Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-01

after his death, in London in 1892.
The Runsey Society intends to actively
push the work during the present year ana
hopes soon to be in a position to erect the
monument.
In Support of Claim.
Comparatively few persons are aware OF
the mass of documentary evidence that can
be produced from eminent persons living
more than a century ago to support the
claim that Rumsey really did invent the
method of propelling boats by steam and
that it was his boat that was the first in
the history of the world to move against the
current by such force.
James Rumsey born at Bohemia
Manor. Cecil county, Maryland, in 1913.
His father was a farmer. but the son was a
natural mechanic, and besides being Skill
full as a carpenter and blacksmith. was an
excellent millwrght. He had moved TO
Virginia when the revolutionary war broke
out and it is said that he served with credit
In the continental army. AT the close OF
the war he settled at Bath. Va, then
noted watering place. and now the town OF
Berkeley Springs. In Morgan county, w
Va 1t is said that early as 17l4 Rumsey
had the idea of steam navigation IN MS
mind, but the first authentic record OF the
matter Is to be found in a petition addressed
by him to the Maryland legislature In NO
yember. 1873.
OF necessity Rumsey was very cautious
and reticent as TO his plans. He took 1eW
persons into his confidence. and most OF
the work on the boat was done In secret
He had confded, however, In one James
Wilson of Philadelphia, and MI Nnson AT
erward gave a certificate in which he nlftde
affidavit to the fact that Mr.. James Rum
sey of Berkeley county, Va, m q cohNetSei
tiop I had with hiu In the latter part OF
July or beginning Of August, told me tiiat
he intended TO construct q boat 10 go ps
the power Of steam. and pointed out lne
great expense it would save IN water car
riage. - .u or
Rumsey finished his boat In the IAN OF
1888 Its estimated capacity was about SIN
| tons burden The boiler was primltlVe one
an ordinary iron cooking pot Win d i.o
| securely fastened there with bands. rlVets
and soft solder" The engine had been
built by Rumsey with the assistance or the
| village blacksmith. and was construciea
upon the atmospheric principle. Its power be
| ing obtained by the weight of the air press
! ing upon a piston. beneath which vacuum
! had been created by the condensation OF
! the steam. The mode OF propulsion was
| nv means of pump, worked by steam,
which being placed toward the forward
part OF the boat. drew up at each alternate
| stroke of the engine a quantity OF water,
| which by the return down stroke was
| forced through q trunk at the bottom along
| the kelson and out at the stern under the
| rudder The impetus of the water rushing
| through the trunk against the exterior wa
ter ef the river thus drove the boat forward.
Ready for First Trip.
Runsey. In October. 1888. made ready for
| his first trlp. The boat WAS moored on the
| bank of the Potomac near the mouth of
! Sir Johns Run. and the parts Of the engine
| and boiler were secretly conveyed to the
! boat by Rumsey. and his Two friends.
Joseph Barnes and Nicholas Orrick, the
! former being ms brother-in-iaw and tae lat
| ter his partner In = store that they con-
| Quoted at Bath. The trial trip demonstrated
the fact that a boat could be propelled by
the method in use. but steam escaped from
| the queer boiler IN such quantities that the
experiment was not satisfactory as Rum
scy and his colleagues had hoped. Rumsey
was Convinced. however. that his invention
was a success and he at once prepared two
petitions. one for tie legislature Of his ma
tive state OF Maryland and the other to his
adopted state OF Virginia. These petitions
were prepared in order that Rumsey might
have protection in his rights. there was
at that time 10 general patent law 1t lay
! with the states to protect their citizens in
such matters
AT the following session of the Maryland
! legislature an act was passed In response
10 Rumseys petition. the provisions of
which were follows:
Whereas James RumseY, by his petition
| 20 this general assembly hath set forth
| that he hath invented a plan for navigating
| boats against the currents of rapid rivers at
a very small expense, whereby great ad
vantages will rebound TO the citizens of this
state. and has prayed that an act may pass
| vesting In him sole and exclusive right,
privilege ana Dement, IN constructing, HAVl-
| eating and employing boats constructed az
| ter this new invented model upon the
| creeks. rivers and bays within this state
| be granted to him, his heirs. executors. ad-
ministrators and assigns for limited time.
| and. Il appearing reasonable that the said
| James RumSey should have the advantage
of said invention.
Be IL enacted by che general assembly
OF Maryland, that the exclusive right, priv
ilege and benefit Of making constructing
and selling within this state the said new
Invented boats improvements upon the
same plan shall be and is hereby invested
IN the said James Rumsey. his executors,
administrators and assigns. for and during
the space of ten years from the end OF
| this session of assembly.
The state OF Virginia later passed a sim
ilar act and Rumsey. now being satisfied
| of protection. with fortune and fame loom
! ing ahead OF him, devoted his time to per-
| fecting his machinery and manufacturing
the necessary parts. He poor, and
| many difficulties presented themselves from
| lack of funds. He made model of his
| curious craft. which he finished In the
| summer OF 1854.
Endorsed by Washington.
| He seems TO have realized the value Of
| an Endorsement from General Washington.
| The Father of His Country at that time
/ had summer cottage at Bath. and he
| gave the following certificate TO the In
| ventor:
| II have seen the model of Mr.. Rumsey's
| boats constructed to work against the
| stream; examined the powers upon which
l IL acts. been eyewitness TO an actual ex-