FIRST VOYAGE OF THE _CLERMONT_
The eventful day, the 17th of August, 1807, dawned with blue, unclouded
skies. There was a buzz of excitement throughout the morning as the
guests, about forty in number, assembled at the dock near the old States
Prison, in Greenwich Village.
Miss Helen Livingston, a young lady who was present, had written her
mother, “Cousin Chancellor has a wonderful new boat which is to make the
voyage up the Hudson some day soon. It will hold a good many passengers
and he has, with his usual kindness, invited us to be of the party. He
says it will be something to remember all our lives. He says we need not
trouble ourselves about provisions, as his men will see to all that.”
She with her sister, Kate Livingston, made the famous trip and many
years later told its story to her granddaughter, Helen Evertsen Smith,
who wrote it out. “Cousin Chancellor” predicted the truth when he
said it would be something to remember all their lives! There were
several ladies in the party, as well as the Dean of Ripon Cathedral,
England, John R. Livingston, and other persons of distinction. Some
were incredulous and all were slightly uneasy. Fulton himself has thus
described the exciting time:
The moment arrived in which the word was to be given for the
boat to move. My friends were in groups on the deck. There was
anxiety mixed with fear among them. They were silent, sad and
weary. I read in their looks nothing but disaster and almost
repented of my efforts. The signal was given and the boat moved
on a short distance and then stopped and became immovable. To
the silence of the preceding moment, now succeeded murmurs of
discontent and agitation, and whispers and shrugs. I could hear
distinctly repeated ‘I told you so; it is a foolish scheme: I
wish we were well out of it.’
I elevated myself upon a platform and addressed the assembly.
I stated that I knew not what was the matter, but if they
would be quiet and indulge me for half an hour I would either
go on or abandon the voyage for that time. This short respite
was conceded without objection. I went below and examined
the machinery and discovered that the cause was a slight
maladjustment of some of the work. In a short time it was
obviated. The boat was again put in motion. She continued to
move on. All were still incredulous: none seemed willing to
trust the evidence of their own senses. We left the fair city
of New York: we passed through the romantic and ever-varying
scenery of the Highlands;—we descried the clustering houses of
Albany: we reached its shores,—and then, even then, when all
seemed achieved, I was the victim of disappointment.
Imagination superseded the influence of fact. It was then
doubted if it could be done again, or if done if it could be
made of any great value.
We must not imagine that the boat was as perfect as the modern steamboats
of to-day. Far from it! She was a strange looking vessel; the uncovered
machinery occupied the center and groaned and creaked from time to time.
The huge paddle-wheels splashed in and out of the water, casting spray on
the decks and high in the air. The rear cabin was set aside for the use
of the ladies,—the forward cabin for the men. There were two tall masts,
provided with sails in case of need. A rude compass on deck guided the
pilot in steering the boat. All together it is not to be wondered at that
the odd-looking boat, spitting forth steam and splashing water at both
sides, excited the lively interest of all who could see the vessel from
both shores of the river.
It is said that the boat had not long been under way when Fulton caused
it to be stopped because he saw a way of improving the paddles. He
lessened their diameter, so the buckets took less hold of the water, for
certainly they splashed too much. When the boat started again it was
found that the alteration had increased her speed. It is said that her
first performance exceeded the expectation of the passengers on board,
and none but Fulton thought that she could be improved.
But after this adjustment there was no further trouble. The wheels went
around with regular stroke as the boat advanced steadily up the river and
convinced the skeptical that Fulton had fulfilled his promise.
One of the newspapers, the _American Citizen_, printed this notice that
morning:
“Mr. Fulton’s ingenious steamboat, invented with a view to the navigation
of the Mississippi from New Orleans upward, sails to-day from the North
River, near States Prison, to Albany. The velocity is calculated at four
miles an hour. It is said it will make a progress of two against the
current of the Mississippi and if so it will certainly be a very valuable
acquisition to the commerce of Western states.”
This news, together with the popular interest aroused near the dockyards,
brought a crowd of people to the shores. During the setting-forth from
the dock, the jeers of many could be plainly heard. As the paddles began
to turn and the boat swung about to position and headed up stream, the
faces of the doubters changed as though by magic. _Fulton’s Folly_ was
not merely afloat, it was moving with majesty and with assurance. The
scoffs subsided, exclamations of wonder took their place; then, as the
triumph of the experiment became evident, a cheer arose from the shore.
