The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-16

baltimore Sun: Mr. Daniel B. Lucas,
of west Virginia, ex-judge Of the court
Of appeals Of that state, read paper
on "James Rumley. the Inventor Of
the Steamboat" before the Maryland
historical Society Monday night Rum-
sey was a native Of Maryland and
member Of the distinguished family Of
that name. Judge Lucas said in part:
"The fact that James Rumsey was
the frst to successfully apply steam to
the propulsion Of boats is as capable of
historical demonstration as Is the fact
that Columbus discovered America"
In 1857. as a member OF the West
Virginia legislature he prepared q
resolution for an appropriation to erect
a monument to Rumsey on the cliff of
the Potomac, near shepherdstown,
overlooking the stream where there
was launched the first steamboat the
world had over seen. The late Alexan-
der r. Boteler was assisting in the
movement. and Judge Lucas has the
manuscript Of Colonel Boteler's cele-
brated lecture on the subject,
Judge Lucas, continuing, said Rum
sey was native of Maryland, born on
Bohemia Manor, Cecil county in lI4s.
Thence her emoved to Virginia and
lived In Bath, now Berkeley Springs;
then in Berkeley county. yirginin, now
in Morgan county. West virsinia. Sub
sequently he lived In shepherdstown'
Va. where his first successful experi-
mrnt with steam was made.
".Xt least as early as 47S2 Rumsey
was experimenting with-steam az APP
piled TO the propulsion ofsbeRts. Early
es November II, 17SS, he fifed before the
legislature Of Maryland apetition to
grant him a monopoly in the use OF
stcamboats in her waters for a period
of ten years, which grant was at the
next session of the legislature accorded.
This proves conclusivnly tho priority of
Rumsey over John FItch,9of Philadel-
phIa, as the inventor of the steamboat,
since the latter, in a lively controversy
between tar two inventors, Informs US
that he first conceived the idea Of his
invention on Sunday, April s, 1885.
"HIs tlrst experiment in public with
steam as motor was madeion the Po-
tomsc at shepherdstown, on December
3, 1851
subsequently Rumssy waiTt to Lon
don. Over there his poverty and friend
llncgs besat and entansled HIM in many
Of those misfortures to which he had
become accustomed in America: It is
said his experimental boat. when about
to be launched on the Thames, was at
tached and seized for debt.
"Hc succeeded, however. in getting an
audience at the Hotel Adelphl in the
committee room of the Society of
Arts on December 70, 17eg. While
preparing to produce his models and
explain his invention he was stricken
with q sudden and violent pain in the
head and almost Immediately fell
spceehless IN tit of apoplsxy. It was
In this Hotel Adelphi that surrounded
BY sympathlzing friends, a few days
later the greas inventor breathed his
last. He was buried in st. Mary's Par
ish, Westminster. on December q, 1882.
A short time afterward, however, his
boat was launched and made success
full trip on the Thames at the rate of
four miles an hour.
1T may be here mentioned Incident
ally that Rhmsey in his correspond
ence from London, mentions having
made the acquaintance Of an ingenious
youth by the name of Robert Fulton.
At that time Fulton was engaged in
other mechanical experiments and he
never dreamed OF steamboat before
his acquaintance and association with
Rumsey. 1t is, therefore. beyond ques-
tIon true that Fulton conceived the
idea of applying steam to the propul-
sion OF vessels only after his acquaint-
ance with Rumsey and the exhibition
of Rumsey's great and successful In
veation."