Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-04-25

1aEn'o leeJle 100! but WouI 90 20 give u q
Try, afore get the patent. There is only one
hing yet" he continued, "tha1 hant con-
that is simple matter-and that
IS, the shortest mode Of stoppin' on her. My
first notion is, to see how fast can make her
work, without smashing all to bits, and that's
done by screwing down this upper valve;
and I'll show you"
And with that, he clambcrcd up on the top,
with turning screw in one hand, and horn
of soap-fat in the other, and commenced
screwing down the valves, and oiling the pis-
ton-rod and crank joints and the motion of
the mysterious mass increased, and all SEEM
ed bug.
"N is nigh about perfection, amt it -
I stood amazed in contemplating the object
before me, which / confess could not fully
understand; and hence, with the greater
readiness, permitted my mind to bear off to
other matters more comprehensive to the
future, which is always more clear than the
present, under similar circumstances.
needed not, for the very best reason in the
world, because understood not, the compli-
Gated description that Jabez was giving of
his still more complicated invention. All
knew was, that hele was machine on four
good sturdy well-braced wheels, and it only
required recorded patent, to authorize that
small connecting cog wheel or trumnel head
to be thrown "into gear when it would
move off without oats, hay. or horse shoes,
and distance the mail coaches. AS l was
surrounded with notions, it was not extraordi-
nary that one should take full possession of
me. 1t dawned upon me, when saw the
machine first put into motion, and was now
full orbed above the horizon of my desire it
was to see the first locomotive move off. The
%oVo SrpocScfihlo And Whn
knows" thought /, "but some prying scamp
may have been peeping through the key
hole, while Jabez was at work, and, catching
the idea, may be now at work at some clum-
sy imitation! and if he does not succeed in
turning the first track, may at least divide the
honors with my friend Z"
"Jabez," said /, elevating my voice above
the buzzing noise of the machine, "there is
only one thing wanting"
"What is that :" said he eagerly.
Immortality said I; sand you shall
have it, patent or no." twisting the connecting
trummef-head into the travelling wheels, and
in an instant away went the machine with
Jabez on the top Of it, with a whiz and rapid
ity of flushed partridge. The side Of the
old building presented the resistance of wet
paper. One crash, and the "first locomo-
tive" was ushered into this breathing world.
hurried to the opening, and had just time to
Chamber to the top of fence to catch the last
glimpse of my fast-departing friend. True
to his purpose, saw him alternately screw
ing down the valves, and oiing the piston-rod
and crank joints; evidently determined that,
although he had started oft little unexpect-
eddy, he would redeem the pledge he had
" would 20 leetle slower than streak of
chain lightnia', and darn'd leetle too!'
"Like cloud in the dim distance feeting,
Like an arrow" he flew away!
But moment, and he was here; in a mo-
or rather, where is he not! But that, for
the present, is /" neither here nor there"
My task is done. All now ask, is, that
although some doubt and mystery hang over
the first invention Of a steamboat-in which
doubt, however, for one do not participate
none whatever may exist in regard to the
origin of the locomotive branch of the great
steam family and that in all future time,
this fragment of authentic history may ena-
BILE the latest posterity to retrace, by "back.
track" and " turnout" through the long rail.
road line of illustrous ancestors, the first pro-
jector and contriver Of The First Locomo-
tive" their immortal progenitor, "Jabez
'Doolittle, Esq, nigh Wallingford, Connecti-
cut"
The AwfaI Plunge The st. GATHERINGS
U. C. Journal of the 9th, states that five men
went over Niagara Falls on the previous
Thursday. The Journal says" The only
particulars which we have been able to learn
are that just before sunrise on Thursday
morning last, boat with two men in it, was
discovered in the middle of the river, above
the falls, vainly endeavoring to make their
way through the ice, with which they were
enclosed, to the Canada shore. Their utmost
exertions proved unavailing, and in short
time they were seen TO enter the cascades,
when they disappeared. In half an hour af.
ter, another boat, with three men in it, was
discovered in the same awful situation, and
trying too, to gain the Canada side but in a
few moments shared the melancholy fate of
the other. Yesterday the body Of man
was picked up in the Whirlpool, supposed to
be one ofthese unfortunate men, having about
BILE gold watch. We have no other particu.
lars" ,:
VillGny.-We have heard of circum.
stance which lately happened in this city
not often paralleled in the annals Of genteel
swindling. Ayoung man, representing him
self as Mississippian, applied for lodgings
at respectable boarding house in Race St.,
and was soon quietly established in one of
the best apartments, for which he readily
agreed to pay literally. as pleasant accom-
nodations were of more consequence to him
than the amount of the extra charge. The
new ledger soon made rapid progress in Sc
curing the good will of the inmates, partcu-
larly of several young ladies, to one of whom
he presented diamond ring, and to another
a gold watch. In the course of some days
he proposed TO take the diamond ring to be
marked. and with great gallantry offered to
the young ladies to have any iewelry belong
ing to them handsomely ornamented with
the initials Of their names. at his expensa.-