Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-10
Captain Ericsson.

John Ericsson, as we learn by a lecture by
John o. Sargent, delivered in Boston in 1912,
and afterwards published in this country, and
England, was born in the Province Of Verne
land, Sweden, in 1903. He showed strong
taste for mechanics when quite young; and
az the age of eleven attracted the attention Of
Count Plaien, who procured him tie appoint
ment of cadet in a corps Of engineers; and
in 1916, lie was made niUeileur on tile grand
ship canal between the Baltic and North
Sea. From his associations with military
men, le acquired a taste for military life, and
entered The Swedish army as an ensign, n
step which lost him the favor oil his friend,
Count PlaIen. In The army he rose 10 the
rank Of lieutenant, and shortly after his pro-
motion, lie was employed for some time in
the survey of Northern Sweden. In the
meanwhile, lac devoted much cf his time 10
his favorite speculaIions in mechanics, and
projected his fame engine, one OF The earliest
of his Inventions, an engine intended 10 work
independently of steam, by condensng flame.
In 1926 he obtained permission 10 visit Eng
land, where he hoped to bring his inven hon
into public notice; but he soon discovered,
that when the engine was worked by mineral
fuel, the experiment wasta total failure. He
was not discouraged however, and in 1929,
he competed for The prize offered by the Liv-
erpOol and Manchester railway for lie best
locomotive, and then produced an engine
that attained, The then incredible sneed OF
fify miles an hour.
Since his residence in the United States,
MIR. Ericsson has been the author Of many
inventions, which have made his name "a
miar 10 The public. Ericsson's propeller,
seml-condrca engine, centrifugal blowers,
besides some improvements in managing
guns, were applied 10 tho steamer Princeton
with successful results. In The American
department Of the great exhibition, lie exhib-
tied distance instrument, for measuring
distance al sea; the hydroslatic gauge, for
measuring the volume Of fluids under pres
sure; Tie. reciprocating fluid meter; the
alarm barometer, the pyromeIer, the rotary
fluid meter, and the sea lead, Of all of which
instruments he has given brief explana-
tion,' 10 pamphlet published in 1851. The
invention, however, which has lately attrac-
ted most attention is the caloric engine, in
tended TO supercede the use of Steam. Mr..
Ericsson first brought this remarkable inven-
lion before the scientific world, in London,
in 1888, when he constructed an engine OF
five horse power, and exhibited it TO The sci
entific gentlemen of the metropolis. But al-
though il met with the appreciation oil many
distinguished men, there were others who
pronounced against il. or its complete suc-
cess, the recent triumphant trip OF the calo-
ric ship Ericsson, has given US tue assur-
ance.
The Home Journal says; The personal
appearance and manner of Captain Ericsson
are extremely agreeable. He is Of The med-
nm height, with dark complexion and
Il - - 4
beginning to interlace with silver. His coun-
!enance wears thoughtful expression, and
ne speaks OF the invention with modest con-
tidence, and convincing clearness. He has
the bearing oi a gentleman, and he is formed
70 be beloved and confided in. He still re-
taIns slight Swedish accent, but speaks
English with correctness and Auency.' To
This we may add, that Captain E. does not
lack that patient and persevering enthusiasm,
which seems to be marked trait in the
char Tacter Of all great inventors aAd discover