Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-03-26
SKETCH OF CAPTAIN J. ERICSSON.

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John Ericsson was born in 1908, in the Prov
ince of Vermeland, among the iron mountains
OF Sweden. His father was a mining proprie
tor, 50 that in his youth he had ample oppor-
tunlties to watch the operations of the various
engines and machinery connected with the
mines AT the age of ten years he construct
ed with his own hands and after his own plans,
miniature sawmill, and also made numerous
drawings OF complicated mechanical contri-
vances, with instruments of his own invention
and manufacture.
In 1914 he attracted the attention of the cel-
cbrated Count Platen, who had heard of his
boyish efforts, and desired an interview with
him. After carefully examining the various
plans and drawings which this youth exhibited
on this occasion, the Count handed them back
to him, simply observing, in an impressive
manner, ssContinue as you have commenced
and you Will one day produce something ex-
traordinary." These few words of kind en-
|. conragement from so distinguished person
age sunk deeply into the mind of the young
mechanican, and confirmed him in the career
on which he had entered.
Immediately after this interview young Err
lesson was appointed cadet in the corps of
engineers, and after six months tuition, at
the age OF twelve years, was appointed nipelienr
at the Grand Ship Canal of Sweden, which con-
meets the North Sea with the Baltic under
Count Platen. In this capacity, in the year
1916, he was requi ed to set out the work for
more than six hundred men and at that time he
was not tall enough to look through the level
ing instruments, and in using it he was oblig-
ed to mount stool, carried by his attendants
for that purpose. As the discipline in the
Swedish army required that the soldier should
always uncover his head in speaking to'his su-
perior, gray-headed men came, cap in hand
TO receive their instructions from this mere
child. There are now many important works
on the canal constructed after drawings made
by Ericsson at this early age. At the age of
fifteen he was in possession of accurate plans
of the whole work, drawn by mis- own hand
His associations with military men on the
canal had given him tendency for military
life, and at the age OF seventeen he entered
the Swedish army ensign, without the
knowledge of his friend and patron, Count Pla-
ten. This step excited the indignation of the
Count, who tried to prevail on him to change
his resolution; but, finding all his arguments
useless, he terminated an angry interview By
bidding the young ensign to s'Goto the devil"
The affectionate regard which he entertain
ed for the Count caused the circumstances of
this interview TO make deep impression upon
young Ericsson. Soon after the young ensign
had entered upon his regimental duties a mat
ter occurred which threatened to obscure his
hitherto bright prospects. His Colonel Baron
Koskull, bad been disgraced by the King about
the time that he had recommended Ericsson
the King to reject the recommendation. Prince
Oscar, however, interceded for the young
man with the King, who yielded to the per-
suasions of the Prince and promoted Ericsson
TO the lieutenancy for which he had been re-
commended. About this time the government
had ordered the northern part of Sweden to
be surveyed, and that officers in the army
should be employed In this service. Ericsson.
whose regiment was stationed in the Northern
highland, proceeded to Stockholm, for the pur-
pose OF submitting himself to The severe exam
ination then requisite to precede the appoint
ment of government surveyor. The mathe-
matical education which he had received un-
der Count Platen now proved very serviceable.
He passed the examination with great distinc-
ton, and in the course of it, to the surprise of
the examiners, showed that he could repeat
Euclid uerbatim not by the exercise of the
memory, but from his perfect mastery of ge-
ometrical science. There are vet in the
archieves of Sweden detailed maps of upwards
of fifty square miles made by his hand.
While thus variously occupied, being on a
visit to the house of his Colonel, Ericsson on
one occasion showed his host how readily and
by what simple means mechanical power may
be produced, independently of steam, by con-
densng flame. On the 18th of May, 1926, he
obtained permission from the King to visit
England. He here proceeded to construct
number of engines of new inventions, which
and to meet the demands then made upon him,
the young adventurer was compelled to draw
on his mechanical resources.
Invention now followed invention in rapid
succession, until the records of the Patent
Office, in London, were enriched by the draw
Jugs of the remarkable steam boiler on the
principal of artificial draft. In bringing this
invention before the public, he thought it ad-
visabe to join some old and established me-
al in T,Op md
he associated himself with John Braithwaite.
In the fall of 1899 the Liverpool and Man
chester Railway Company offered prize for
tie best locomotive engine, to be tested on
the small portion OF the railway then compet-
ed. Ericsson, not willing to allow this occa-
sion to escape him, Immediately set to work,
planned the engine, executed the working
drawings, and caused the patterns to be made,
and the whole machine was completed within
seven weeks. The day of trial arrived. The
competing engi mes were on the ground, and
the novelty of the race had attracted an inn
mense concouIse of people. Both sides of
the railway, for more than mile in length,
were lined with thousands of spectators, and
to the surprise and admiration OF the crowd,
the Novelty steam carriage started, guided by
its inventor, Ericsson, assisted by John Braith
waite, darted along the the track at the rate
of fifty miles an hour. In short time after
wards he constructed q steam fire engine,
which excited much interest in London at the
time the Argyle Rooms were on fire. He sub
sequently constructed a similar engine for the
King of Prussia, which was mainly instrument
tai in saving several valuable buildings at a
great fire some years ago at Berlin. For this
invention Ericsson received, in 1843 the large
gold medal offered by the Mechanics Institute
of Yew York, for the best plan OF steam fire
engine. Mr.. Ericsson was the first to apply to
marine engines centrifugal blowers, now so
common in this country in all boilers using