamboat, SO far as this
continent is concerned, adds another to
the list.
"The day will come" no said, sadly.
~'when some more powerful man will
get fame and riches from my invention"
Confident in the result of his work. he
struggled bravely against adverse cir
cumstances until. in 1898. he filled a
nameless grave in Kentucky.
BY this time the seed which the IN
fortunate and unappreciated inventor
had sown had begun to germinate. and
tho work Of experimenting was carried
on by Morey. Rumsey. Roosevelt.
Stevens and Fulton. a boat built by
Stevens coming from Hoboken to New
York in 1904. Robert Fulton's expert
ments in the carly part of his career
seem to have fallen far below what had
been already achieved. and of this ne
seems to have been fully aware. whom.
after his failures in France. he was
taken at the rate of oight miles an hour
by William Huntington in his steam
yacht on the Firth Of Forth (which
dragged two vessels, each over seventy
tons, on the canal In 1902.
That Fulton, whose name was after
wards to be associated with tho success
full introduction of steamboats, profitcd
immensely by the work Of others, can
not be questioned; indeed. he was bit
tcrly assaulted by Captain Morey for
adopting his ideas. Unlike Fitch. he
was SO fortunate as to find tho financial
support necessary to tho carrying out OF
his plans, and in 1907 no launched the
Clermont, which stands the twelfth on
the list Of American steamboats,. but tho
first to navigate the Hudson. The en-
gincs were of English manufacture and
were held for some time by tho agent
for non-payment Of freight. from which
it may be assumed that the capital Of
the firm was limited.
The progress Of tho boat was viewed
with wonder and alarm: tho hold stood