The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-24 00:00:00

AN AQUARIUM ON A LARGE SCALE!

They do everything on a grand scale in the 'United
States (says.. the Erening Standard). ,There is an
aquarium at present iu course of construction in New
York, the enterprising proprietors of which contem-
ilate exhibiting whales, hippopotami, and other large
Amphibious creatures in a reservoir. The idea is a
bold one, and must fill the organisers of our British
Aquaria, who have never got beyond seals and sea-
1,
l one, with jealousy, if it does not strike them with awe.
s proof that they were in earnest, and that their
clared intention to capture and make a rime-,
show of the monsters of the deep was not bouriCe-
o!r "bunkum," the promoters -of the New York
eiaterprise gave orders in advance to all fishermen
of spirit to catch any whales that night be
sten floating about, and cansien them with
care to their address. The sport Wa3 at once
set on foot, hut how is not . related. Suffice it
atilt two white whales, a male and a female, were
captured off the island of Aux Condres, on the coast of "
lobrador, and forwarded in safety to New York,
where a tank about 30 feet in diameter was hurriedly
ptepared for their reception. For some days they
throve, their comfort being carefully attended to; a
fresh stream of salt water was kept running through
their prii3on constantly, and a fat diet of live eels and
fish was supplied them regularly. But the fates were
unpropitious. The female cut herself on the fluke one
night, and bled to death before morning. Her corpse
was removed with the aid of a derrick and sent to the
taxidermisf. Tne male did not give himself up to do-
spair at the loss of his mate—perhaps, if the truth
were known, he was privy to it; for at latest advices
he was swimming round the tank cheerfully, rising to
the top now And then to "blow." For the sake of
science, not to speak of the shareholders in the com-
pany, it is to be hoped he may live. By the time
-whales are lodged in the Brighton or Westminster
Itablishments, he would be a foolish man who would
,e surprised to hear that they had caught the sea serpent,
And had him on eabibitaen at a dollar a head in New
York.
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• A -NEW' MOTIVE POWER:
,Ihe Court Journal sa3's There is much talk in
American- scientific circles about the Keelr Motor,
Mr. Keely, apoor working man, declares-that by means
of a machine which he has invented he can, without
the use of fuel, and by merely turning a handle, gene-
rate out of water a: vapour so much more powerful than
steam that Nvith a gallon of water he can drive a heavy
tr,in from Philadelphia to San Frzneiseo ; and with a
hogshead he could impel a Cunard steamer froM Liver-
pool to New York against a continuous westerly gale.
Of zerurse the inventor has been well laughed at, but
he indneed Mr. Collier, a well-known American patet
solicitor, to examine into the matter, and he was so
struck with what he saw that he got a scientific man
to -verify it. Both agreed that Keely did actually
produce extraordtnary reCts, but, they could not
tell how' these results were obtained. The
Chief Engineer of the -United States Navy,
who witnessed the experiments, was equally as-
,sured that the thing was actually done, but equally
at a loss to explain the doing of . it. . Mr. Collier then
.; formed a Conhpany at New York, explaining to them
exabtly how the affair stood. A small capital for
carrying out the preliminary experiments was raised.
,'Later on the same- people raised a further capital of
00,000 dohs, among themselves, without .applying to
,the -public. Of this sum, 50,000 dole, was du 3to Mr.
7Ke.ely, but he has refused to receive a cent until the
~wOrld has been thoroughly convinced of the reality of
-his invention, and until patents have been secured in
()Very country. It is dtfficelt to believe that the al-
' leged invention is substantial, though our fathers
would have found it equally difficult to believe that by
turning a handle a man could communicate almost
instantaneously with a country thousand. of miles
`aAy. One thing is certain—if there is anything in
this new motor, the traffic and commerce of the world
will be revolutionized; railway shares will become
enormously increased in value, for trains will need no
fuel to. drive theta,' and coal mines will became a
drug." qdt

-
No ComptiLsioN.-Sikeli : "Alt, why the
dooce doesn't driver stop at right place? Ant I sup-
posed to' walk all the way up the platform after this
train V' Porter: "No, eir, not tuileea you like; you
can waif for the next 17-7-Fur,