The Life of Robert Fulton and a History of Steam Navigation |
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The Life of Robert Fulton and a History of Steam Navigation Thomas Wallace Knox No preview available - 2016 |
The Life of Robert Fulton: And a History of Steam Navigation (Classic Reprint) Thomas W. Knox No preview available - 2017 |
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Popular passages
Page 165 - Soon shall thy arm, unconquer'd Steam, afar Drag the slow barge, or drive the rapid car ; Or, on wide-waving wings expanded bear The flying chariot through the fields of air...
Page 151 - She is a structure resting on two boats and keels, separated from end to end by a channel fifteen feet wide, and sixty-six feet long; one boat contains the caldrons of copper to prepare her steam. The cylinder of iron, its piston, levers, and wheels, occupy part of the other. The water-wheel revolves in the space between them. The main or...
Page 278 - ... COMET,' between Glasgow, Greenock, and Helensburgh, for passengers only. The subscriber having, at much expense, fitted up a handsome vessel to ply upon the River Clyde, between Glasgow and Greenock, to sail by the power of Wind, Air, and Steam, he intends that the Vessel shall leave the Broomielaw on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, about midday, or at such hour thereafter as may answer from the state of the tide, and to leave Greenock on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the morning to...
Page 162 - His ear enabled him to distinguish that the machine was moved by a crank, which always gives an unequal power, and therefore an unequal velocity in the course of each revolution; and a nice and practised ear may perceive that the sound is not uniform. If the machine had been kept in motion by what was its ostensible moving power, it must have had an equable rotary motion, and the sound would have been always the same. "After some little conversation with the showman, Mr. Fulton did not hesitate to...
Page 108 - My steamboat voyage to Albany and back has turned out rather more favorable than I had calculated. The distance from New York to Albany is one hundred and fifty miles : I ran it up in thirtytwo hours, and down in thirty. I had a light breeze against me the whole way, both going and coming, and the voyage has been performed wholly by the power of the steam-engine.
Page 52 - Whatever may be your award, I never will consent to let these inventions lie dormant should my country at any time have need of them. Were you to grant me an annuity of twenty thousand pounds, I would sacrifice all to the safety and independence of my country.
Page 110 - It was in the early autumn of the year 1807 that a knot of villagers was gathered on a high bluff just opposite Poughkeepsie, on the west bank of the Hudson, attracted by the appearance of a strange, dark-looking craft, which was slowly making its way up the river. Some imagined it to be a seamonster, while others did not hesitate to express their belief that it was a sign of the approaching judgment.
Page 278 - HELENSBURGH, FOR PASSENGERS ONLY. " The subscriber, having at much expense fitted up a handsome vessel to ply upon the river Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock — to sail by the power of wind, air and steam, he intends that the vessel shall leave the Broomielaw on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, about mid-day, or at such hour thereafter as may answer from the state of the tide ; and to leave Greenock on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in the morning, to suit the tide.
Page 325 - But great was their wonder at their inability, with all sail in a fast vessel, to come up with a ship under bare poles. After several shots were fired from the cutter, the engine was stopped, and the surprise of her crew at the mistake they had made, as well as their curiosity to see the singular Yankee craft, can be easily imagined. They asked permission to go on board, and were innch gratified by the inspection of this naval novelty.
Page 50 - Yesterday, about four o'clock, I made the intended experiment on the brig, with a carcass of one hundred and seventy pounds of powder ; and I have the pleasure to inform you that it succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations. Exactly in fifteen minutes from the time of drawing the peg and throwing the carcass into the water, the explosion took place. It lifted the brig almost bodily, and broke her completely in two. The ends sunk immediately, and in one minute nothing was to be seen of her but...