Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-01-23
9tstorital.
A Monument to Marylands Inventor
of the Steamboat.
From the Baltimore Sun.

The bill which, it is said, will be pre-
pared by Judge Daniel Bedinger Lucas
and introduced in the West Virginia
Legislature, providing for a monument
to James Rumsey, the inventor of the
steamboat, shonld pass without opposi-
ton. The late Col. Alexander r. Bote-
Ter, Of Shcpherdstown, endeavored with
out success to get such a monument,
and now it is gratifying that Judge
Lucas has taken up the work. James
Rumsey was Marylander, and it was
in Maryland waters that the 6rst steam
boat that was ever mado Hoated Mary
land, therefore, should contribute to this
monument. which should on the high |
bluff at Shepherdstown, overlooking the
scene Of the trial trip of the steamboat,
which was made on a beautiful stretch /,
of the Potomac river in Washington
county. In addition to this a splendid
monument to this distinguished inventor
should be erected near the banks of the
Potomac at Washington. The applica-
ton of steam to navigation was one of
the most important elements 10 the ad-
vancement of the United States to power
and prosperity. While Rumsey's method
was not finally adopted there can be
but little doubt he first practically sug-
gested the idea Of the application of
steam to navigation, and it is probable
that Fulton got his inspiration from
Rumsey. Rumsey's invention was made
at time when there was perhaps not
steam engine in the whole United States.
He made his own engine with an iron
pot and number Of gun barrels and
propelled his boat by pumping in water
through trunk at the bow of the boat
and expelling it at the stern. The force
Of the effluent water carried the boat
forward against strong current at the
rate of from four to six miles an hour.
That Rumsey propelled q boat by
steam % years before Fulton launched
the Clermont on the Hudson is q matter
Of history. Washington certified to it;
the Legislature of Virginia in 1885 gave
him the exclusive right of steam navi-
cation on the rivers Of that State ard
the I ext year Maryland passed an act
giving him the same exclusive right
upon the rivers Of this State In 1889
Congress voted a gold medal to James
Rumsey's only child, commemorative of
bis fathers Invention. In the Patent
Office report for 1849-60 we believe
there is reprint Of Rumsey's pamphlet
containing certificates Of those who wit
messed the trial trip Of his boat at Shop
herdstown in December, 1885
Rumsey's first experiments we're made
in the Potomac, near Berkeley Springs.
Washington witnessed one Of these, and
gave the following certificate, which
we copy from the Richmond Argus of
October 8, 1884 paper published by
Samuel Peasants 1t is as follows:
have seen the model of Mr.. Rumsey's
boat, constructed tolwork against stream, ex-
amined the powers upon which il acts, been
eyewitness TO an actual experiment 10 run
ming water OF some rapidly, and give it as
my opinion (athough had bat little faith
before) that be has discovered the art Of
working boats by mechanism, and small
manual assistance, against rapid currents;
that the discovery is Of vast importance
may be OF greatest usefulness 10 our inland
navigation, and II IL succeeds, of which |
have no doubt, that the value of II is greatly
enhanced by the simplicity Of the works
which, when seen and explained to, may be
executed by the most common mechanic
Given under my hand, at the Town of
Bath, County OF Berkeley, IN the State of
Virginia, this 18th day of September, 1884
GEORGE WASHINGTON
james Rumsey was born on Bohemia
Manor, in Cecil county. in 1743. He
learned the trade of millwright aud made
a number of useful inventions 10 mill
machinery. At the outbreak of the
Revolutionary War be enlisted in the
American Arm and probably attract
ed the attention Of Washington, for
afterward be was appointed superin-
tendent Of the Potomac Navigation Com
pany, which was one Of Washington's
enterprises Immediately after the war
Rumsey was in partnership with Nicho-
las Orrick in keeping store at Bath,
now Berkeley Springs, and spent his
time experimenting with his steamboat
In petition to the Maryland Legisla-
ture, which was read by that body No
vember IL, 1884, Rumsey said that he
had then been engaged for several years
in peffecting a plan to move boats by
steam. 1t was on December and IL,
1885. that the trial trips we're made in
the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Among
those who witne ssed it we're Gen. Hora-
tio Gates, General Stephen. General
Darke, Mr.. BediDger. DR.. Alexander.
of Baltimore, and others A part OF
the queer machinery in the boat then
tried is now in the National Museum at
Washington.
After the Shepherdstown experiment
the "Rumseyan Society was formed,
of which Benjamin Franklin was presi-
dent. This society sent Rumsey TO
England. 10 London be built a boat
Of 100 tons burden, but was so greatly
embarrassed for want Of funds that bis
boat was seized by creditors upon the
day Of the trial trip and he was not per-
mitted to move it, although a distin-
guished company had gathered to see it.
The misfortunes of the inventor excited
the sympathy Of some English gentle
men, who arranged for a lecture by
Rumsey to raise funds to prosecute his
great work. The evening came and
Rumsey, who had anticipated failure,
was astonished when the curtain arose
to find himself face to face with large
and brilliant audience. But the turn in
his afa-s had come too late. As be
began to speak be fell to the floor in
sensible, and died of apoplexy the next
day. The Washington Spy, published
at Hagerstown, Nd, on March is. 1898,
contained this news item: "Mr. Rum
sey, Of this State. who had distiug
himself by several useful mechanical in-
ventions, and latterly applied to pro-