The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-04-01

est in the invention and his efforts to
guard Rumsey against infringments.
Of Fitch's visit a year after Rumsey
submitted his plans, Washington wrote
to Thomas johnson, Governor of Mary
land:
"Mr. Fitch called upon me on his
way to Richmond and, explaining his
scheme, wanted a letter from me
Introductory of it to the Assembly of
this State, the giving of which 1 de-
clined."
Washington added that he event on
to inform his (Fitch) that though I
was bound not to disclose the prin-
ciples of Mr.. Rumsey's discovery, 1
could venture to assure him that the
thought of applying steam for the
purpose he mentioned was not original
but had been mentioned to me by Mr..
Rumsey."
Warns Against Delay
On January 81, 1876, Washington
wrote to Rumsey, warning him against
delay in demonstrating his steamboat
to the public.
eff you have no cause to change
your opinion respecting your mechani-
cal boat, and reasons unknown to me
do not exist to delay the exhibition
of it, would advise you to give it to
the public as soon as it can be pre-
pared conveniently. :.
"The postponement creates distrust
in the public mind; it gives time also
for the imagination to work, and this
is assisted by little dropping from
one and something from another to
whom you have disclosed the secret.
"Should a mechanical genius, there
fore, hit upon your plan, or something
similar to it, / need not add that it
would place you in an awkward situa-
ton and perhaps discomfort all your
prospects concerning this useful dis
covery."
Family Arrives In Cecil
Cecil county records show the Rum
sey family arrived in that section in
1908. The family eventually became
comparatively large landholders. Rum
.sey developed into skilled mechanic
and blacksmith.
He fought in the Revolutionary War,
then sold his property in Baltimore
and moved to Bath, then in Virginia,
where he operated saw mill and ex-
perimented with his invention.
West Virginia historical records
show all was not easy for the inventor.
He had an improved steam engine"
ready for trial in March, 1785, but fire
in his saw mill destroyed the boat he
had planned to exhibit.
He started another boat, but his
work was interrupted by his appoint
ment as superintendent of the Potomac
Navigation Company. He then en-
ployed his brother-in-law, George
Barnes, to build a fifty-foot boat on
Sir Johns Run, near Bath.
Moved Family To ShepherdstOwn
Rumsey tried out this boat one night,
then wrote Washington: 81 have
brought it to the greatest perfection.
go. The power is immense" After
that trial, in October, 1885, he moved
his family to Shepherdstown.
On the night of December 1,1785,
Rumsey brought the boat down the
Potomac from Sir Johns Run to Shen-
andoah Falls (Harper's Ferry. The
following spring it was ready for trial,
but that winter storm tore it loose
from it's mornings and, as Rumsey
wrote Washington, "broke thirty feet
out of her middle"
The repaired steamer was again
ready for trial in September, 1887, and
December was set as the date for it's
public demonstration. Newspaper
accounts of that time said the demon
stration was success and the boat
made almost four knots an hour.
o.