James Rumsey, the Inventor of the Steamboat

of the steamboat, he is not entitled to the credit and honor of inventor.

But another and the most serious competitor Rumsey has ever had for precedence in the invention, was John Fitch, who is said to have, "in 1789, succeeded in propelling his steamboat by paddles, at the rate of eight miles an hour, on the Delaware."

Keeping in mind, however, the dates of Rumsey's efforts as herein before given, and comparing them with the following from Fitch himself and his biographer, an easy solution of the question of precedence is furnished.

In a pamphlet by Fitch, on The Original Steamboat Supported, etc.," published in Philadelphia, in 1788, he

says:

"I confess the thought of a steamboat, which first struck me by mere accident, about the middle of April, 1785, has hitherto been very unfavorable to me."

The following certificate was published in the same pamphlet:

"I do certify that I was returning from Neshammany meeting some time in April, 1785, as near as I can recollect the time, when a gentleman and his wife passed by us in a riding-chair, he (Fitch) immediately grew inattentive to what I said. Some time after he informed me that, at that instant, the first idea of a steamboat struck his mind. JOHN OGILBY."

In the "Memoirs of John Fitch," by Charles Whittlesay, which first appeared in the February number 1845, of the Western Literary Journal-he says:

"Mr. Fitch conceived a plan to move a water craft in April 1785. Returning one Sunday from church, in the township of Westminister, Bucks Co., Penn., a chair—a riding vehicle with wheels-passed along the road. Reflecting upon its motion he supposed it might be made to traverse the country by the force of steam. After a short time he concluded this to be impracticable and turned his thoughts upon a scheme of propelling vessels in water by the "same agency."

And further in the same biography, speaking of the application of steam to vessels, says:―

"The first with which we are acquainted in this country,

took place in secret near Shepherdstown, Virginia, during the fall of 1784. It was made by James Rumsey, a native of Maryland and a resident of Virginia, who had conceived the project in 1783. Rumsey's boat had a capacity of six tons, and was first set in motion privately during the darkness of the night etc."

But the question of precedence between Rumsey and Fitch, is no longer an open one, dependent upon the individual claims, or amount of evidence submitted by their respective friends in this day. It was formerly considered, adjudicated and decided between them, on their own showing, in their own day.

The Petitions of Rumsey to the General Assemblies of Virginia and Maryland, before the organization of any Patent office in this country, for the grant of certain franchises, and protection of his rights in the steamboat, have been hereinbefore. mentioned and referred to. He made like application for a similar grant and protection in the State of New York, in the language and opinion of a distinguished jurist of our State*-with the following result:

"Before the Legislature of New York a lively contest arose between the rival inventors, Rumsey and Fitch. The Legislature appointed a committee to investigate their respective claims for priority, and that committee after full investigation reported in favor of Rumsey and against their own fellow-citizen, John Fitch. This, as it seems to me, ought to set at rest all question or controversy as to the first inventor of the steamboat.”

A few reflections, and a suggestion in conclusion.

Classic history tells us that seven cities did honor to and claimed "Homer, dead;" while countless shafts, monuments and mausoleums perpetuate the memory of the worlds many departed heroes and benefactors.

Our country's tribute to our latest national hero, was tendered last month in the public observance of "Dewey Day." But in the very consummation of the event-the great naval engagement which made Dewey and the day

*Hon. Daniel B. Lucas, Ex-Judge, W. Va., Court of Appeals, in W. Va., School Journal, May 1899, p. 11.

famous-what contributed more to its possibility than the outgrowth of the invention of our hero, Rumsey-the Steamboat! And in no less renowned triumphs of peace— the advance of commerce and civilization-what has been a greater helper in its progress, or who a greater benefactor to mankind than its inventor? If so recognized and appreciated, what grateful tribute ought now to be paid the name and achievement of Rumsey?

In 1839 the U.S. Congress gave the humble public recognition of awarding to "James Rumsey, Jr., the son and only surviving child of James Rumsey, deceased, a suitable gold medal, comemorative of his father's services and high agency in giving to the world the benefits of the steamboat."

It was long the cherished hope and desire of the late Hon. A. R. Boteler, and his earnest effort before our State Legislature and elsewhere, to have erected on the summit of the high, rocky cliff, on the Potomac at Shepherdstown, overlooking the scene of Rumsey's early experiments, a suitable monument to his momory. That cliff, in the days of Rumsey and for most of the century since, was looked upon and spoken of as one of the "everlasting hills;" but in the march of modern progress even they melt away, and recent years have seen that massive rock, blasted and shattered, and piece by piece dumped into the jaws of a large steam crusher, pulverized and carried by train loads miles away for ballasting the road-bed of a great railway.

Spared, as if for a monument to Rumsey, perhaps not by human design, there still stands in its original height, one solitary peak of that huge cliff.

The suggestion: That West Virginia, or in name and behalf, the Historical Society, (the propriety being endorsed by its President,*) as a fitting close of the century, at once secure and utilize that site, by dedicating and erecting thereon, in such shape or form as may be found practicable, the long delayed but not less justly due, monument or memorial, to honor and perpetuate the name and invention of James Rumsey.

*Dr. J. P. Hale, Minutes of the 9th Annual Meeting, 1899, p. 25.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Magazines.

Mary Ann Rumsey-Godey
...Vol. 44, p. 266.
Invention of Steam Boat-Quarterly...... .Vol. 19, p. 347.
Early Steamboat Nav.-Pot. Am. Mo........ Vol. 4, p. 173.
Steam Nav. before Fulton's time-Hist......Vol. 3, p. 3.
in 1798-Hist. Mag..
Vol. 21, p. 23.
Introduction of-Hist. Mag....Vol. 2, p. 225.
Introd. of-J. Frank, Inst......Vol. 30, p. 81.
Invent. of Chamb. J..