Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-06-03
From the Illustrated Pictorial News.
Mnsfc NV Ssnu.n

TIE Caiiiope or Colossal Steam Organ-iast and
greatest triumph Of steam-tunes played By a
/ heD musical Instrument to be heard ten miles
0-forty horses necessary 10 drdm the i'm.
musical chariot.
Among the wonderful productions and dis
| coyeres of this wonderful age, and the still
more wonderful fast country, is the invention Of
Ali instrument for producing music by the aid of
steam. 1t is called the Calliope and accompa-
MES the circus establishment of Messrs. Nixon &
| Kemp. For magnitude power, and harmony,
the Ca!liope stands as high abo.e all other mrl-
steal INSTRUMENTS, AS did the mother of Orphe-
us, its removed namesake, before all her fayor-
| ed sisters.
But we feel at a loss how to describe this nu-
steal wonder, or what to compare it to. 1t has
the properties of an organ, piano forte and harp
| sicord contradictory that it produces sounds
a thousand told more powerful than any num-
Der of the largest size of all these INSTRUMENTS
| put together. In some of its effects it is dssnl
liar, when persons hears it from great distanc
| say ten or twelve miles of-to the strains of
we'll played accordion, or the shrill wild mel
| ody proceeding from an aeollan harp Yet al.
| this melody is produced from simple combina-
| ton of circular tubes, like organ pipes-trom
the size of pencil case up to ten inches i'll di.
| ameter--placed together in rows, in regular
graduation similar to thepipe of an organ differ
ing, however TO produce notes as sweet in tone
as Apollo's Lutte.
To each of the valves by which the music is
made attached wires, that extend to com
partments in the vehicle, by means Of which the
operator or player is enabled to control and
modulate the sound and force of each note
The sounds of its lowest note when played full
are like the rumbling of distant thunder, while
its treble pipes are suggestive of the shrill mu-
sic that might be produced by thousand or
two ear piercing flies in full blast. At dis
lance, the tones of the Caliope are soft and
musical-yet distinct and powerful as though
they had been produced close by. They seem
to pervadc the whole atmosphere for miles
around.
Spirt-moving airs; thrilling and echoing
through the hills and woods as it passes along
it's route, excite the wonder and admiration of
all Its harmonious music penetrates to the
most remote parts of the country, while its notes
floating away through the clear air, gain soft
ness as they travel, and seductively irritate the
traveller to seek their orig ion.
The instrument is composed of forty-four
pipes, varying in size to produce the ne
cessary modulations to form musical scale of
eight octaves. tremulous vibrating sound
being produced with great effect, by means Of
the valves ard wires alluded to.
In orderto move this colossal instrument over
stupendous chariots-one for the steam appar-
atus and another for the instrumental which
a team of forty powerful horses is attached. One
of the chariots, that which acts tender to the
instrument is exclusively occupied with the
steam boiler, engine and other fixtures. The
steam is elected through pipe into an oblong
reservoir, from which there is connection to
the instrument, and thence passing through the
tube or note intended to be sounded.
H., Aft H., st,,A, n
the chariots upon which the huge musical ma
chine is wheeled, may be formed from the fact
of having cost the sum of six thousand dollars
in their construction-without the instrument
and steam apparatus, which cost some ten or
twelve thousand dollars more-making, the ag-
gregate expenditure Of this singl feature of the
exhibition amount in round numbers to eigh-
teen thousand dollars.
The massive carriage or running gear OF the
largest chariot is deliberately ornamented with
deeply carved classic devices and scroll work,
heavily gilt and bronzed. 1t is built as strong
as wood and iron can make it-a precaution
quite necessary for the gigantic burden it was
designed to carry.
Upon the rear part of the leading or grand
chariot is erected beautiful orchestra, for the
occupancy of the calpoist, formed after the
model OF Grecian Temple, and surmounted by
a circular canopy, over the brilliant dome of
which large American eagle of FURNISHED gold
expands his wings.
The dimensions Of the interior of the must
clans sanctum are just eight feet by six, and
some enfeetin height. This little classic re-
cess is tastetully and elegantly furnished with
velvet tapestry carpet, settees, rich damask dra'
perry and curtains, gilt columns, &c, OF the
most exquisite workmanship and is intended al
SO for the reception ofinvited guests belonging
to the press.
The tender or steam chariot, attached to the
preceding, is also ofmagnihcent construction,
and is an object of no less attraction and Gu
riosity- Upon this vehicle is conveyed the fur
mace, boiler, aud machinery for making steam.
| which is Afterwards carried through to the
| pipes by means of a flexible conduit.
The two chariots thus attached, are drawn
by forty horses four abreast, sumptuously capar-
isoned, in superb harness having heaAy plated
| mountings and ,drven-forty in hand--by Mr..
| Asa Berry who claims to be the best reins.
man in the United States.
| The whole establishment, as it appears in
procession on its route through the public
| throughfares-with the notes Of the stnpen-
| dous musical wonder-its gorgeous accompa-
| niments-its splendid accessories, andits majes-
| tic presence-stands out one Of the grandest
and proudest exhibitions of American ingenui.
| " and art il is possible to conceive, and to
witness which crowds have been known to ira
vel from twenty to fifty milhs over the country
The ''great eastern eirens" of NIXON KEMP,
to which the calhope belongs will perform In
Burlington Saturday, June 18th.
BITTEN BIZ SNAKE.--A boy about two years
1 Of age, son of an lrishman named Macsulay, liy-