The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-26
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT FARE.
Fulton Wanted to Buy . BOTTLE of Wins
with It. but CouIdu't Afford 1t

with lt. but CouIdp't Afford 1t
''One of the most interesting Incl
dents of a business nature connected
with Fulton's steamboat enterprise was
the first steamboat fare paid TO him."
said Uncle Joshua THE narrator Of
this, who was also one of the actors in
the scene. SAYS: Il CHANGED to be at
Albany on business when Fulton ar
rived there in his unheard OF craft,
which every body felt so much interest
in seeing. Being ready to leave and
hearing that this craft was going To
return to New York, l repaired on
board and inquired for Mr.. Fulton.
was referred to the cabin, and there
found plain. gentlemanly man, wholly
alone and engaged in writing.
"'Mr. Fulton, presumeY
"'Yes. sir
"'Do you return to New York with
this boat?'
1--WE shall try to get back. sir
Can have a passage DOWN
"'You can take your chance with US
sir
II inquired the amount 10 be paid,
and, after a moments hesitation. q
sum- think S6-was named. The
amount, in coin, / laid in his open
hand, and with his eye fixed upon il
he remained 50 long motionless that I
supposed there might be "a miscount
and said to him: Is that right, sirT
This question reused him as from .
kind of reverie, and as he looked up to
me the big tear was trimming in his
eve, and his voice faltered as he said:
Excuse me. sir. but my memory was
busy in contemplating this, the frs.
pecuniary reward have ever received
from all nv exertions in adapting steam
TO navigation. i would gladly CON-
memOrate the occasion over a bottle Ut
wine with you. but really am too poo.
even for that just now; vet trust we
may meet again when this will not be
the case.
Ills voyage TO New York was sue
cessful, as all know, and terminated
without accident
"Some four years after this, when
the Clermont had been greatly i'm
proved and her name changed To the
North River, and when two other boats.
namely, the Car Of Neptune and the
Paragon, had been built. making Mr..
Fulton's feet three boats, regularly
plying between 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 1 supposed a stranger.
Soon, however. recalled the features
,,..fEN..t IfS..f,ufr.,
this. / continued my walk.
AT length. in passing his seat. our
eyes met. when he sprang 10 his feet,
and. eagerly selling my hand. ex-
claimed: Il knew il must be you. for
your features haze never escaped me:
and. although ! am still far from rich,
vet / may venture that bottle now. IL
was ordered. and during It's discussion
he ran rapidly, bat wildly, over his ex-
perienee of the worlds GOODNESS and
sneers, and OF the hopes, fears, disap-
pointments and difficulties tina. were
scattered through his whole career 81
discovery-up 10 the very poin, o: his
final. crowning triumph. at which he
b. fully felt he had arrived Al last
And in revie wing all these be saidt
Il have again and again recalled thu
occasion and the incident OF our frst
interview at Albany; and never have
done 50 without renewing in my mind
the vivid emotion IL originally caused.
That seemed, and does still seem. 20
me the turning point in my destiny
the dividing line between light and
darkness in my career upon earth. for
IL was the 6rst actual recognition Of
my usefulness 20 ny fellow men,
Boston Herald