Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1909-08-31
The Clermont's First Trip

The elaborate preparations now being
made for the joint celebration of the
epoch-making voyages of Hudson and
Fulton, recall the fact. that it was just
one hundred and two years ago. on
August II, that the Clermont's trip to
Albany proved the practicability of
navigation by stream. The New York
Evening Sun tells the story of the trip
as follows:
A few days before August II, a
Strengthening craft was taken around
from the East River to the North River
and moored near the old State prison,
which stood on the square now bounded
by Washington, West Tenth, West and
Charles Streets.
On Monday, August II, the American
Citizen contained this momentous an
nouncement;
Mr.. Fulton's ingenious Steam Boat,
invented with a View to the Navigation
Of The Mississippi from New Orleans
upwards, Sails to-day from the North
River near The State prison, to Albany,
The Velocity of The Steam Boat is
Calculated at miles an hour it is
said that it will make q progress of two
against The Current of The Mississippi;
and if so it will certainly be very
valuable acquisition to the Commerce of
the Western States" :
That morning the shore of the river
was crowded with thousands of citizens
many of whom had come to deride
what was called "Fulton's Folly" Jeers
and catcalls saluted Fulton's ears, and
the waggishly inclined significantly
tapped their foreheads. God help you,
Bobby! cried one. "A fool and his
money are soon parted! cried another.
Bring IFS back chip of the North
Pole!" facetiously shouted another.
Fulton, pale, but with an air of con-
tidence. went about his preparations to
start. Presently dense volumes of
smoke began to pour forth from the
smokestack. The boiler began to hiss.
At one o'clock the hawser was drawn
in, the throttle opened, and to the ac-
compartment of the stertorous exhaust,
the uncovered sidewheels began to
CULVER, then slowly to revolve. A hush
fell on the spectators. Fulton's own
hand at the helm turned the bow. The
Clermont moved out into the stream,
the steam connections kissing at the
joints. the crude machinery humping
and grooming, the wheels splashing and
the smokestaCk bclching like a volcano.
The boat continued to gather momen-
tum and move away. Then the nervous
tension of the situation was broken.
All on board swung their hats in the
air and gave a cheer, and like one echo
magnificd a thousand times. came back
roar of applause from the shore.
Skeptics has been converted. Those
who came to scott remained to cheer.
The Clermont was ~ success, and steam
navigation in America was established
beyond peradvcnturc.
AS the steamboat proceeded up tho
river it spread CONSERVATION among
SuperstitiOus mariners and unsophsticat
ed countrymcn. No such sight had ever
been seen lCfOrc. The pine wood used
''' '"'' P'''"''' ~ IpiItIlJ vi SlnOke,
flame, and sparks. which bclched forth
to great height above the smokestack.
The rcverbcration of the exhaust as the
boat passed the Palisades was some.
thing absolutely unheard of before by
human ears in this region. Crews OF
other vessels were terrified. Many at
first sight fell on their knees, disappear
cd below decks or made for land. One
honest countryman, after bcholding the
unaccountablc object from the shore