The New York herald., 1862-03-11
THE IMMORTAL TRIO.
Sketches OF Capt. Ericsson, Lieut.. Wor-
dem and Chief Engineer Stimers.

SketCnc0 OF Capts GT1eS9Oms AAeuIs W or
den and Chief Engineer sinners.
CAPTAIN J. ERICSSON,
John Ericsson born in 1908, in the Province of
vermeand, among the iron mountains Of Sweden. His
father mining proprietor that in his youth he
had ample opportunities watch the operations Of the
various engines and machinery connected with the
mines At the age Of ten years he constructed with
his hands, and after his plans, miniature
sawml, and also made numerous drawings Of compA.
Gated mechanical conrivances with instruments Of his
own invention and manufacture
In 1914 he attracted the attention Of the cele-
breted Count Platen, who had heard Of his boyish
efforts and desired interview with him. After care
fully examining the various plans and drawings which
this youth exhibited this OCCASION the Count handed
them back to him, simply observing, In impressive
manner, "Continue you have commenced and you
will day produce something extraordinary" These
few words Of kind encouragement from distn guished
parsonage sunk deeply into the mind Of the young me-
chanoian, snd confirmed him in the which he
haa entered. Immediately after this interview young
Ericsson was appointed a cadet in the corps OF
engineers, and after six months tuition, at the
age Of twelve years, appointed niuezzr At the
Grand Ship Canal Of Sweden. which the North
with the Baltic nder Count Paten In this capacity
yeaElSl6 he required to set the work for
than six hundred men, and at that time he not
tall enough to look through the leveng instruments and
in using it he obliged to mount upon STOOL carried
by his attendants for that purpose As the discipline in
the Swedish army required the soldier should always
his head in speaking to his SUPERIOR gray headed
came, cap in hand, to receive their instructions
from this ~s,s child; There are now many In.
portapt works Oh the canal Constructed after
dfaTings made by Ericsson at this early age.
Al the age Of fifteen he was in possession Of accurate
plans Of the whole work, drawn by his own hand.
His associations with military mon on the canal had
given him tendency for military life, and at the age Of
seventeen he entered the Swedish army ensign,
without knowledge Of his friend and patron, Coun'
Platn. This step excited the indignation Of the Count
who tried prevail him change his resolution but
finding all his arguments useless he terminated angry
interview by bidding the young ensign to eco to
the devil" The afectionato regard which he enter
tanned for the Count caused the circumstances Of
this interview to make a deep impression upon young
Ericsson Soon after the young ensign had entered
his regmental duties matter occurred which threaten
cd to obscure his hitherto bright prospects His Colonel
Baron Kosku had been dsgraced by the King about the
time that ne had recommended Ericsson for promotion
This induced the King to reject the
mendaton Prince Oscar, however, interceded for the
young with the King who yielded to the persuasions
Of the Prince and promoted Ericsson to the euenancy
this time the government had ordered the northern
part of Sweden to be surveyed, and that officers
IN the army should be employed this service. Erics
SON. whose regiment stationed in the Northern high
land proceeded to Stockholm for the purpose Of submit
ting himself to the severe examination then requisite
preccde the appointment Of government surveyor. The
mathematical education which he had received under
Count Platen proved very serviceable He passed
the examination with great distinction, and in tho
OF IT, to the surprise OF the examiners showed that he
could repeat Euclid verbatim not by the exercise of the
memory but from his perfect mastery Of gsometricaI
science There yet in the archives Of Sweden detailed
maps upwards of fifty miles made by his hand
While thus varously occupied being visit the
house OF his Colonel Ericsson occasion showed
his host how readily and by what simple
means mechanical power may be produced.
independently OF steam, by condonsing fame
On the 18th Of May, 1896 he obtained permission from
the King TO visit England. He here proceeded to
struct number Of engines Of new inventions, which
were attended with rihng expenditure, and TO meet
he demands then made upon him. the young adventurcr
was compelled to draw on his mechanical resources.
Invention now followed invention in rapid successon
until the records Of the Patent Office in London,
enriched by drawings of the remarkable steam boiler
ON the principal OF artificial draft In bringing this
venton before the public he thought it advisable to join
some old and and established mechanical house In Lon
don. and accordingly ho associated himself with John
Braithvae In the fan Of 1899 the Liverpool and Man.
chester Railway Company offered prize for the
best locomotive engine, TO be tested the small portion
OF the railway then completed. Ericsson, not willing 10
allow this occasion TO escape him, Immediately sot TO
work planned the engine executed the working draw
ings aud caused o patterns TO be made, and the whole
machine was completed within seven weeks. Tho gay
of trial arrived The competing Tcnginos were ON thu
ground AMI tho novelty Of the race had attracted mn i'm.
Il snso coneoufgo Of pco.lc Both sides of Tho railway,
o- uorc than me IN i,tgth, vc-o liaea wih 1lands
o. spacaaurs and 10 ihe surprise aad adhnmion o' tic
c-ysi tlc Ntytt etcan cafrare started, GUIDED Iy &.