The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-17
TODAY IN HISTORY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST II. 1910.
Our First Steamboat,


Few characters in our nautical history
are moro interesting than Robert Fulton.
the inventor of the steamboat. Born near
Lancaster, Pa, early in life he was left
fatherlcos. AS youth he showed an
unusual natural talent for mechanics and
invention. a few years or painting
In Philadelphia and London, and the
painter is lost In the engineer seeking
10 solve the canal problems OF England.
dis double incline plane" Invented, he
goes TO patent ii in France. and remains
there absorbed in new problems OF naval
warfare, hoping by submarine boat and
torpedo to enforce that liberty of the
seas which is to make ''the happiness
OF the world
Napoleon full of dreams OF world con-
quest looks a moment at his plans, but
makes no action, and when the inventor
drops the torpedo for the steamboat he
england bring him back 10 America,
where with Chancellor Livingston no con-
structs the first commercially practicable
s.eamnoat, the Clermont, and makes pos
slbIc steam navigation.
me Ciermont was built on the East
river In the year 1907. The first trial
OF the boat was made early one morn
Ing In August before many people were
out OF bed to witness It,
The engines were put in motion. and
",tn lew spectators but the astounded
sailors In the harbor, the boat was moved
Island and across the North river to the
Jersey shore. 1t was found that she
steered easily ana In every way her
progress was satisfactory TO her owners
The public trial and the first real trip
OF the vessel was made Monday, August
~ 1907. Fulton and Livingston had In
vlted number Of their friends to make
inc passage, and public announcement
had drawn an assemblase or several hun
dred people. Many OF them were friends
OF the passengers; and bade them fare
were going to The pole. trembling at the
terrloie risk run in sailing on boat
full of 1re.
On the boat was Miss Harriet Living
Fulton had met at the Pearl street home,
and with whom he had fallen in love.
She is described as "a beautiful graceful
and accomplished woman, as deeply in
any girl could be-" OF him, rne son OF
the immigrant tailor and farmer. now at
ms hour OF greatest triumph. she could
well be proud. 1t was said that day
OF him that "his eyes were glorious with
love and genius"
At first, however. Fulton had little
time TO think OF anything bur mis- boat,
which he had named the Clermont, after
Livingston's palatial estate on the Hud-
son. At ! o'clock in the afternoon she
left her dock near the State prison in
Greenwich village, the smoke pouring
from her funnel. amid the shouts OF the
passengers and the rather awed cheer
Ing OF the spectators.
In her first form the CIermont was
far from beautiful She was called "thc
very ugliest craft that could be imagined"
and was described as Cooking precisely
like backwoods sawmill mounted on
scow and set on FIRE" For fuel dry pine
wood was used, and the black smoke
poured out in thick clouds. And on the
stern deck OF the ungainly craft stood the
party of gayly dressed ladies and gentle
men, singing. 'Ye Banks and Braes OF
Bonny Doom"
To the sailing craft in the river she
was an object of establishment and
alarm. and when, In spite or wind and
new, sailless. smoke belching vessel many
a captain and crew abandoned their ship
and took TO the woods. convinced that
the shapeless monster must nave come
direct from the Internal regions. And at
different points along each bank would
population Of a village had turned out 10
gaze and wonder at the novel sight.
AT i p m. the next day. after trip
of almost exactly twenty-four hours, the
vessel arrived at Clermont, It's stopping
point Remalnins one night at the
tinued to Albany, making the trip be-
tween in the morning and in the
afternoon. Thursday al Q a m. he start
ed down the river again. and after
spending the night at Clermont: reached
distance was $50 miles. Against the cur
rent he had made il In thirty-two
hours, and with it In thirty The COM
mercial practicability and. superiority OF
the steamboat was established.
August II is the birthday OF Lucretus
(B: c. 99); David Crockett, the pioneer
and soldier d7S6); Peter Collier, sclent-
list GS35): Julia Marlowe, the actress