invented in 1787 and experimented with the follow- 

 ing year on the Potomac River. The boat was driven 

 by a steam pump on the hydraulic-jet principle and 

 its trials appear to ha\-e been considered successful. 

 Rumsey is usually credited with inv^enting this boat 

 in 1784 but recent research indicates that his first 

 boat was probably mechanically propelled and 

 intended to demonstrate only a mode of propulsion 

 employing setting poles. After Rumsey completed 

 the tests of his steamboat he went to England and 

 obtained backing that permitted him to start con- 

 struction of another boat there. However, he died 

 before it was completed. The boat was tried out on 

 the Thames by his backers but the demonstration 



did not impress onlookers enough to create any 

 great interest, and nothing developed from this 

 final experiment. 



Supposed to represent the second boat, built for 

 the Potomac River trials, the model is no more than 

 a rowboat somewhat like a contemporary ship's 

 loiigboat. having a full entrance, a short and heavy 

 run, and a square stern with the rudder hung out- 

 board. The engine and other details arc not in 

 agreement with contemporary descriptions. The 

 authority for the form of the model is unknown. 

 Scale of model is 2 inches to the foot. 



The model was made in the Museum. 



../^TTl Oi/iAy 



Scale Drawing of Multitubular Boiler Designed by Stevens and used by him in liis steamboat, 1804. 

 Original boiler (USNM 181 179) is in the Watercraft Collection. {Smithsonian photo 45368.) 



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