The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-05

numerous instances of how a great in
vention dawns on different minds, at
about the same time without any con-
cert or even acquaintance between the
parties. Whilst exploring the North
western region, with a view to prepar-
ing a map Of that district. Fitch con-
ceired tile idea that the great Western
streams might he navigated by steam,
but he Was not able to execute his idea
of steam navigation till 1.S5, when he
launched steam packet on the Dela-'
ware. two years after Rumsey had
launched his first attempt at steam
boat on the Potomac River. Fitch OBJ
tanned exclusive rights in steam naV1ga-
ton in New Jersey. Delaware and Penn
sSlvania, as Rumsey had done in three
States. In 1893, Fitch endeayored to in
troduce his invention into France. but
met With no success. embittered by pow
erty and disappointments. he committed
suicide in 1875. Rumsey's fate was not
much more cheering or prosperous. He
went to England for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning skilful labor and such machinery
for carrying on his plans as he could
not procure in this country. but he was
terribly handicapped y poverty and had
to sacrifice large interest in his in
Nention in order to escape the debtors
prison in London. Still ne struggled on.
amid adversely and obstacles. and at
length. completed boat of about one
hundred tons burden. and appointed a
day for its public exhibition, the even
ing before to be devoted to an exposition
OF his project in order to solicit help
from the public. That the Public Hall
Din Liverpool was filled to overflowins
with the leading people of the place. and
when RulnseE arose to begin his lecture.
he was SO overcome by his feelings that
he sank back in his chair. and never
spoke again. except to thank a gentle
man who brought him a glass of water.
The sudden reaction of hope and encour-
agement was. doubtless. too much for
mind and body SO strained and enfeebled
BY years of harassment and fardships
and he died (1792) like Moses. in sight Of
the promised land. of which others were
destined to reap the advantages. He had
obtained patents for steam navigation
from England and France. but these
viii, all other benefits which might have
accrued to him from his great invention,
death compelled him to forego. cutting
short his career before he was fifty
years old. Steam navigat ion. started by
Rumsey, went through a process of evo-
lutions under Robert Fulton. native of
Pennsylvania. born in 1865. Fulton start
ed life as a landscape and portrait paint
err, but on visiting England. when he was
twenty-five. he met with the distinguish
ed Watt and others. who Influenced him
to devote himself to mechanical engin-
eering. In1797. he removed to Paris and
spent seven years in the house of Joel
Barlow. (the American minister to
Franco, prosecuting his scientific studies.
1t was at Paris that he first succeeded.
after repeated trials. in propelling boat
through the water by the aid of steam.
In 1906 he returned to America. and re-
peated the experiment on larger scale
and with more decided success. In 1902,
he took out the first patent, but his
rights We're disputed. and. after protract-
ed legislation. a compromise was effect
ed. In 1914. Fulton constructed the first
United States war schooner, and If it was
now in existence. il would be deeply
interesting and instructive to compare it
with the Oregon the .Kearsarge" and