The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-01-21
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lived happily Tor some years, wa'ch-
ing and enjoying the rising prosperity
of her son. The deed by which Full
ton at 81 gave the farm to his mother
is still preserved.
There are persons living who might
have seen the first steamboat TINT
sailed on the Hudson. Many remem-
Der when the famous De Witt Clinton
and North America were thought the
wonders of navigation; when they
called over the tranquil rive at the
rate of sixteen miles an IT, and
left behind them cloudsf black
smoke that hung over thf andscape
for miles. The North y erica was
long the pride of the river navigation,
the swiftest vessel in the world. The
Hudson has always been the favorite
scene of steam navigation and enter
prise. 1t is the birthplace of the
steamboat.
Here, in 1907, Robert Fulton, on
board the Clermont, his first vessel,
sailed in day and a half from New
York to Albany. He stopped for
few hours at Clermont, and then in
four more finished his voyage. 1t was
the signal for an entire change in the
whole art of navigation. From that
time the steamboat has been slowly
advancing, its size has increased to
immense proportions, and its engines
have become animated giants.
Fulton, fair, delicate, thoughtful
young man, had gone to England and
France, had become acquainted with
many eminent inventors, and had al
ready planned steamboat. He was
the first to make one successful. He
came back to New York, and, aided
by his friend Livingston, in 1906 be-
gan to build his boat. 1t was only n
small vessel, rudely built; in it he
placed an engine made by James
Watt, the English inventor; the pad
dle-wheels he planned himself, and
the imperfect machinery. 1t seems
now very easy thing to build a
steamboat, but it was then thought
impossible. Men called the boat Full
tons Folly. Hardly any one supposed
that new era in navigation was about
to begin, and that Fulton's machine
would at last cover the world with its
discoveries. AT last the boat was fin
ished.
The fires were lighted, the boilers
hissed, the crank turned, the wheels
began to move, and the Clermont
made its way at about five miles an
hour, from Charles Browns dock
yard on the East river to Jersey City.
Once she stopped, and men cried.
"There, it has failed!" But it was
only because Fulton was anxious to
alter some part OF his machine. The
great voyage was successful. The
steamer reached Jersey City. and Full
toms victory was won.
Soon the Hudson began to abound
with Fulton's steamboats,, the wonders
of the world. There WAS the famous
Paragon, vessel of the enormous
size of three hundred tons. One
built for the Gar was called the
Emperor of Russia. A ferry-boat
ran from New York to Jersey City.
In the midst or the war with England
Fulton built the iirst war steamer. 1t
was 2, 900 tons burden, fine shot
proof vessel, and sailed at the rate OF
three miles an hour as far as Sandy
Hook. It's size seemed immense, its
power irresistible, aud it was told with
alarm in London that Fulton and New
York had produced the most danger
Gus of warlike machines.
The fair, pale, delicate inventor did
not live long to enjoy his success. HIS
lungs were always weak. He was al
ways at work. His patents were in
fringed, and his invention only in
volved him in endless lawsuits. AT
last be caught cold crossing the Hud'
son on chill February day, and died
in 1915, a good son, an inventor who
has been useful to every one. He has
founded nations. and opened the dis
tant seas to trade. Detroit Free
Press.
The Way Of the World.