The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-16
PERPETUAL MOTION.

Mr.. Jas. G. Hendrckson, Freehold. N. j.,
to 60 ITSELF A moGel, which Mr.. Hen
erickson had made after patient whit
tling for forty years, was brought into our
office, and we found it would go without,
any impulse from without, and would not
stop unless it was blocked. The power was
seIfcontained and self.adjastcd, and gave a
sufficient force to carry ordinary clock-wcrk
without any winding up or repenishing.
In short, there was no reason why it would
not 60 until it was worn out Our an
nounccment Of the fact brought out great
deal Of ri'licule; the incrcdulous pointed
at all Of the projects to obtain a perpetual
motive power which had failed in the past,
and predicted the same disgrace for the
new invention. Many scientific gentle
man visited it, and although they could
not dispute the fact that it was going they
nearly all attributed the movement to some
hidden spring, or ingenious trickery. The
inventor was an old man, who had spent
his whole life in pursuit of the object he
had now attained. He had become SO
much accustomed to ridicule, that he was
very patient under it and the only reply
he made to the caviers who pronounced
the thing impossible, was-but it goes !!
The notice which we printed attracted tho
attention of the curious, and for the first
time in his history, the inventor found
profit to his handi~ork. He was invited
to be present at various fairs and exhibi
tions, and Wherever he went, his machine
formed one Of the chief attractions. Sci
ence, however, turned up its nose at him,
and determined to put him down. The
professors were all against him, and as
they &had pronounced the whole thing Il
humbug, they were determined to prove
the truth Of their assertion. Accordingly,
Mr. Hendrickson was seized at keyport,
N. D.. for practicing .jugglcry,' under the
Act for supPressing vice and immortality
At the trial, several builders, mill lights,
engineers and philosophers, were called, who
testified positively that no such motive
power as that alleged, could drive the
machine, aud that there must be some
concealed spring within the wooden CYL
1nder. There were no help for it; and
imposture must be exploded. An axe
was brought, and the cylinder splintered
into fragments. Alas! for the philoso.
pliers. There was no concealed spring,
and the machine had gone Of itself! But
alas also, for poor Hendrickson, the
machine would 60 no more. With
trembling hands lie again resumed his
spectacles and his jackpife. His model
once more completed, be had new ma
chine constructed of brass, hollow through
out, so that the eye could examine all its
parts. This was brought 10 our office
nearly two years apo, when we noticed it
once more, aud gave to our readers some Of
the facts we have now recalled. The inventor
was trying to secure patent for this dis
covery, but the work went on slowly.
The Patent Office required working mod
el to test the principle. and one was sent on
to Washington. The moment the Llocks
were taken out. the wheels started on like a
thing Of life.' and during ten IN onths that
the model remained in the Patent office.
it never once stopped to breathe. The
inventor had perfected two new machines,
and made a very comfortable livelihood
exhibiting them, prosecuting his efforts
meanwhile to secure his patent, intending
to apply the power to clock work, for which
tits peculiarly well adapted. Age rrept up
on him, however, before this point was
reached; bis highest art could not make
his heart.beatings perpetual ; and last Sat
urday afternoon he breatbed bis last, in the
old homestead at Freehol d. He had been
SO much prosecuted by the incredulous that
he had provided secret place beneath the
floor of his shop where bis last two ma
chimes were deposited It was in the
form of vauIt, covered by -trap-door
which waslocked, and the floor so replaced
as to avoid suspicion. After bis last illness
commenced, he made known this secret to
his family, who examined the spot carefully
and found'the contents exactly as described:
Tie night after his death, the shop was
broken open, the floor taken up, the trap
1 door of, and both models stolen. It is
tn,ohol,io thok Sho ;tS, - klo;. .,:.x l. . 4