Many different contrivances have been invented, and some of them secured by patent, for rendering steam boats fit for a tempestuous navigation. Messrs. Red head and Parry have proposed to extend two horizon tal channels through the whole length of the vessel, with apertures at the stern and the bow at which the water can enter and escape. The water rises nearly to the top of these channels, and two or more pair of paddle wheels are mounted, having their paddles im mersed about one foot beneath the water in the chan nel. In very stormy weather the apertures of the channels may be closed by the shutters, and the water pumped out. In this condition the ship may be navi gated by sails.
The fine American steam ship the Savannah, which crossed the Atlantic, and arrived at Liverpool on the 20th June 1827,* after a passage of 21 days, had its paddle wheels constructed so that they could be taken to pieces; and removed in bad weather, except two principal arms of each, which being of cast iron and firmly fastened, are placed in a horizontal position in high seas. The engines were in use during 18 days of the 21 that the passage lasted.
For farther information on the subject of steam na vigation, see Jonathan lIulls's Description of a new invented machine, &c. 1737. Buchanan on Steam. IN'arigation, Glasgow, 1816. Marestier, lllcWtoive stir lcs Bateaux a l'apeur, Paris, 1824. Cleland's Histo rical Secount of the Steam Engine, and its application in Propelling Vessels, 1825. lllemoire sui' la Navi gation a Vopeur, par M. Seguin. Paris, 1828. Dr. Lardner's Lectures on the Steam Engine. London, 1828. And Dr. Brewster's Edition of Ferguson's Lectures., Vol. II, p. 112-117.
It is only of late that the world has been informed of the first attempt made to use the powerful agency of steam in propelling vessels. Blasco de Garay, a sea captain, in the presence of Charles the Fifth of Spain and sundry officers of state, in the year 1543, made an experiment upon a ship of 200 tons at Bar celona with an engine, all of which was not exposed, but it was observed to consist in part of a large cal dron or vessel of boiling water, and a movable wheel attached to each side of the ship. The emperor, prince and the other spectators applauded the engine, and especially the expertness with which the ship could be tacked: and Garay was munificently reward ed. The exhibition being finished, he took the en gine from the ship, and having deposited the wood work in the arsenal of Barcelona, kept the rest himself.t This account is given in a note to the first volume of a work lately published in Spain, containing original papers relating to the voyage of Columbus. It was communicated to the author by Thomas Gon zales, dated Samancas, August 27, 1825, and said to have been taken from the Royal Archives of Samancas for 1543.
In page 258 some account was given of John Fitch's steam-boat, which was built in Philadelphia, and made several experimental excursions on the Delaware. In plate DX. Fig. 2, its form may be seen. The follow ing account of it is given by the unfortunate inventor in the Columbian (Philadelphia) Magazine,Vol. I. for December 1786. "The cylinder is to be horizontal, and the steam to work with equal force at each end. The mode by which we obtain what I term a vacuum, is, it is believed, entirely new, as is also the method of letting the water into it, and throwing it off against the atmosphere without any friction. It is expected that the cylinder, which is of 12 inches diameter, will move a clear force of 11 or 12 cwt. after the frictions are deducted; this force is to be directed against a wheel of 18 inches diameter. The piston is to move about three feet, and each vibration of it gives the axis about forty evolutions. Each evolution of the axis moves twelve oars or paddles 51 feet; they work perpendicularly, and arc represented by the strokes of a paddle of a canoe. As six or the paddles are raised
from the water, six more are enteric], and the two sets of paddles make their strokes of about. t 1 feet in each evolution. The crank of the axi.: acts upon the pad dles, about one third of their length from their lower ends, on which part of the oar the whole force of the axis is applied. The engine is placed in the bottom of the boat, about one third from the stern, and both the action and reaction turn the wheel the same way." Fitch gives a particular account of the progress of his operations in steam, from the first time that the thought occurred to him of using it, to the com pletion of the boat, so far as to make numerous ex periments on the Delaware : the subsequent alterations made in it, and the final abandonment of the scheme by the original subscribers. This account shows him to have been a strong minded, but unlettered man, with a-"perseverance almost unexampled, and a deter mination to let no difficulty in the execution of his plan prevent him from endeavouring to bring it to perfection, so long as the share-holders furnished the means of defraying the experiments. As stated, p. 258, they refused to advance more funds. This they did after interfering with his views, and attempting expensive plans of improvements, which failed of suc cess. The conviction of Fitch, however, respecting the power of steam continued firm; and in June 1792, when the boat was laid up, he addressed a letter to Mr. Rittenhouse, one of the share-holders, on the sub ject, in which he says " it would be much easier to carry a first-rate man of war by steam, than a boat, as we would not be cramped for room, nor would the weight of machinery be felt. This, Sir, will be the mode of crossing the Atlantic in time, whether I bring it to perfection or not, for packets and armed vessels. I mean to make use of wind when we have it, and in a calm, to pursue the voyage at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour." He further suggests the use of steam to conquer the cruisers of Barbary, by which several American vessels had been taken about that time. He says, " a six foot cylinder could discharge a column of water from the round top 40 or 50 yards, and throw a man off his feet, and wet their arms and ammunition." He complains of his poverty, and to raise funds, he urges Mr. Rittenhouse to buy his land in Kentucky, that he " might have the honour of en abling him to complete the great undertaking. His enthusiasm on the subject never diminished one mo ment, and steam was the constant theme of his discourse, whenever he could prevail upon any one to listen to him. Upon one occasion he called upon a smith who had worked at his boat, and after dwelling for some time upon his favourite topic, concluded with these words: " Well, gentlemen, although I shall not live to see the time. you will, when steam-boats will be pre ferred to all other means of conveyance, and especially for passengers, and they will be particularly useful in the navigation of the river Mississippi." He then re tired, when a person present observed, in a tone of deep sympathy," Poor fellow, what a pity he is crazy." The prediction of the benefits which this country would one day derive from steam navigation, are made in se several places in the course of his manuscripts left to the library company. The distress of mind, and mortifi cation he suffered, from the failure of his protracted exertions, and his povery, were too much for him, and to drown his reflexions, he had recourse to the com mon, but deceptive remedy, strong drink, in which he indulged to excess, and retiring to Pittsburgh, he ended his days by plunging into the Alle ghany.