Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-06
Fulton's Rock Creek Experiments.

To the Editor Of The Star:
The recent publication in The Star in
the correspondence of William E. Curtis
of the letters written by Robert Fulton in
regard to his torpedo experiments in this
city calls to mind a rather curious situa-
ton. This versatile man was a visitor in
Washington at different times during the
period OF 1S0l-10, as Is shown by the head
ings of the letters and their dates. One
of these letters and the first one thus
marked is written from I>alorama and is
dated January "a, 1909, just two years
after his first visit to this city as recorded
in this correspondence. Now Kalorama was
property he bought here which then lay
outside of the city limits. but through
which Massachusetts, avenue now passes on
Its course west Of Florida avenue and eX-
tending to Rock Creek.
On the brow of the hill overlooking Rock
Creek and the wooded slopes beyond and
just to the north of where Odd street runs
into s street northwest Mr.. Barlow built
house which, for those days, was a
spacious and stately home. Here Fulton
who had known Barlow abroad. made his
home while he was constructing his model
and 1t was on Rock creek that ran along
the base of the ample grounds that sur
rounded the house where he purposed to
have the trial Of the torpedo invention to
which, as the letters show, he invited the
members of the committee of Congress.
of Fulton's. whose name became SO thor
oughly identified with the steamboat as to
cause his achievements In other lines to be
overshadowed, at least in the popular mind
furnished the basis for the statements so
frequently made whenever kalOrama or
Fulton is mentioned, that it was on Rock
creek that Fulton expeI ,mented with the
steamboat
There Is no mention, as far as known.
in any account that has been written of
ElItOD'S achievements.
the steamboat in this locality, and as might
naturally be expected good deal of minute
research has been given to the general
subject. In addition to this lack of au-
thority there is also the circumstance that
Joel Barlow did not buy the property here
until the year 1907 and 1t was In that year
that Fulton's labors were crowned with
the success achieved in the initial trip of
his boat, the Gleremont.
In view of these and other facts. it has
been a matter of a good deal of specula-
ton on the part of those who are familiar
with local history as to how the tradition
of Fulton's steamboat experiments on Rock
creek came into existence and has been so
widely accepted. Not long ago the writer,
in looking over scrap-book containing
newspaper cuttings, found some Which
recorded the recollections of two old resi-
dents They stated that they were en-
ployed as mechanics by Robert Fulton to
furnish parts of machinery, and in both
instances they are, quoted as saying that
with his steamboat on Rock creek.
Unfortunately, the owner of the scrap
book failed to attach to the clippings the
dates and places of their publication and
these testimonies were given. But, at any
rate, such as they they furnish what
would strike the average mind fair evil
dence that Fulton's steamboat had its
origin in part at least on the waters of
Rock creek.
1t seems prCoable that this account
gained a wider circulation and credence be-
cause of just such evidence as that which
has been quoted The old residents
were, of course. entirely honest in their be-
lief that the parts of machinery they sup
Piled were intended for in Fulton's
steamboat and they no doubt repeated their
this myth. as it might be called. has become
thoroughly imbedded in the current history
of the past of the District.
w. b. BRYAN.