Young folks' history of the United States . 1778, during the Revokition. James Ramseyin 1784 built a vessel which reached a speed of three orfour miles an hour, against the stream, on the Fitch built one, soon after, that was employed onthe Delaware; andhe predicted, more-over, that steamshipswould one day crossthe Atlantic. Butthese steamboatswere not at all likethose now built; theirengines being madeupon a different prin-ciple. The first boatconstructed on thepresent plan waslaunched upon theHudson, by Robert Fulton, in 1807. While the vessel was being built, itwas called Fulto
Young folks' history of the United States . 1778, during the Revokition. James Ramseyin 1784 built a vessel which reached a speed of three orfour miles an hour, against the stream, on the Fitch built one, soon after, that was employed onthe Delaware; andhe predicted, more-over, that steamshipswould one day crossthe Atlantic. Butthese steamboatswere not at all likethose now built; theirengines being madeupon a different prin-ciple. The first boatconstructed on thepresent plan waslaunched upon theHudson, by Robert Fulton, in 1807. While the vessel was being built, itwas called Fultons Folly, and every one laughed atit. He himself wrote that no one had ever made tohim a single encouraging remark about it. But, beforethe boat had gone a quarter of a mile, unbelievers wereconverted; and the people who had collected to seethe experiment began to shout with applause. Thevessel was named the Clermont, and made the tripfrom New York to Albany, at the rate of five miles anhour, against the wind and tide. As it moved, it sent. ROBERT FULTON. 242 YOUNG FOLKS UNITED STATES. showers of sparks into the air. The noise of ma-chinery and paddles was very great; and, when it passedother vessels, their sailors sometimes hid themselvesbelow the deck, and knelt, praying for protection fromthis horrible monster. From this time forward, steam-boats rapidly multiplied, were greatly improved, andwere soon in general use ; though it was not generallysupposed, for a long time after, that they could safelycross the ocean.
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