Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-01-11


Fhsa Trip Of the Ios-Doat e.
Il csossr, Wis, Jss. |, tssI-
Dear Timss.---I take the first occasion to
write to you, knowing you will be much IN
tcrested in the events which have occurred to
me within the last few hours. went to
ptsirie lu Chen to spend the holidays, and
while ut home renewed my acquaintance
with Norman Wizard, the well known invent.
Or Of tho ice-boat. My own love of mechan-
ics of course attracted me strongly towards
this ingenious visionary, ana within short
time found myself hand in glove with him.
Wizard was busily engaged in launching
his beautiful new machine, the Lady Frank
linz and had for several days been exploring
the river and preparing track on the ice to
this place.. He had hoped to be able to cele-
brate New Years day by trial Of his novel
vehicle. but was unable to complete all his
preparations before Thursday.
On Thursday afternoon everything was in
readiness, and he had promised the citizens
Of the "Prairie" he would crafty their curl
sosity By setting the wheels in motion on the
NEXT morning. These last few days were
doubtless the most exciting moments Of
WARDS life. In . few hours he was to know
whether the result Of his years of labor was
proud success, or he bankrupt visionary
A he saw 1t last the beautiful car resting
upon the snowy surface Of the ice, his fever
ish anxiety knew no bounds. He could not
keep away from the object Of his ceaselessde.
votion. We spent the evening in the saloon
Of the boat specializing upon the probable re-
s,lt Of the first trial until late hour. Our
engineer and stcersman were with us, and
fully Is much interested as ourselves.
After long conversation Wizard proposed
Shat we should raise steam, and take short
excursion on the river. IN order to become
familiar with the working of the machine
He would not admit the possibility of failure
and no true inventor will. The idea was
eagerly seconded by the rest of us, and with
in ten minutes the fire was roaring beneath
the boiler. Before half an hour had elapsed
The engineer announced sufficient steam to
work the machinery.
Wizard was flying around everywhere with
his lantern and monkey-wrench, tightening
and adjusting the screws. At last he pro.
nounced all ready, and gave the word to start,
At the same time climbed upon the roof where
] was standing.
The steam was turned on; there was a
motion Of the machinery, and in Ahe next
01OmeOI Lt1e OWL WAS pIOpcitCu SulOOSuy osSA
tho ice towards the McGregor shore. "She
moves thank God, she moves" exclaimed
Wizard in . great state of excitement. SYM
pathized with him deeply, and presume
expressed my delight in various ways.
Our motion as yet was no faster than
brisk walk, but after we had gained the nam
channel of the river and headed up stream,
the speed was increased to about six miles an
hour. The path selected by Wizard that day
was clearly discernible in the clear moonlight.
Besides this there was large locomotive lam
tern fixed upon the forward part ofthe cabin,
which shed strong light for long distance
in front Of us. The boat obeyed the helm
readily, and could easily be turned completely
around in circle Of fifty feet in diameter and
I think less. .u-.
We had not been running more than half
an hour before Wizard told me he had deter
mined, if 1 was willing to 60 through with
him, to make trip to La Crosse, before turn
ing back. Iacquicsced in the arrangement
very gladly. So the engineer and steersman
were instructed accordingly. It was then
past twelve o'cloclrand our velocity was con-
tinually improving as the machinery and
shoes wore smoother. l remained on deck
until Q A. NJ, when becoming completely
chilled through, I descended to the cabin,
which found as warm as summer, being
heated by the escape steam conducted by
pipes beneath the floor.
Before was aware Of it had fallen asleep
upon the cushions and so remained until
broad daylight. I immagined myself in a
yailroad car or an omnibus for a moment,
from the motion it very much resembled, but
soon woke fully to our situation.
We were just above Bad Axe City, and ap-
preaching the most dangerous part of our
route. I'm half an hour more were creeping
around the last bend in Coon Slough, and
just as we were in sight Of Brownsville there
was a crash and shock. We had broken
through the ice. Wizard did not seem dis
mayed by this misfortune, but rather the
contrary. He would have an opportunity to
test his invention in place Of difficulty.
He fixed a small anchor in the ice some
fifty yards ahead and attaching strong cable
to it wound it up by steam capstan, anil in
less than an hour had our craft once more
safe out Of the water.
We then steamed up to the levee at Browns
vile and got an excellent breakfast at the
Bennett House. In the meantime a great
crowd of people had gathered about our
strange craft, and SO engaged became Wizard
in explaining its properties and capacities to
them, it was noon before he knew it. Latethis
afternoon we got up steam again, and just as
the pail of darkness had settled over the river,
we arrived at the lower landing of this city.
I am now stopping at the Harrington House,
having just partaken of hearty supper, and
l assure you, dear friend, am proud to say,
! was on the Lady Franklin on her first sue
ccssfiA trip. Yours, as ever,
GEO. c..