It was echoed and repeated until the entire crowd acknowledged its
mistake in a wild tumult of cheers,—the first public acclaim to greet the
new invention.
From Helen Livingston’s letter we know that refreshments were provided
for the party; and there were couches in the cabins upon which the guests
could sleep at night, for the voyage to Albany took thirty-two hours
instead of nine, as at the present day.
The boat splashed on its way, looking it is said “like a backwoods
saw-mill mounted on a scow and set on fire.” Wood was used for fuel and
when the fireman stirred the flames they shot high in the air, throwing
out a multitude of sparks as well, which must have looked terrifying
enough to the people on shore, especially in the darkness of the night.
The sailors on the river sloops were amazed as they saw this queer boat
gaining upon them, while some of the more timid actually ran their boats
to shore and took to the woods in fright. Others gathered on the river
bank and prayed for protection against this “monster” made by man. All
were spellbound with astonishment and passed the word from one to
another, so that the dwellers from all the houses near shore ran forth to
view the strange craft.
After the first fear had passed, happiness prevailed on board. The quiet
ease of Fulton’s and Livingston’s manner, as they moved about among their
guests, restored peace of mind. By night, when filmy shadows fell over
the mountain tops and the setting sun touched the waters with gold, the
guests were thrilled with delight. The presence of the ladies added a
touch of beauty to the strange-looking vessel, and as they proceeded
through the picturesque Highlands, the party sang the melodies of the
day. The Scotch ballad said to have been a favorite of Fulton’s rang out:
“Ye banks and braes o’ Bonny Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary fu’ o’ care?”
But Fulton’s care, for the time, had sped away. He was surrounded by
friends whose compliments upon his success must have been both welcome
and pleasant. Helen Livingston’s granddaughter writes: “There were many
distinguished and fine-looking men on board the _Clermont_, but my
grandmother always described Robert Fulton as surpassing them all. ‘That
son of a Pennsylvania farmer,’ she was wont to say, ‘was really a prince
among men. He was as modest as he was great and as handsome as he was
modest. His eyes were glorious with love and genius.’”
A great personal happiness filled Fulton’s thought, beyond that of his
success in the invention, for on the second day of the voyage, as the
boat was about to cast anchor at the Clermont dock of the Chancellor,
the latter, as a crowning touch of romance to the triumph of the
voyage, announced the betrothal of his fair young cousin, Miss Harriet
Livingston, to the inventor. In easy, graceful words he added that the
name of Robert Fulton would descend to posterity as a benefactor to the
world, for it was not impossible that, before the end of the century,
vessels propelled by steam alone might make the voyage to Europe! The
guests were too polite to laugh at this suggestion in the presence of
the Chancellor and the inventor but, after several of the company had
indulged in hidden smiles, John R. Livingston whispered to his cousin,
“Bob has had many a bee in his bonnet before now, but this steam folly
will prove the worst yet!”
It has been reported that the consent of the Livingston family had been
withheld from Fulton’s engagement until he could prove his invention a
success. He had asked the Chancellor if he might aspire to the hand of
his fair cousin and had received the reply: “Her father may object …
but if Harriet does not object,—and she seems to have a world of good
sense,—go ahead, and my best wishes and blessings go with you.”
In the light of later events, it is hard to see why any objection
could have been raised. Fulton, then forty-two years old, had made his
way against great odds, and was a prominent man on both sides of the
Atlantic. Harriet Livingston, a guest of honor on the historic trip up
the Hudson, was the daughter of the Hon. Walter Livingston, Commissioner
of the United States Treasury. The bride-elect had inherited beauty
and talent. She played upon the harp and also sketched in pencil with
delicacy and skill, an accomplishment which naturally appealed to
Fulton’s artistic taste.
Her father, Walter Livingston, son of the last Lord of the Manor of
Livingston, had inherited as his share of the vast grant of land of
1715, which comprised over 160,000 acres, a tract of 28,000 acres, which
he named “Tiviotdale.” Upon this great estate he had built an imposing
mansion to which in later years Fulton and his wife paid many visits.
