The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-03-04
- Trip of the First Steamboat =

I'VE will see how the captains wife
took her ride.
The Memorable Day.
"The morning of August II, 1907,
was bright and warm" continues Mr.
Drinks. AT pier in the harbor of
New York a vessel was lying which
| the events of that day were to make
historic and the trip she was just to
undertake would never be forgotten. A
motive power would be utilized that
day, which would change the face of
all the earth, and would pillow every
| sea. The craft that was lying at the
pier that morning in the early days of
the nineteenth century would have ex-
cited the contempt of those who saw
! the century's close. A long, narrow
vessel with two masts, one each of
| which was to be spread a sail; low
cabin on each side of the deck: some
what forward of the center of the ves-
sci revolving wheel on either side
with ten paddles like the arms of a
! windmill, and these uninclosed in a
wheel house, and on the pier a jeering
crowd of spectators exchanging cheap
witticisms with each other at the ex-
| board, silent but confident.
when the appointed hour had ar
rived the vessel was cast loose, and
the scoffing crowd became quiet, for
| hor tho
boat worked its way out into the
stream. Soon after reaching the mid
die of the river there was a break in
the machinery, which Occasioned
alarm, and which took some time to
repair. This was duly accomplished
and the vessel proceeded slowly up
| the Hudson, and the crowd was
quiet as the Missionaries, with the
| jeered-at boat propelled by tea ket-
tie, passed out of sight.
1.-The trip excited great interest along
the river, and some alarm, especially
at night, as it was thought to be a
vessel On fire. Dry pine wood was
in the furnace, and it's light illuminat-
ed the sky for miles. The boat left
the pier in New York at 1 o'clock in
the afternoon of Monday, August II,
and reached Clermont Opposite Sau-
! gertes) the seat of Chancellor Living
miles had been covered in just "a hours.
! Here the boat was anchored in mid
stream and Fulton went ashore to
spend the night with Livingston, while
Capt Brink at his fathers on the OPP
posite bank, at the mouth of the Saw
creek. came to redeem his promise,
and take his wife to Albany in the
! boat driven by a tea kettle.
i Anchor was raised on Wednesday
morning at 9 o'clock, and Albany
reached that afternoon at 4. so that the
actual travelling time had been 81
hours. The next morning at the re-
turn began, and Saugerties was not
made until in the evening-nine
hours. Here they anchored for the
night, and left for New York at on
Friday morning, which was reached
at that afternoon, or in nine hours,
the whole return trip in IS hours of
actual travelling. Both on the trip to
Albany, and on the return, the wind
had been dead ahead, and no benefit
could be derived from the sails.
1T is fact but little known that
Fulton had named the craft Expert
ment," and it was not until her return
to New York and her paddle wheels
had been inclosed and cabins and other
accOmmoda tons provided for carrying
passengers, that the name Clermont
was substituted. BY the latter name
she has always been known.
Care of the Boat.
1.-The writer (Mr. BRINK has in his
possession the following letter Of in
structions written to his grandfather
by Robert Fulton:
NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 1907
/ Capt. Brink.
Sir: Inclosed is the number Of voy-
ages which is intended the boat should
, run this season. You may have them
| published in the Albany papers.
AS she IS SlIOISIy HAL u ana cNCI y
one except Jackson under your COM
mand, you must insist on each one do
: ing his duty Or turn him on shore and
put another in his place. Everything
must be kept in order, everything in
it's place. and all parts of the boat
f secured and clean. 1t is not sufficient
to tell men to do a thing, but stand
over them and make them do it. One
pair of quick and good eyes is work
2 six pairs of hands in commander. II
4 the boat is dirty and out of order the
/ fault shall be yours. Let no man bt
1 idle when there is the least thing t
r do, and make them move quick.
1 Run no risques Of any kind wher
a you meet or overtake vessels beating
1 Or crossing your way. Always rur
e under their stern, if there be the leas
doubt that you cannot clear theil
heads by fifty yards or more. Give il
|. the accounts of receipts and expense:
= every week to the chancellor