OF LAXCASTER COUNTY. 397 



His first experiment in steam navigation was made on the Hudson river in lsu7 

 With the aid of Robert R. Livingston, he constructed a boat in which he made a trip 

 to Albany. Speaking of this experuncnt he said; "The moniiny I left New York 

 tliere were not perhaps thirty persons in the city who believed that the boat would .novo 

 one mile an hour, or be of the least utility. And when we were putting off from tho 

 wharf, which was crowded with spectators, I heard a mnnbcr <.f sarcastic ivmarlcH 

 Tills is the way, you know, in which ignorant men compliment what they call philo.so- 

 phers and projectors." But the multitude was disappointed, eveu his most Ningiiiuo 

 anticipations were exceeded. His vessel "walked the waters like a thing of life." Ho 

 made the trip from New Y'ork to Albany, in 33 hours, and back agai.i in ;jO h..ui-s. 



The following account of this first steamboat was published at the time, and was 

 undoubtedly a reality, although it was tinged with the marvellous. "Passing ui. tho 

 river she excited the astonishment of the inhabitants on the shore, many of whom had 

 not heard of an engine, much less of a steamboat. She was described' by some who 

 indistinctly saw her pass in the night, as a monster moving on the waters, defying tho 

 tide, and breathing flames and smoke. Her volumes of fire and smoke by night at- 

 tracted the attention of the crews of other vessels. Notwithstanding the wind and tide 

 were adverse to its progress, they saw with astonishment that it was rapidly approach- 

 ing them; and when it came so near that the noise of the machinery and paddles was 

 heard, the crews in some instances sunk beneath their decks from the terrilic sight, and 

 left their vessels to go on shore, while others prostrated themselves and besought Prov- 

 idence to protect them from the approaches of the horrible monster, which was march- 

 ing on the tide, and lighting its path by the fire it vomited." 



Fulton died on the 24th of February, 1815, in the 50th year of his age, and in tho 

 midst of his usefulness — but ahuost in penury. Sixty years only have elapsed since 

 he made his first voyage on the Hudson in the steamboat Clemiont, and the .same trip 

 is now made in less than one-third of the time in which he made it: and instead of a 

 solitary boat on that river, hundreds of them, like floating palaces, are daily traversing 

 our rivers, lakes, coasts and seas of the eastern world — almost annihilating time and 

 space by the celerity of their movements. The memory of such a man should be cher- 

 ished by his countrymen — it is the only patrimony which he beciueathed his cliildren. 



Gibson, John, General, a brave soldier of the French and Revolutionary wars, was 

 born at Lancaster in 1740, and died in the western countiy in 18'22. It was to him 

 that Logan delivered his celebrated speech, the translation of which by Gen'l Gibson 

 has been spread over America and Europe. 



Grosh, Jacob, a native of Lancaster county, was born January 2."5th, 1777, of Ger- 

 man IVIoravian parents. He was a member of the Legislature during eleven years. 

 and subsequently was twice appointed Associate Judge of Lancaster. He died at his 

 residence, in Marietta, November, 1860. 



Hand, Edward, was born December 31st, 1744, at Clydafi", King's County. Province 

 of Leinster, Ireland. He died at his farm, "Rockford," near Lancaster. September 3d, 

 1802. 



In 1767, he received the appointment of Surgeon's >Iate, or Surgeon, to the 18th 

 Royal Irish Regiment of foot, and sailed with that regiment from the Cove of Cork, 

 May 20th, 1767, and arrived at Philadelphia, July 11th. He was Ensign in the s;unc 

 regiment, and the commission being dated 1772, it would seem that he purchased it in 

 this country. 



He went with the 18th to Fort Pitt, and returning to Philadelphia in 1774, he resigned 

 his commission, and received a regular discharge from Ireland. In the same year lie 

 came to Lancaster, with recommendations, in order to practise his profession of Physic 

 and Sui-gery. In 1775 he married. His first American commission bears date June ..)th, 

 1775. He was on Prospect Hill, 20th August following. He left Lancaster, Lieutenant 

 Colonel of the First Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen, famous for its exploits dunng 



