The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-04-08
A HANDSOME
TRIBUTE
Continue I From Pane .

day, which is here given in part:
DISTINGUISHED PERSONS PRES
ENT.
Although more than Il century has
dlvw elapsed since that memorable day
December 3. 1S5I-When il was first
demonstrated to the public that an rffrc-
tive pfan for steam pUpIi>iu:i had been
invented, il is not difficult for those
familiar with the physical features of
the locality where ii occurred 10 form Il
proXimate idea of the ~cruc ~ it then
appt ued, with the attcnhslnr crcum-
t,tancC,r Of the occasion. for the meddle-
some hand of modern Improvement has
not yet done much to mar .hc general
Suspect Of the quaint old town and its
picturesque surroundings. Its rocky
cliffs. which rise for more than Il hum
dred feet above the southern bank of
tlle river, are as unchanged. with the
exception of II pa>>agcway rlt one point
FOR II railroad. in their timc-,intcd rug
gtdreSS and romantic associations, as
pn that eyentful day.
"The day was IL hcautfui one. On Il
rocky knoll near the cliff. and beneath
the Shcltering branches of ii clump of
cedars which formed natural canopy
Gf evergreeRs above them, was IL group
of ladies and gentlemen whose names,
being identified with one occasion may
may properly be mentioned here. The
most conspicuous figure III the group was
that of HOrati0 Gates. late Major gen
eral in the Continental Army. and ut
Chat time residing om his Travellers Rest
estate, five miles from Sheph"rlStown.
By the side of General Gates was Aleljo
Henry Bedinger. Near him We're the
Rev. Robert Stubs and Capt. Abram
Shepherd, the former being principal of
the Classical Academy and rector of the
Episcopal Church. of which Captain
Shepherd was one of the wacdens. An
Revolutionary officer nearby was Col.
Joseph Swparingcr. There were also
Philip Pendleton, John KcarSlcy and
Cato Moore. The three Morrow bro
ehers broth"rS-n-law vi RumScy. were
aherc, rs likewise were John Mark.
Thomas White, David Gray, Benoni
Swelringer and other prominent citi-
xens of thai section. Among the ladies
in the group were Mrs. .Ahlam Shcp-
herd Mrs. RumSry, Mrs. Charles Mm-
TOW. Mrs Mark aud daughter Ann.
"RumSey had invited MA ladies' to
cake passage upon his boat, hut no gen
tIeman WA, permitted on board except
C,burIoe Nn,rnw. nnd D, NcNIrchen
thn Farmer If v-L.ru was r., tok. the
hol,, aud th,, L,tt,.. +, ,..iSt Rumsny
4, attending +, ,h. mIchinery When.
sherannr, !, v.,. ti,nr j.. st.,rt rho lad
sos were ,.,nrtrl ~, hn.,id l., SCENTS pro-
,,,iGnd for chou, .,l,,f. IN. boiler which
with thr r".f Of the nA"hin'rE' occupied
the forward part ~" the boat, about two
t1irds ,f ,S bq,utb from rho stern
N'ha.. thrv hol shaved the hoot off a
Short di>ir~p. fran TN. shore RumSey
,rtrI h,,r rr,.in, and She moved slow
a. or, ia tl,, middle. of rho river. where
Tourd;nc +, in ulr ,fnuc. 10 her helm,
and with her ,.,ry roirtinr M the
stream sh,. ,,,Its,t r,, y moment: then
Lv Il sulfn,, irr,.il... steamed off mn
.Jrra3 against tn. current Of the river,
amid fine .'ir.I,S If ,hr excited multi
Iudr u,y4;, -h,. >lpi..,
"Tb,, ro,t. nfl.r ....i,., for - half mile
~, u.g..r 4,t:ny. ,',..,.yu. +, ., 7,oint oppo.
site 10 what is E;.Wn rs Swraringcr'es
Sprinr r,uudrA f., and retained. going
,fcn s,mr M,:,r. ,.;.;..ucr h,low town. be-
vund whnr,. III, Shenandoah Railroad
bridge now s,ll, The Potomac. Thus
she r,utinu,d +, -, Nh and down the
river for .lt.,ut tvu hnlr-. The average
rhte o.: .sperd t. watch the boat attained
on tbi, .2',t,,.;,,I w. tbr.,. miles an hour.
INT an , .r,u,,I ,..iil. which took place
pn Tbu,tSiay. nrc.uhrr II. 1877, in the
,,resance If numrrnu> spectators. her
IncrI WA, incrrl.,I 10 aq average of
fnur milo, am hour
HIS Will ~ f'\''i'NNh
In nuu.n,,,rr f.. his determination TO
bring his ;ryrutin,, Ia the attention of
tbc nconl, =, th,. rcutcrs of population.
Rumsnv ,>f, ShuthrrI.toyyn and Jour
ncveI f., IhiI,dnluhiu He found that
his fame had ,rr,rIcl him. and he was
received with h,3eg. Inv the most emin-
ant mon nf th,t rity. BENJAMIN Frank
lin vs,s a,.u,y Interested in the new
rover off h,,,tS and with 81 other dis
Enpuisbrd gentlemen Organized the
RumSnion Snrirtv nr which Franklin
tos president iidrd hv tho members
IF tbis Society. Ruu..v decided to 90 TO
EnonnI Ia introducr hi. invention and,
nrmcd with letters of introduction and
endorsement frn,, General Washington.
Benjamin Franklin. Patrick Henry and
EI. I, ;I