Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-06-27
From fhe knisloeoeisr.
THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE.
~ osE VINO saw IT.


In the year lsos. enjoyed the never.
to-be foIgoiten qualification OF a PADDLE
np the Hudson, on board the frat ste am.
boa; that ever moved on the waters of
any river with passengers. Among the
voyages was man had known for some
years previous. by the name Of JAngz
DooLirTLr. lie was an industrious aud
ingenious. orser in shce,.iron, tin. and
wire; but bis great success Las in wire.
work, especially. in making rat traps"
and Tor this bis last aud best in yen,ion in
that line. he had just secured patent. and
With specimen Of his work, he wa, then
on journey through the State Of New
l ok, Tor The purpose OF disposing Of What
he called county rights" or. in other
words, 10 sell The privilege Of catching
rats. according 10 his patent trap. II wss
a very Curious tap. as simple as i, was
ingenious; as most :ngenious things are,
after they are invented. TWAS an oblonr
wire box. divided into two compartments:
a rat entered one. where the bait WIS
hung. which be no sooner touched than
Tue door at which he entered fell. Hi,
only apparent escape was by funnel
shaped hole in 10 the other apartment. in
passing which he moved anoiher wire;
which Instantly reset the tap; aud thus
rat sf'er lsi was furnished the means o.
following in the footsteps Of his iliusifious
predecessor" until the trap was foil.
Thus !, was not simtlp trap TO catch
rat but trap by which rats trapped rats,
ad inhnitum.
This trap at the time 10 which I allude
absolutely divided the attention OF the
passengers. and for my part, il interested
me quite as much a. did the steam engine:
because, perhaps, could more easily
comprehend its mystery. To me, the
sieam-enginc was Greek; the trap was
plain English. Not SO, however. 10 ia.
bez Doolii,le. found him Studying .he
engine with great avidi,y and persever-
sncc: ;nsomucb that tho engineer evil
IDENTIFY became alarmed, and declined an.
swenng any more questions.
why you needn't snap me OF so .arnal
short" said Jabez, ga body would think
you hadn't got patent for your machine.
II can't NEEDLE with you on the water,
as can calculate. I'll be up 10 you on
land. one of these DAYS"
These ominous words fell on my ear.
as saw Jabsz issue from the engine
room. followed by the engineer, who
seemed evidently TO have 60, his "steam
up.'i
well" said /. "Jabez, what do YOU
think ofihis mighty machine I" why"
he replied. III That criiiur hadn't got riled
up so soon. body could tell more sbou,
ii; but reckon I've 60, ieetIe notion
ont" and then taking me aside, and look.
ing carefully around. lest some one should
overhear him, he then and there" assur.
ed me in confidence, in profound secrecy,
That II he didn't make wagon GO by
steam. before he was two years older, then
he'd give IN invention. at first iidiculed
the idea; but when I thought OF tina,
ret 'rep, and saw before me man with
sharp thinking grey eyes. pointed nose.
and every line Of his visage a channel OF
investigation and invention. could not
resist the conclusion that. il he ever did
attempt 10 NEEDLE with hot water We
should hear more oft.
Time went on. Steamboats, multiplied:
but none dreamed, or, il they did :hcy
never told their dreams, OF steam wagon;
for even The Eame OF "locomoiiycp was
then es unknown as "locofocc." When
about year after the declaration Of the
last war with England, land may il be
The last , got letter from Jabez, mark.
ed private" telling ne that he wanted
10 see me mos, desperately" and that
must make him visit at bis place nigh
Willi1gfo.i." On reaching hls residence
imagine my Surprise, whea he told me be
believed hs had go, The notion"
motion '--what no'io1 I" inquired.
why" says he, "ihai steam wagon
telFd you about spell ago." but. add.
ed he, al has pretty righ starved me
out and sure enough be did look a. IL
be had been on Hite anxious seat. /" as hc
used 70 say. when things puzzle him.
~ have used up" said lie. "plaguy
nigh al The sheet iron. and old stove
pipes, and mill wheels. and irunncl heads.
"a these parts. but I've succeedsd. and
Tor fear that so,nc % these cute folks
about here have got peep through the
keyhole, aud will trouble ne when I
come 10 get patent. I've sent iof You 10
be witness. for you was The first and on
" man ever limited ilio nsiion TO: in
fact" continued he, think the most
curious part q the inycniioa j.. that as
vet don't know ans ore about here - no
has oeen able 70 guess what I'm sboLi.
They al know Il j. en- invention Of some
kind, for that's ny business. you know;
but some say i IS iLfcsling machine.
some a disiiIlery AID Of late, itcy begin
- think It's Single. splitter; bot thevll
sing smother tome when they see u spin.
ming along ps't the s'agc.co1ches." added
he with knowing chuckie, "wonttheyf"
THIS brought ~ 70 the deer Of az old
cupboard, diney long one-Eiory building,
With = window or ;wo in ihs roof. iirt
knot holes and cracks AL carefully stuffed
wi'h Old fsgs, and over tho door be uasun.
locking vas written. IN bold letters. NO
ADMfrrAacE." This was lis "sancium
Eancioum" There Is stood, occupying
ihe centre 81 I'll previous conceptions rat.
lfsrs. chnfns. apple psrefs. Pill rollers.
rroator ffaEaf and fhfr~is srlfff.s.