Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-09-30
THE STORY OF JAMES RUMSEY.
BY ST. JOHN BYER.

| Great discoveries are never sudden IN
spirations. They are always reached by
long, patient investigation and expert
ment and scarcely ever are conceived and
perfected by one mind or man. Thelong-
felt want of the flying machine, or the
regeneration OF political morality, is ex-
perienced by the multitude. Afew gifted,
hopeful lunatics strive to beat out a path
toward achievement OF the general de-
sideratum. Ofttimes those who have con-
tributed most to the discovery are over
shadowed by the dapper eleventh hour
smart gentleman, who conveniently drops
in at the finish OF the work TO rake in all
the gold and glory. This is illustrated
by the name America-that honor should
have been given 10 Columbus-so that
Americans, being such gentle, reticent,
dove-like people COLUMBIA is the Latin
for "dove') would now have been more
properly and descriptively named; and
the phrase, "Fulton's Age OF Steam,
should have been changed, for Rumsey
can surely. claim the first place for his
devotion, and the privationS he endured,
TO realize his dream OF harneSSing steam
as the great draft horse of mankind.
The story OF Rumsey is pathetic, al
most tragic, for none OF those who were
giving their mind and energy to this end
sacrificed so much of life and fortune
likely none OF them had such exalted idea
of its importance Watt, Stephenson and
Fulton all lived TO enjoy the triumph and
remuneration OF success. RumSey, who
contributed as much, or more than any
OF his compeers, died in poverty, and
leaving no funds to stimulate the encY-
clopedists, they have almost Ignored him
in the annals of the steam engine. Now
adays fame is bought and sold as COM
modify.
Rumsey name a corruption Of Ramsey
was scion of the Scotch-lriSh race that
settled in Maryland, where his father was
Cecil county farmer, but instead OF
landlordism the son inherited turn for
mechanics and invention. These pur-
suits he dropped for while TO volunteer
in the Revolutionary War, in which ne
served as captain. Thereafter he en-
gagged in merchandising at Bath, or
Berkeley Springs, but in 1874 he was as
sociated with Throgmorton in hotel for
entertainment OF visitors at the Springs.
Keeping a boarding house always re-
quires much inventive genius TO make a
success. Perhaps the difficulty OF getting
supplies to this remote place and the
want OF better transportation set him to
work on plan Of trying the power OF
steam as it was known then to be used
in hosting fuel out of the English mines.
1t might hoist provender from the fertile
lowlandS up TO his ravenouS guests, who
came there for health and sharper ap-
pettes. But he knew nothing OF the
engine, so he must set to work from the
beginning. Tradition tells that he made
his first essay with an old copper tea
kettle and pictures him as brooding over
il, calculating how much push there be in
steam from the torce of its eScapement.
Having relatives here, he came back to
this old town of Shepherdstown, then
named Meckenburg, the most thriving
commercial pointin the Shenandoah Val
ley, where goods were sold and shipped
by wagon for hundreds OF miles around,
even as far south as Tennessee, a tact now
almost incredible. His brother-in-law,
Morrow, was in business here, and hav-
ing more faith in him than that relation
ship generally instills, he seconded his
schemes, even spending most OF his means
therein. But by the plain, practical peo-
pie hereabout he was named "Crazy
Rumsey," the impossible problem OF that
century. His meditations and specula-
tons seemed TO require some large space
for their full exercise, so he avoided the
town and went out TO remote walk
along the river shore, where he planned,
ruminated and perchance had visions ola
future century and the splendorS it should
build upon his invention.
AS evidenced by number OF letters,
Rumsey and his plans were well-known
to Washington, he being a large landlord
within this strip OF country, his youthful
stamping ground, which he surveyed for
Lord Fairfax, by whom he was granted
considerable bodies ofland. These were
, chosen with as great wisdom as good old
J Father George showed in national and
greater affairs, but with this difference
from the spectators OF today, that his
Improvements made every one around
richer and more cor Portable, in place OF
absorbing the wealth created by others.
He had Rumsey appointed superintendent
to improve the navigation Of the Potomac,
then considered the great future gateway
to the West, small channel now that
would not afford passage for any appre-
ciable part Of present traffic.
So abetted, Rumsey had the hull OF
boat built at the mouth of Sir Johns Run,
whence if was floated down to this town
to get its insides and digestive working
apparatus inserted. After many delays
and one shipwreck by Potomac freshetS,
which are not new inventions, the expert
ment was finally made on December 3rd,
1877, on the beautiful sheet OF water op-
posite this old town of Mecklenburg.
According TO report, this elected more
interest and gathered more people than a
balloon ascension of today, for amuse-
ments then were scarce and The wits,
wags and wiseacres of that day esteemed
this as a special providence made and
provided for their amusement. There