Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-06-08
A VALUABLE RELIC
Model Of Capt. Moreys Steam Engine
Used to PropeI the First Steamboat.

Monuments have been erected to per-
petuate the memory of Robert Fulton
historians and scientists have sounded
his praises, and, while he Is almost uni
versally conceded to have been the in
ventor of the steamboat, years of re-
search by the Vermont Historical So
ciety, one OF the oldest in the United
States have shown concluslvely the mem
bers declare, that Fulton was not the in
Ventor, but that he robbed the real in
ventor of the honor and prospective pc
cuniary gain.
This is by no means a rash statement,
the members assert, because that de-
cson was not finally reached until after
many years of controversy, during which
time a copy of the original patent was
unearthed In the rooms of the New
Hampshire Antiquarian society at Con-
cord, N H., bearing the date of 1895:
the original model was found In the home
of descendant at Fairlee, VT, and
papers on the subject from early in the
past century were located.
While such an assertion as this made
by members OF that famous historical
society ordinarily would have weight,
there are few today who can realize that
the statement is based on fact. But
those who are skeptcal have every OPP
portunity Of learning the facts by visit
ing the Vermont State library at the
State House in Montpelier. The model
Of the original steam propelling engine,
as well as papers unearthed on the sub
ject are the property OF the historical
society, but they have been placed on
exhibition at the state House for the
present.
The little engine, which could easily
be placed in an ordinary water pail,
occupied only n small portion Of large
glass cabinet, in which is also preserved
the first printing press made and oper-
ated in the United States, and also The
original electric motor These exhibits
are closely guarded in the Office Of State
Librarian Edward NJ Goddard of Mont
pelier. who is also the curator Of the
historical society.
The Little Steam Engine.
OF the many valuable exhibits there
is none OF greater value than the little
steam engine which propelled a small
boat against the current on the Connecti-
cut river II years before Robert Fulton
and his party made that famous trip on
the Hudson river from New York city to
Albany, and ostensibly presented to the
world at large the idea OF travelling by
water in a craft furnishing its own power.
This little engine Is a model 6lA inches
in length, ~ inches In diameter with a
cylinder OF brass / 1916 inches long and
~ inches I'm diameter. The stroke is
] o-lb lnCutSt ana Nle piston IOtt which
is made OF cast iron. IS las inches in
diameter. The piston rod plays on roll
ers, and the packing OF the joints through
out Is of Irvine.
The engine Is rotary balanced on a
disk. When the steam is allowed TO
operate the little piece of mechanism,
the upper disk with the cylinder revolves
upon the lower disk, bringing the valves
in the upper disk over the steam tube,
and the escape Of the steam follows the
opening of the lower disk.
The little engine, which contains every
essential, is set upon a copper boiler.
which is filed with water and then placed
over n fire bed.
Real inventor Was Capt. Morey.
The genuine inventor Of this engine. n
model of the first ever successfully used
to propel boat, was Capt. Samuel Morey,
son OF a Revolutionary soldier, a native
OF Connecticut and n resident for many
years Of the little town Of Fairlee, on the
Connecticut & Passumpsic division Of
the Boston e. Maine railroad, north of
White River Junction This inventor
fame was obscu-cd when Fulton, backed
by thousands OF dollars made his first
and successful appearance on the Hudson
river.
To the world. Morey, backwoods
farmer with an inventive brain, was
never generally known, and outside of
few exhibitions which he gave with
his boat in New York, he was never
known outside a small area of Vermont
and New Hampshire. That was due
solely to financial embarra ssment, and,
while he had many offers, including one
OF 100000 from Fulton, he would not
accept any Of them. because those maxi
Ing the offers wanted the full right and
title OF the craft and its steam propelIing
mn Hlaf nnV 10 81 a..
one-half of the interest, but ne could find
no one who would thus share 1t with him.
AS result Morey never made any
money on his invention. but had the idea
stolen from him. and died a poor man.
Until the model was unearthed some
years ago by Amelia S. Klbbey OF Fairlee,
a descendant OF Morey, the records were
never troubled. and few disputed Fulton's
claim. The Vermont Historical society
took such an interest in the matter that
Amelia Kibbey presented the model to
the society, and now II Is one OF Its most
treasured possessions. BY vote OF the
organization the model was recently
placed on exhibition in the Office of the
state librarian.
After the Original Boat.
In connection with the little engine
II is an interesting fact that some resi-
dents of Fairlee who are members OF
the historical society have expended
money dragging Lake Morey in that town
for the original steamboat, which was
built and operated by Capt. Morey, and
afterward sunk in that body OF water
Last fan certain portions of the lake were
dragged but without success. The work
will be resumed as soon as the ice leaves
the lake.
While many persons declare that 1t
VIII be impossible to find the little steam
boat, as It has either rotted away or be-
come embedded in the mud at the bot
tom, others think the prize is worthy of
an effort, and believe in resuming the
work of dredging.
The real inventor of the steamboat,
according to the historical society, Capt
Samuel Morey, was born in Hebron,
Conn, but came to the Green Mountain
state, and was a Vermonter by adoption.
AS boy he manifested mechanical
genius, and as early as 1880 he began to
devote much Of his time to steam, heat
and light While history crowns the name
OF Fulton, whose boat the Claremont,
was propelled by steam in 1907 from New
York to Albany, the evidence in the hands
OF the Vermont Historical society conclu-
sively proves that Morey was on the water
with a similar contrivance IA years be-
fore.
The claim is that Samuel Morey had
constructed a small boat propelled by
steam, which ran against the Connecticut
river current at the rate OF four miles
an hour In 1888 Among the many ma
tives of the state who saw his test was
the late Rev. Cyrus Mann, then a boy
about ~ years old. In an address de-