Newark post., 1910-08-24
first Steamboat S6rs Local Pride!
STORY OF AN UNnONORED HERO

Fitch tells III his journal that nearly
all the members were present except
General Washington. The following
day he received notes from several OF
those men presenting their compli-
ments and assuring him of their salts
faction.
The boat had moved very slowly as
the force of the machinery was not
would make it valuable as a packet
boat It was therefore decided to
build larger one and try to remedy
this lack of power.
The outcome was the boat of 1900,
which for three months carried pas
sengers from points along the Della
ware as regularly as do the steam
boats of the present day-giving to
the Delaware the claim of having the
first successful steamboat trips in the
world by which passengers and freight
were carried from place to place.
The following appeared in the Penn
sylvania Packet in I7oo-the advertise
ment of the first successful steamboat
n the world
THE STEAMBOAT
Is now ready to take passengers,
and is intended to set off from
Arch Street Ferry in Philadelphia
every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday for Burlington, Bristol,
Bordentown and Trenton, to re-
turn on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays Price TOR passengers,
rs. 6 to Burlington and Bristol,
ss, Q TO Rordentown, IS to Tren-
| ton.
June IA.
In the Jays OF discomfort in over
land travel it seems strange that thi
was so slightly patronized that i
could not pay expenses aud conse
quertly had to be withdrawn.
F;tcf's was the hopeless task o
launching an invention without thu
" backing Of powerful friends
!, Livingston, CFult0n's patron) wa
willing to put up with a boat goinl
at the rate of five miles an hour
Fitchs company were not satisfie
with one which moved at the rate 0
seven or eight miles all hour.
Fitch had only the most roughl
made machinery, the work of loca
blacksmiths. before any laws OF me
Chanics had been established
Working under these handicaps hoy
bitter it must have been to see tn
outcome OF his best efforts, the result
of his perseverance and enthusiasm
the knowledge gained at such a cost {
tireIess energy and unappreciated tot
/ discarded by his countrymen Afte
, his efforts had developed to this dt
gree OF success. it is not hard to in
agine his modification over the il
difference and luke-warmness wit
, which his triumph was received
s His prophecy, The day will com
when some more powerful man wi
\ get fame and riches from my invef
{ ton; but nobody will believe that poe
/ John Fitch can 10 anything worthy
i, attention. only shows his foreslgh
In another place among his writing
: are found these words: Pardon m
: generous pubic, for suggesting ides
:, that cannot be d'gcsted at this day
+ As man he was perfectly homes
and governed his actions by hig
a code OF integrity.
q After finding disappointment in h
n attempts along the Delaware he st
!, planned to find the desired succe
q along the Ohio.
# Driven to despair by his inability
+ convince people of the utility of h
invention-which he never for a m
4 ment doubted--hc committed suici,
q in 1903 and joined the ranks of o.
i neglected benefactots.
d His wish was to be buried
i "On the margin Of the Ohio;
Df Where the song Of the bOatman mig
o penetrate
n. The stiffness Of his resting place,