The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-02

ingenious though somewhat eccentric
gentleman of the very ancient regime.
In the latter part of the last century
the Captain might have been seen snugly
seated at the stern of large canoe or
''dugout' which was lying on the placid
bosom of the Connecticut close by the
shore. He was busily employed in
arranging some curious machinery,
which rumor said he had been at work
upon all winter, but the old gentleman
had so many crotchets in his head that
people were not disposed to mind much
about him or his fandangos.
This however proved an exception for
after he had got things ready, after the
smoke had cleared away and the tea
kettle, or tin kitchen or whatever else he
had, had begun to ''siss" the master of
ceremonies let go of the bush and with
his paddle showed the craft into the
stream. Thus far this was mere com
monplace affair, but presently he grasped
what we should call starting bar, gave
it pull and to the inexpressible aston
ishment of an old man and his son, who
had stopped their team at the end of the
furrow to see the old man take the boat
ride, the wheel at the side began to turn,
the steam began to squizzle. the rods be-
boh w ollttuC VI OllC luOJllOI
of witches, the dugout began to move up
stream. Jerusalem, father said John,
''see the old Captain go right agin the
current" and sure enough away he went,
the old veteran who had studied and
thought and contrived while others slept,
Day after day the old canoe was seen
gliding up and down the river, guided by
the old man with, his drab coat and
Quaker hat, and was propelled by steam
power. That was surely the first steam
boat that ever moved on American
waters.
Capt. Morey was the inventor of .nu-
merous machines, among which was one
propelled by smoke, the remains of which
might have been seen quite recently
Although it would go, he saw itwouldn't
pay and so it ended in smoke.
He was known far and near to be a
man of great inventive powers, and
Robert Fulton who was among the very
many who visited him for the purpose
of getting his aid in unravelling some
knotty points of mechanism and at the
same time assist Mercy in some of his
various plans, he being a practical
mechanic.
The old home alluded to was their
studio, laboratory, and place of consul
tation, and very many days they were
closeted there for the reason that the
curiosity of the people was greatly
moved, but it was not until 1907 that
Fulton tried his great experiment on the
Hudson river which has revolutionized
the world.
Many statements have appeared at diff
ferent times corroborating these facts,
one of which is that Capt. Morey met
Fulton in New York for the purpose of
taking out joint patent, that Fulton
sent Morey back home to complete some
detail in the machinery, and while he
was gone obtained patent for himself
leaving Morey out in the cold.
At the centennial proceeding at Oxford,
N. H., in 1865, Rev. Joel Mann of New
Haven, Ct, who delivered the address,
in speaking of Capt. Morey said Ito him,
as is supposed, belongs the honor of
being the inventor of the steamboat. The
public has accorded that honor to Fulton,
but claim it for Mr.. Morey. If mis-
take not Fulton obtained his first idea of
such vessel from Morey, and secured a
patent just as Morey was preparing to
secure one for himself, certain it is that
the first boat moved by steam was little
thing constructed by him and its trial
"Trip was on Jne river opposite JnlS
village. When the trial trip was made
he, with brother of mine passed up in
it near to where the bridge now is, for it
was important to ascertain whether it
would go against the current as well as
with it. My brother, Cyrus Mann, a few
years ago collected and published the
proofs of the fact that Morey was the
real inventor of the steamboat so far at
least as steam could be applied to the
propelling of such of a craft
Morey obtained his fist patent for ap-
plying steam in 1875, his last, for shoot
ing with steam in 1918.
Capt. Samuel Morey was a brother of
the wife of DIR. Edward Tudor, promi-
nent physician of Middlebury, VT, from
1904 to 1856, whose daughter, Mrs. John
W. Strong, now living in West Addison
at the remarkable age of SO years spent
the summer of 1918 with her uncle and
saw all his buildings, machinery and
other operations.
Mrs. Mary Mann of Oxford, N. H.,
who died January 10th, 1888, aged 102
years, said that her wedding trip made
in 1905, included ride in Mr.. Morey's