The party left the boat at Clermont, while Fulton and the Chancellor,
after spending the night at the latter’s hospitable home, continued the
journey to Albany, arriving there at five o’clock in the afternoon. When
the voyage to New York was made, Fulton set about improving his boat that
she might be more comfortable for the many passengers he hoped to carry
up and down the river. He wrote to Barlow, as follows:
“My steamboat voyage to Albany and back has turned out rather more
favorably than I had calculated. The distance from New York to Albany
is one hundred and fifty miles. I ran it up in thirty-two hours and
down in thirty. I had a light breeze against me the whole way, both
going and coming, and the voyage has been performed wholly by the power
of the steam engine. I overtook many sloops and schooners beating to
the windward and parted with them as if they had been at anchor. The
power of propelling boats by steam is now fully proved. The morning I
left New York there were not perhaps thirty persons in the city who
believed that the boat would ever move one mile an hour, or be of the
least utility, and while we were putting off from the wharf, which was
crowded with spectators, I heard a number of sarcastic remarks. This is
the way in which ignorant men compliment what they call philosophers and
projectors. Having employed much time, money and zeal in accomplishing
this work, it gives me, as it will you, great pleasure to see it fully
answer my expectations. It will give a cheap and quick conveyance to the
merchandise on the Mississippi, Missouri and other great rivers, which
are now laying open their treasures to the enterprise of our countrymen;
and although the prospect of personal emolument has been some inducement
to me, yet I feel infinitely more pleasure in reflecting on the immense
advantage my country will derive from the invention.”
And so was _Fulton’s Folly_ changed to _Fulton’s Triumph_! There
are several accounts of the return voyage, notably one written by a
Frenchman, Monsieur Michaux, a distinguished botanist, who happened to
be in Albany at the opportune time when Fulton’s boat was about to make
its return voyage down the Hudson. He with his companion, a man named
Parmentier, had been three days in the capital city when they read in
the paper about the arrival of a “steam boat” from New York, commanded
by the inventor, Robert Fulton. Crowds of people were flocking to the
dock to see the strange craft. Some admitted that a great advantage might
be gained by the novel method of transportation, although many persons
predicted that the boiler would explode and cause serious accidents.
A sign hung upon the side of the boat announced that it would start for
New York on Wednesday, August 20th, and would carry passengers at the
same price charged by sailing-masters on their sloops, seven dollars.
The two Frenchmen decided to try the experiment. They were alone in their
decision, all other travelers preferring to go by the old “slow and
sure” way. The boat set off in sight of a crowd of spectators which had
gathered at the dock. The smoke from the engine could be seen for some
distance throwing a black column to the sky, and many persons gathered on
near-by hillsides to wave their handkerchiefs and hurrah for Fulton whom
they noticed in command when the boat came up the river.
Monsieur Michaux said that when they paid Mr. Fulton their fare, before
they left the boat, he commented on the courage of two Frenchmen to
embark when so many of his countrymen declined to try the experiment.
It is interesting to remember that Fulton carried passengers from both
France and England, the two countries where his preliminary attempts had
been worked out; for an Englishman, probably the Dean of Ripon Cathedral,
who is known to have been a guest of the Chancellor on the first trip
of the _Clermont_, wrote a letter which was printed in the _Naval
Chronicle_, for 1808, Vol. XIX, page 188:
“I have now the pleasure to state to you the particulars of a late
excursion to Albany in the steamboat, made and completed under the
directions of the Hon. Robert R. Livingston and Mr. Fulton, together
with my remarks thereon. On the morning of the 19th of August Edward P.
Livingston, Esq. and myself were honoured with an invitation from the
Chancellor and Mr. Fulton to proceed with them to Albany, in trying the
first experiment up the river Hudson, in the steamboat. She was then
lying off Clermont, the country seat of the Chancellor, where she had
arrived in twenty-four hours from New York, being 110 miles. Precisely
at thirteen minutes past nine o’clock A.M. the engine was put in motion,
when we made a head against the ebb tide and the head wind blowing a
pleasant breeze. We continued our course for about eight miles, when we
took the flood, the wind still ahead. We arrived at Albany about five
o’clock P.M. being a distance from Clermont of forty-five miles, (as
agreed by those best acquainted with the river) which was performed
in eight hours, without any accident or interruption whatever. This
decidedly gave the boat upwards of five miles an hour, the tide sometimes
against us, neither the sails nor any implement but the steam used. The
next morning we left Albany at twenty-five minutes past nine and arrived
at Clermont in nine hours precisely, which gave us five miles an hour.
