Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-03-31
JAMES RUMSEY AGAIN.
!. o. KNOTT.


thing on lanes Rumsey. Probably IN
the files of that paper can be found all
the data on the subject obtainaole. But
nv attention has been lately called
10 an illuminating article from younr
wri er on the real inventor OF the
steamboat May | venture some facti
and some observations on Rumsey ana
his work?
The American Encyclopedia Ap-
pieton's) gives over column TO Jonn
Fitch a northern man who lampooned
Rumsey and claimed to have origin
ated the steamboat idea. The Apple
ton Encyclopedia concludes that the
evidence is conclusive in favor Of
Fttch's being first man TO apply steam
to boat loocmotion." James Rumsey
is dismissed with a few lines. the edi-
tors Of the standard American En-
cYclopeda seeming 10 have known
little OF him, and carrying 10 know no
more than they did. And this is &C
cdrd with that spirit Of our northern
folks when they write or rival claims
involving the South and North. II
northern man OF even more than aver.
age intelligence is asked when and
where was the first English settlement
made in America he will reply prompt
ly: AT Plymouth Rock Massachu-
sets When you call attention 20
jamestown, Va, seventeen years be-
fore, he observes. ooh we'll, that hard
~ counts for anything II had no
permanency and had no leading idea as
the Plymouth colony had Besides
many OF the jamestown settlers were
uidesirables sent over by England Ia
s{ms as impossible TO convince
northern people as class. Of the true
significance OF the jamestown settle
mcnt as il is 10 show them that the
Barbara Fritchie" story has in il not
an iota of truth except that such an old
lady did live in Frederick City, Md.
and was sympathetic with the North in
the struggle between the States.
We OF the South should not be dis
mayed however, because the North has
ortwritten us. II may not seem TO
be too personal and partisan. the posi-
ton OF Henry Cabot Lodge, OF Mass.
in the last years OF the Wilson admins
tration and even up to his last words
IN President Wilson. inQuiring of him
II had anything to say TO Congress be-
fore 1t adjourned represents much that
we Of the South must meet in dealing
with rival claims between the two set
Elements much that we Of our country
Lodge is typicaly New Eng and, an6
personalities the thing We have TO deal
with and overcome in order to get the
truth before the American public.
RumSey was born in Cecil county
nd, about l743 He did his exper-
Tuenting on steamboat work in Shep-
Fertstown. He was mill-wrich;
and yet had genius for mechanic
which was far beyond that
He showed to George Washington :
model OF his proposed steamboat IN
lIS5, and won commentator from
hun. His attempt TO make a tria
OF his invention on the waters of the
Potomac met with ridicule. bitter criti
cism and counter claims from Iohr
tch. Rumsey made mis- trials oi
lis boat by night, with his faithful
brother-in-law as his chief aid Final
~, December B. 1887. with 4 cargo OF
lme tons aboard and Distinguished
passengers, among whom was Gen
Horatio Gates. Rumsev demonstrate.
u the crowds gathered on the bluffs
oil our own SherherdStpWr that a boat
could be propelled AZ least three miles
- hour, and with considerable cargo
b. the application of steam as q motive
power. This was un iouhtedlv the
real pioneer of all the thousands Of
meets that have since sailed the ocean
tne great though crude beginning Of
oIr wonderful warshi0s and our ocean
palaces. Such honor IS enough fo7
Que small town even had We no more
10 contribute 10 history The model of
the Rumsey steamboat is now in our
museum in Washing n and belongs
TO us as precious heritage.
II is we'll known that Rumsev went
TO Phlladelphla secure the confidence
aDd aid of BENJAMIN Rush ana Hcnisn.
III Franklin, and wen: 10 England with
tJe endorsement and prooahla aid of
tffse men to make rial nf his an.
eH:'. on of steam TO. holt on tho
names river. He built his boat ard
when nearly ready for the trial Rum
SIS died.
Robert Fulton, a young artist and
inventor, had become acauan MED with
kumsey in London ard the two nca
had exchanged ideas. After RumSev'e
death Fulton turned his thoughts in
tne direction of Rumsey'S work ?l-
rca1y done. and using the hints and
models ALREADY in hand finally iaurcb.
ef his boat. the "Clermont" o. m
irdson river years after Rums,y had
done the same in somewhat crude
iqTm on the Potomac at Shephcrds
own
In the Hall Of Fame in our National
Capitol is the figure OF Fulton. hi
model OF he "Clermont" in harL
which he is represented as PIONEERING
New York placed this statue in OF
Capitol as representing the Invention
or the steamboat, and giving to New
York the credit. In fact. + alm5;t
any public school pupil were asked oT
hand. "Who invented the steamboat ,,
me reply would probably be "Ro5ert
Fulton"
Some one saws: "What's the differ
ence-the steamboat is here and wnv
spend time over rival claims as 10 who
invented it?" In the interest Of his
toric accuracy we should know and