36 Book of Steamships 



settlers on the banks of the Hudson. They 

 saw, one night, an apparition advancing 

 up stream, breathing forth smoke, sparks 

 and steam. No wonder these simple 

 people thought the Evil One was coming 

 their way! Without more to do they 

 left their farms and bolted into the forest, 

 there to remain until daylight brought 

 them a greater courage. 



The Clermont was 130 ft. long, with a 

 beam slightly exceeding 16 ft. She had 

 side paddle-wheels, but on American 

 rivers her descendants seem to have copied 

 the Charlotte Dundas with a stern wheel. 

 The great advantage found in the latter 

 type is that it is possible to protect it 

 against damage, and that it draws very 

 little water, thus enabling a river steamer 

 to negotiate very shallow portions of the 

 stream. 



Although the Clermont was a success, 

 it would appear from contemporary 

 records that a considerable amount of 

 re-building, etc. had to be undertaken. 