The current on returning was stronger than when going up. After landing
us at Clermont, Mr. Fulton proceeded with the passengers to New York. The
excursion to Albany was very pleasant and presented a most interesting
spectacle. As we passed the farms on the borders of the river, every
eye was intent, and from village to village the heights and conspicuous
places were occupied by the sentinels of curiosity, not viewing a thing
they could possibly anticipate any idea of, but conjecturing about the
possibility of the motion. As we passed and repassed the towns of Athens
and Hudson we were politely saluted by the inhabitants and by several
vessels, and at Albany we were visited by his Excellency, the Governor,
and many citizens. She is unquestionably the most pleasant boat I
ever went in. In her the mind is free from suspense. Perpetual motion
authorizes you to calculate on a certain time to land; her works move
with all the facility of a clock; and the noise when on board is not
greater than that of a vessel sailing with a good breeze.”
And so the journey to Albany and back was complete, the triumph assured.
That tiny steamboat, with splashing side-paddles, had been acknowledged
a safe transport. With great pleasure the captain, Andrew Brink by name,
who certainly knew more of navigation than of spelling French names,
wrote in his note-book:
List of passengers on board the North River Steamboat from
Albany to New York, August 21, 1807:
Dollars
Captain Thomas Hunt 7
Monsieur Parmentoo
Monsieur Mishaud 13
Mr. E. D. Tyle 6
Captain Davies 1
--
27
Mr. Fulton
Captain Brink had previously had command of the river sloop _Maria_. When
Fulton and Livingston journeyed on his sloop to Clermont they discussed
the plan for the steamboat, and finding Brink intelligent and interested,
they promised to employ him upon the new ship. On September 20th, 1807,
Fulton entered his month’s pay-roll in his account book:
To Captain Brink 30 dollars
George, the Steward 10 ”
Paid Griffin, the Black Steward, 12 ”
Paid Richard Wilson, the Black Cook, 10 ”
Captain Brink lived on the west bank of the Hudson, opposite Clermont.
After he had landed his passengers at the Chancellor’s dock, on the
voyage up the river, he borrowed a rowboat, crossed the river, and
brought his wife back to take the remainder of the trip, for he had
promised “to take her to Albany on the boat driven by a tea-kettle.”
The chief engineer was a Scotchman who had to be discharged, for at
Albany he went ashore and indulged too freely in drink as a celebration
of the successful voyage. Fulton promoted Charles Dyke, assistant
engineer, to his place, and he did so well that he remained for many
years in Fulton’s employ, and in time became chief engineer of the first
ferry-boat used at Fulton Ferry.
So Fulton proved himself not merely a master of mechanics, but also of
management and administration of the new method of travel. He not only
began well but continued wisely.
After Fulton reached New York he took time to write a letter to the one
newspaper, the _American Citizen_, which had noted the departure of his
boat. It was well that he did so, for this furnishes an historical record
of the achievement. It is a simple and straightforward account of the
voyage, with no extravagant predictions as to the future.
NEW YORK, August 20th, 1807.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE _American Citizen_,
SIR;
I arrived this afternoon at 4 o’clock on the steamboat from
Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hope
that such boats may be rendered of much importance to my
country, to prevent erroneous opinions and to give some
satisfaction to the friends of useful improvements, you will
have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts:
I left New York on Monday at 1 o’clock and arrived at Clermont,
the seat of Chancellor Livingston, at 1 o’clock on Tuesday,
time 24 hours, distance 110 miles: On Wednesday I departed from
the Chancellor’s at 9 in the morning and arrived at Albany at 5
in the afternoon, distance 40 miles, time 8 hours: the sum of
this is 150 miles in 32 hours, equal near 5 miles an hour.
On Thursday at 9 o’clock in the morning I left Albany and
arrived at the Chancellor’s at 6 in the evening: I started
from thence at 7, and arrived at New York on Friday at 4 in
the afternoon; time 30 hours, space run through, 150 miles,
equal 5 miles an hour. Throughout the whole way my going and
returning the wind was ahead; no advantage could be drawn from
my sails—the whole has therefore been performed by the power of
the steam engine.
I am, Sir,
Your Most Obedient,
ROBERT FULTON.
Friends were ready enough now to congratulate the inventor upon his
success, but he had scant time to listen, for his first accomplishment
made further work necessary. He plunged at once into hard work for the
development of his plan which included steam navigation for the inland
waters of America.
[Illustration: FULTON’S INKSTAND
_Reproduced through the courtesy of The Century Co._]