48 BULi-ETIN 127, UI^ITED STATES K^ATIOXAL MUSEUM. 



for ascending rivers against the current. This he exhibited to a 

 group of people who visited the Springs at that time, among whom 

 was General Washington. Subsequently, Eumsey built a boat for 

 testing his device, the boilers and machinery for which were made by 

 the Catoctin Iron Furnace, of Frederick County, Va. An experi- 

 mental trip was made with this steamboat on the Potomac River in 

 1785, which is said to have been successful. This encouraged him 

 so much that he destroyed his model " and sailed for England, hop- 

 ing thereby to perfect his work and realize fame and fortune; but 

 he was doomed to disappointment, and after several years of very 

 hard struggling he died before completely and satisfactorily demon- 

 strating the i^rinciples of a new model." 

 Made in the Museum. Cat. No. 203,711 U.S.N.M. 



FIG. 5. JAMES RUMSEY'S STEAMBOAT. 



Model of John Fitch's steamboat. 



An open carvel-built, sharjD-ended keel boat, with raking, curved 

 stem and sternpost; rudder hung outside and worked with tiller; 

 round bilge ; fitted with device invented by Fitch to operate 12 oars 

 placed vertically ; the machinery being driven by a steam engine, to 

 which it was connected by gears and sprocket wheel and chain. 



Dimensions of hoat, — Length over all, 34 feet ; beam, 8 feet ; depth, 

 3 feet 6 inches ; oars, each 12 feet long ; scale of model, one-half inch 

 equals 1 foot. 



Experiments were made by Fitch with a stern paddle wheel and 

 endless chain and side wheels, but meeting with little success he 

 finally adopted the plan of propelling a boat by oars or paddles on 

 the sides, to be moved by cranks driven by machinery. A public 

 trial of this device was made on the Delaware River on July 27, 

 1786. In 1788 Fitch completed his first boat for carrying passengers, 

 and this was driven in a similar manner. This steamboat was 60 

 feet long and 8 feet wide. The engine had a 12-inch cylinder. She 

 made a trip from Philadelphia to Burlington, about 20 miles, in 



