Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-03-22
Inventor Of Steamboats,.

Mr.. Daniel b. Lucas, OF Vast Nlr-
ginia, ex-Judge of the Court of Ap-
psals of that State, read paper on
James Rumsey, the Inventor Of the
Steamboat, before the Maryland His
torical Society Monday night. Rum
sey was a native of Maryland and a
member Of the distinguished family Of
that name. Judge Lucas said in part
The fact that James Rumsey was
the first to successfully apply steam
to the propulsion Of boats is as capable
of historical demonstration as Is the
fact that Columbus discovered Amer
lea.
In 1887, as a member Of the West
Virginia Legislature, he prepared
resolution fol- an appropriation to
erect monument to Rumsey on the
cliff of the Potomac, near Shepherds
town, overlooking the stream where
there was launched the first steamboat
the world has ever seen. The late
Alexander R. Boteler was assisting
in the monument, and Judge Lucas
has the manuscript Of Colonel Boteler 5
celebrated lecture on the subject.
Judge Lucas, continuing said: Rum
sew was a native of Maryland born on
Bohemia Manor, Cecil county, IN
l-49. Thence he removed to Virgin
Ia and lived in Bsth, now Berkeley
Springs then in Berkeley county,
now in Morgan county, West Virgin
ia. Subsequently he lived in SheP-
herdstown, Va, where his first sue
cessful experiment with steam was
made
"At least as early as 1888 Rumsey
was experimenting with steam as ap-
piled to the propulsion Of boats. Early
as November II, 1888, be filed before
the Legislature Of Maryland petit
tion to grant him a monopoly IN the
use of steamboats, in her waters for
period of 10 years, which grant was
at the next session Of the Legislature
accorded. This proves conclusivsly
the priority of Rumsey over John
Fitch, of Philadelphia, as the inventor
of the steamboat, since the latter, IN
lively controversy between the two
inventors, informs us that he first con-
ceiyed the ide. of hi. invention on
Sunday, April, 5, 1855.
Hi. first experiment in public with
steam a. motor was made on the Po-
tomac at Shepherdstown on December
8, 1877.
Subsequently Rumsey went to
London. Over there his poverty and
friendlessnsss bsset and entsngled him
in many of those misfortunes to which
he had become accustomed in Amer
lea. 1t is said his experimental boat,
when about to be launched on the
Thames, was attached and seized for
debt.
He succeeded, however, in getting
an audience at the Hotel AdelPhl IN
the committee room of the Society Of
Arts on December 20, 1892. While
preparing to produce his models and
explain his invention be was stricken
with a sudden and violent pain IN the
head and almost Immediately fell
.peechless in a fit Of fapOplexy. 1t was
in thi. Hotel Adelphi that, surrounded
by sympathizlng friends, few days
later the great inventor breathed his
last. He was buried in st. Mary :
Parish, Westminster, en- December
"a, 1892. A short time afterward,
however, lis boat was launched and
made a successful trip on the Thames
at the rate Of four miles an hour.
at may be here mentioned incl
dentally that Rumsey in his cores
pondence from London mentions hsv-
ing made the acquaintance Of an IN
genious youth by the name Of Robert
Fulton. At the time Fulton was en-
gagged il other mechanical experiments
and he never dreamed Of steamboat
before bis acquaintance and assocla-
tion with Rum,ey. 1t is, therefore,
beyond question true that Fulton con-
ceiyed the idea Of applying steam to
the propulsion Of vessels only after
his acquaintance with Rumsey and
the exhibition Of Rumsey's great and
successful invention. "-Baltinaore Sun.
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Her Resoke.i