Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-12-28
Go be c~ontinuec.)
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT FARE.
Fulton Wanted tn Buy n Bottle Of Wire
with It, but Couldn't Afford IL.

"One of the most interesting incidents
OF a business natur connected with
Fulton's steamboat enterprise was the
first steamboat fare paid to him. said
Uncle Joshua to the Boston Herdid
man. The narrator Of this, who was
also one of the actors in the scene. saws;
81 CHANGED to be at Albany on business
when Fulton arrived there in his uu-
heard-of craft, which everybody felt 50
much interest 10 seeing. Being ready
to leave and hearing that this craft was
going to return to New York. re-
paired on board and inquired for Mr..
Fulton. | was referred TO the cabin
and there found a plain, gentlemanly
man, wholly alone and engaged in writ
ing.
"'Mr. Fulton, / presumed
"'Yes, sir
"'Do you return to New York with
this boat?'
ave shall try to get back, sir
~Can | have a passage DOWN.
"'You a take your chance with US,
sir"
81 inquired the amount to be paid
and, after a moments hesitation, a sum
Il think So was named. The amount
in eoin / laid in his open hand and, with
Gis eye fixed upon it, he remained Sc
long motionless that | supposed there
might be a m~iscount and said to Inn
is that right. sir?'
This question reused him as from 8
kind of r~everie. and, a. be looked up Ia
me, the big tear was trimming in nj,
eve and his voice faltersd a. he said
Excuse me. sir, but my memory wa:
busy in contemplating this, the first
%pecuniary reward | have ever received
from all my exertions in adapting steam
to navigation. / would gladly com
memorate the occasion over a bottle o.
wine with you, but really | am too poor
even for that just now. Yet | trust we
may meet again when this will not be
the case
"His voyage to New York was sue
c~essful, as al know, and terminated
without accident
"Some four years after this, when the
Clermont had been greatly improved
and her name changed to the NORTH
River. and when two other boats-name,
ly, the Car of Neptune and the Paragon
had been built, making Mr.. Fulton!
feet three boats regularly plying be
tween New York and Albany, | took
passage on one of these for 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, how
ever. | recalled the features of Mr.. Full
ton, but. without disclosing this, ! con
tinued my walk.
AT length, in passing his seat, on
eyes met, when he sprang TO his feet
and. eagerly Selling my hand, eX
claimed: Il knew it must be you, fol
your features have never escaped me,
and. although | am still far from rich
yet | may venture that bottle now II
was ordered, and during its discussion
he ran rapidly, but wildly, over his ex,
perieuce of the worlds GOODNESS anC
sneers, and of the hopes, fears, disap,
pointnients and difficulties that were
scattered through his whole career o.
discovery-up TO the very point OF hi
final, browning triumph. at which he Sc
fully felt he had arrived at last.
"And in reviewing all these, he said
i have again and again recalled the oc
casion and the incident of our first inter
view at Albany; and never have l don,
SO without renewing in my mind th'
vivid emotion it originally caused. Thar
seemed, and does still seem, to me thu
turning-point in my de%stiny-the divid'
ing ine between light and darkness in
my career upon earth, for it was the frs
actual recognition of my usefulness u
my fellow-men."