Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-30
DISPUTES ROBERT
. FULTON HONORS
James Rumsey Said TO Hav>
Run Steamboat on the Poto-
mac in 1857.

Washington Sept 23-Robert Fulton
honors as tie first American TO appl!
successfully tho principle Of steam It
navigation are vigorously disputed hy
John Moray OF Berke,ov Springs W. Va,
who in letter to Andrew Carnegie not
only declares the claims Of historians
giving this distinction to Fulton -
"perversions Of historic truth" but as
serts that James Rumsev, native Of
Maryland and a gifted mechanical on
Eincer Of post Revolutionary times, was
tho inventor Of the steamboat
Mr. Moray asserts that Robert LivinGs-
ton Of New York, Ful.ons friend and
hercfactor in being the one largely re-
sponsihle for the honors that have come
to Fuiton's name and giving him credit
as being the originator of steamboat
navigation. has "falsifed history"
"In Lis An Historical Account Of tie
Application of Steam FOR the Prorcllins
of boats 1.ivingston's statements" sava
Mr.. Moray, were Immediately and uni
vorsally accepted as Of unquestionahla
authority His dictunl was vested with
and fallbilty often denied 70 his riv-l
And set the statements Of that articia
were atrocouslv false: they were under
the circumstances wicked performances
for this great statesman. who. with
thorough knowledge Of the truth. de.
liberately chose TO substitute falsehood"
PETITION TO CONGRESS.
Mr.. Moray's letter is ACCOMPANIED hy
a petition to Congress asking that Jarlc.
Rumsey be officially recognized and that
his name and memory he perpetuated "
an appropriate bust to stand in Statuary
hall in the capitol. The petition also tells
this story of Rumsey's struggle and
triumph with steamboat navigation:
The deed books of Berkeley County
Va for the wear 1882 record the fact that
James Rumsey. native Of MARYLAND,
who was a milwrrht and Revolutionary
soldier, purchased a farm. and soon after
q pond for experimental purposes In th1
Inc of his calling. on that pond, as Tho
result Of many experiments in steam and
dyarostatcs by James Rumsev. the won
derful discovery Of the principal Of steam
nav isation took place-a propulsivs
power till then unknown to the world.
"Tl oroughlv satisfied by continuous ev-
neriments that the newly discovered
principle would become of immense valua
in the world. Rumsey contracted with his
hrothe~-in-law, Joseph Barnes, for the
blllGinS OF n boat Tor steam purposes AT
ST. Johns Run. on the Potomac river.
ASTONISHED THE SPECTATORS.
Tho resulting steamboat was publicly
exhibited at Shererdstown, Va, on tho
Potomac, on December and II, l-S7. Tho
great success and practically useful
character Of Rumsey's Steamboat wera
established by sworn testimony Of manY
notable witnesses. including Gen. Horatio
Gates conqueror Of Bursoyne. and by \
multitude of astonshed AVID delighted
spectators
This practically successful trial took
place twenty years hefore the Hudson
river trial in 1907, and the speed Of
RumseYs boat was fully equal - that
of the Clermont in its inINal trip "a
Alhany-four miles an hour--wthou. sails,
paddles and the complexities of the Hud-
son river boat. AS these facts about
Rumsey's 11>1 boat have heen thoroughly
proved by sworn testimony of many
reliable eye-witnesscs, there should now
be no question MS to who was the inVentO,
Of the steamboat. James Rumsey has
undeniably proved his right to that honor
and the glory that belongs thereto"