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| The Rumsey Monument overlooking the Potomac River Author's Photo |
Standing high above the Potomac River in Shepardstown, West Virginia sits a monument to a man and a machine of his own design. While many are probably aware of this revolutionary machine, few probably know this gentleman by name. So how does this pertain to Central Pennsylvania? When his invention made its way to the region, it inadvertently set in motion a new era for transportation.
On the monument is a bronze plaque with the following inscription: “In Honor of James Rumsey Inventor of the Steamboat.” So who was James Rumsey? Born in Maryland in 1743, James was raised in a working class family. Though he lacked any formal schooling, James had knack for engineering. He even designed a house for a pre-president George Washington.
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| The Rumsey Monument plaque Author's Photo |
In his later years, Rumsey became obsessed with the idea of steam-powered boats. Known as “Crazy Rumsey” he spent years tinkering and drawing various designs until settling on the idea of using the steam engine to pump in water and then expel it out the rear of the vessel, thus propelling it forward. On December 3, 1787, Rumsey successfully demonstrated his water-jet propelled steamboat on the Potomac River at Sheperdstown, Virginia (now West Virginia).
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| An illustration of Rumsey's steam-powered boat |
However Rumsey wasn’t alone in his endeavors. Connecticut-born inventor John Fitch had debuted his version of the steamboat on the Delaware River just mere months prior. It is still debated academically whether Rumsey’s or Fitch’s design was the first true steamboat. For Fitch and Rumsey it would not matter. Both were awarded patent rights to the steam-powered boat in 1791 meaning neither would exclusively reap the financial rewards of the invention.
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| James Rumsey Image Retrieved From: https://justjefferson.com/10Rumsey.htm |
James Rumsey died unexpectedly in London in 1792 while attempting to gain patent rights there. John Fitch lacked the resources to continue development of his steamship design. Frustrated by additional failures in his life, he committed suicide in 1798. Steamship development settled into a depression following the deaths of both inventors. It wouldn’t be until 1807 when Robert Fulton revived the technology with his steamship Clermont. By this time, Rumsey and Fitch had faded into obscurity.
In 1825, John Elgar continued the evolution of the steamboat when he constructed the first iron-hulled ship in the United States, the Codorus, in York, Pennsylvania. One of the financiers of the vessel was Peter Karthaus, an iron-maker from Clearfield County. Karthaus was interested in the opportunities steamships could provide for shipping his commodities down the West Branch of Susquehanna. At the time, the only way for Karthaus to ship his iron was in large wooden arks during the spring freshets. Many an ark was lost to the raging rapids of the river.
The Codorus was launched on the Susquehanna River on November 22nd 1825. In order to navigate the shallow rocky bottom and rapids of the river the vessel had a draft of a mere six inches. In the spring of 1826, investors of the ship planned an expedition up the Susquehanna River in an effort to test whether ships could navigate its waters, a feat not yet attempted. Should the river prove sufficient for steamships, a vast wealth would be ripe for the taking.
That April, Captain Elgar sailed the Codorus slowly up the river past Harrisburg and onto Northumberland, where it began its journey up the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Throngs of people came down to the river bank to watch the Codorus pass by. Upon reaching Williamsport, a cannon was fired in celebration until it exploded, injuring several people.
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| The Codorus Image Retrieved From: https://www.ydr.com |
At Jersey Shore, the boat stopped at Bailey’s Island to take on firewood. However, the only source was a nearby fence. While dismantling it, the owner of the island suspended the act with gun in hand. Apparently a compromise was able to be struck and the ship took on fuel and steamed on. It was reported that the river after Williamsport was particularly challenging to navigate. Elgar ventured as far modern day Farrandsville, in Clinton County before being forced to turn around and retrace his path back to Northumberland. Elgar then turned and sailed up the North Branch to Binghamton, New York.
Another steamer backed by Peter Karthaus was the Susquehanna. It had previously traveled up the Susquehanna River from York Haven to Northumberland. A second journey up the North Branch of the Susquehanna was initiated in May of 1826. Traversing the Nescopeck Rapids near Berwick, PA proved too much for the ship. After becoming stuck on the rocks, one of the boilers exploded, killing three men.
Hoping for third time’s a charm, another ship, Pioneer, ran the gauntlet that same spring. The Pioneer labored upriver from York to Williamsport before returning. It never sailed again.
Another steamer backed by Peter Karthaus was the Susquehanna. It had previously traveled up the Susquehanna River from York Haven to Northumberland. A second journey up the North Branch of the Susquehanna was initiated in May of 1826. Traversing the Nescopeck Rapids near Berwick, PA proved too much for the ship. After becoming stuck on the rocks, one of the boilers exploded, killing three men.
Hoping for third time’s a charm, another ship, Pioneer, ran the gauntlet that same spring. The Pioneer labored upriver from York to Williamsport before returning. It never sailed again.
With all three ships experiencing the common denominator of failure, the idea of commercial steamboats on the Susquehanna River was diminished and their use was restricted to portions of the river that could accommodate them. For Central Pennsylvania, their defeat by the river ushered a new era. If boats couldn’t navigate the river directly, then canals would be used to circumvent unusable portions of it. By 1834, the West Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal had reached where the Codorus had turned around at Farrandsville. Canals continued to be the premiere mode of transport in the region before being superseded themselves with the arrival of railroads in the late 1850’s.
Allen, D. (2008). James Rumsey: American inventor. Appalachian Blacksmiths Association. Retrieved from https://abablacksmiths.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/James_Rumsey_biography.pdf
Bell, H. (1891). History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, and Co. Publishers. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=z9MwAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Brubaker. J. (2010).Remembering Lancaster County: Stories from Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books id=S3d0CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT29&dq=pioneer+steamboat+%2B+williamsport&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjklfOYzoLiAhVHXK0KHdYIDOgQ6AEINjAC#v=onepage&q=pioneer%20steamboat%20%2B%20williamsport&f=false
Meginness,J. (1892). History of Lycoming County. Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, and Co. Publishers. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=O9AwAQAAMAAJ&dq=codorus+%2B+williamsport&source=gbs_navlinks_s
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Otzinachson/j9EUNOTUYxsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=farrandsville+%2B+steamboat&pg=PA451&printsec=frontcover
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