New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-11-18
NUMBER 800.

LIE EALLIorE.-No new invention ever took
community so completely by surprise as did the "Cal-
"ope' 1he steam musical machine with which the
au3alher Amazon announced her arrival in port on
SATURDAY evening" The sound filed the air in such
n'er sae IN all parts of the city, people fanced it
was IN tfe house over the way round the corner, or
somewhere else closely; and many and ridiculous
were lhe Wild-goose chases up and down street. to
ma whence the extraordinary music proceeded. We
need mt laugh at the astonshment Of the Cherokees
upon first hearing steamboat snort, after beinp so
completely taken off at the knees" by the Calione.
This instrument we presume, is named after Cajope
one of the Muses. who was so named on account of
her beautiful sivertoned voice. We find in the Boston
Traveller particular account Of the instrument,
which VIC subjon for the benefit of our readers
Several years ago, Mr.. J. C. Stoddard, mechanic
OF Norcester conceived the idea that the bells b the
vibration of whose thin edges the " steam whistle is
produced could be SO arranged to render accurate
ly the dlatonlc scale in music and after expert
mentng for some time he succeeded in constructing
series OF bells on which the seven notes of the oc-
now to produce valve sufficiently delicate to cores
pond with the touch of the performer on the key.
board of an organ. This has finally been effected and
the inventor has taken out patent not only for the
application OF steam to series Of musical bells, but
also for new delicate valve for the admission of
steam into the bells. The Caliope then az now ex
hibed, consists Of long series of bells yarving in
size and length according to the tone to be produced
and running through four Or five octaves The steam
is admitted to those bells by of long series OF
corresponding tubes inserted in small cylinder con
nected with the boiler A wire connects the valve in
each tube with key, j. e., inger-board,'' like
that OF panoforte or organ and this, in steam
boat may be placed in the ladies' cabin, while the
bells themselves are in distant part of the boat,
full chord of eight notes may be struck at once as
upon the organ and it is needless to say that the
effect of such combination of musical tones is re-
markaby grand and sublime. Think of steamer,
with one of these mighty musicians on board
plowing its way up the Mississippi and waking those
ocean the Caliope can be heard for twenty miles dis
coursing the " Star Spangled Banner and Hail
Columba" with accuracy. The action of the valves
is 50 nice and perfect that the quickest tunes as
- Fishers Eornppe," " Money Musk and Mary's
Wedding" can be performed with ease, and ali the
accompanying parts distinctly given. The Glencoye.
between New York and Albany, has one of these in.
strumens on board, and it is said the boat has d0u
bled her number Of passengers by means Of it. The
Callope IS capable of being played with crank as
common handorgan; and in this form will doubtless
take the place of the shr steam whistle on the rail.
road but its great utility will be, it seems to u.s. as
signal between our steamships on the ocean, and
as diversion to the passengers on their voyages.
The consumption of steam BY it is said to be quite in
considerable.