The Washington times., 1894-12-23
FuLToNs FIRST FARE.

The Inventor of the Steamboat Overcome
with Joy on Receiving 1t.
Zone of the most interesting incidents Of a
business nature connected with FuIton's
steamboat enterprise was the first steamboat
fare paid to him" said "Uncle Joshua to a
Boston Herald reporter 1.-The narrator of
this, who was also one of the actors in the
scene. says: Il chanced to be at Albany on
business when Fulton arrived there in his
unheard-of craft, which everybody felt so
much interest in seeing. Beng ready to
leave and hearing that this craft was going
TO return 10 New York / repaired on board
and inquired for Mr.. Fulton. l was referred
10 the cabin, and there found plain. gentle
/ anly man, wholly alone and engaged in
writing.
Mr.. Fulton, l presume?
"'ies. sir.
"'Do you return to New York with this
boat?'
I've shall try to get back, sir
"'Can have PAS age down.
"'Xou can take your chance with us, sir.
Il inquired the amount TO be paid, and,
after 4 momant's hesitation, sum- thin <
S6-was named. The amount, in coin, l laid
in his open hand, and, with his eye fixed
upon it. be remained so long motionless that
l supposed there might be piscount and
said o bin: Is that right. sirl'
This question reused hun as from n kind
of reverie. and as he looked up TO me the big
tear was brimming ID his eve and his voice
faltered rs he said: Excuse me, sir. but my
memory was busy in contemplating this the
first pecuuiary reward have ever received
from all my eXertions in adapting steam to
navigation. l wonld gladly commemorate
the occasion over a bottle of wine with you,
but rea ~ am too poor for egen that jUst
now vel trust we may meet again when
this wlll not 1e the case.
Ills voyage TO New York was successful,
as al know, and termlnate3 without acci-
/ dent.
Some four years after this. when the Cler-
/ mont had been greatly impro co and her
naue changed TO the North River and when
two other boats namely, the Car Of Neptune
and the Paragon-had been built, making
Mr.. Futon's feet three boats regularly ply
/ ing between New York and Albany, / took
/ passage on one Of these Tor the latter city.
/ The cabin in that day was below, and as
walked its length to and fro | saw that | was
very closely observed by one l supposed a
stranger. Soon, however, | recalled the fea-
/ lures of Mr. Fulton, but. without disclosing
[ tins, 1 continued my walk.
AT length, in passing his seat. our eyes
/ met. when he sprang to his feet and, eagerly
4 seiZing my hand, exclaimed: i knew it must
! be YOU for your features have never escaped
I me. and although am still far from rich Yet
NAV venture that bottle now 1t WIS or
/ dered and during its discussion he ran rap
/ idly, bat yiyidIy, over his experience OF the
worid'S codness and sneers, and OF the hopes
fears. disappoiniments, and difficulties that
I were scattered through his whole career of
/ discovery, up to the very point of his final,
! cyowning triumph. at which he so fully fe!
/ he had arrived at last.
"And in reviewing all this he said: 4 have
again and again recalled the occasion and
the incident OF our first interview at Albany
/ and never have l done so without renewing
/ in my mind the vivid emotion it originally
caused That seemed and does still seem to
me the turning point in my destiny-the di
viding line between light and darkness in my
career upon earth-for it was the first aetna
recognition of my usefulness to my fellow
men -