The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-10
IFrom the Rochester Democrat, Dec. 3o.l

age OF lnVeatlon. 1t Is called an aeilOScOpe,
or literally storm viewer. Its object is to
save, to a great extent, the loss of life and
properly caused by shiewreck.
The art of forecasting the weather has
been a study with scientific men and mari
time nations for maRy years. As early as
1854 the British government instituted
special department connected with the Board
of Trade, the object of which should be OBJ
tanning photographed and meteorological
observations at sea, after the manner of those
instituted some years before by our own Gov
eminent uader the direction of Lieutenant
Maury This was to be the first and prepar-
atory step to system OF telegraphlng,.by
which, with the help of signals, vessels could
be warned of the approach OF storm, and
make necessary preparations against danger.
This was first attempted at Aberdeen, IN
1859 In 1861, the first cautiOnary Or storm
warning signals were given along the coast;
bat SO little faith had many of the mariners
in them, that they were in some parts disle-
garded but on the following day great
storm ensued, which, on the northeast coast,
was very disastrous to property and life
Since that time the warnings have been con-
tinued, and untiring efforts made to perfect
the system.
1t is a remarkable coincidence that just at
the time when this first experiment was made
with ste il signals on the other side OF the
ocean, an obscure individual in an inland
town, our own city, after twenty-one years of
study and labor, brought out an instrument
which supplies at cnce the only want in this
great plan to prevent shipwreck and disaster
at sea; an instrument which, under any and
all circumstances will Indicate with unerring
certainty the approach of a storm several
days in advance of its appearance.
The aelloscope, as it is called, is construct
ed upon plan entirely new in barometric
philosophy The mercury performs secon-
Diary part, and is not visible The principle
upon which this delicate indicator is con-
structed is that of atmospheric displacement.
: 1t is provided with five longitudinal up
right auxiliary chambers, four inches in di-
ameter, and with their turrets thirty-six
inches long, each placed in position around
the central tube, euuidistant from each other,
and occupying tive-siXths Of the circle
These auxiiiaries, together with the globe
above, which is ten inches in diameter, and
sixteen from crown to base. are connected by
delicate arms, and constitute the floating me-
dunn of the instrument, displacing 5000
cubic inches of air, and is the source of the
mechanical power by which the finer motion
of the hand upon the dial is controlled.
The motion of this apparatus is kept under
perfect control by means of the mercury in
the central tube, which with the mercury in
the cisterls weighs sixty-fye pounds. An
iron tube which serves to sustain the floating
part, Or representatives of cloud in the air,
and maintains the equilibriuG,, extends up
through the mercury in the tube This float
is connected with its auxiliaries by means of
small steel arms arising through the cistern
top.
The float, together with the auxiliaries,
weighs twenty-eight pounds, requiring an
equal weight Of mercury to be displaced in
the tube in order to secure the suspension of
the auxiliary chambers, which alone weigh
twenty-one pounds The motion of the float
ing part is communicated to the hand by
steel rod, occupying the sixth place in, and
completing the circle of, the floating expe-
dients.
The whole instrument rests with its els
tern, upon stand supported by six cast
iron legs. 1t is covered by a glass dome fif-
teen inches iii diameter and five feet heigh,
which, in connection with thesupport makes
the whole stand about seven feet in hight
The position of the dial inside of the dome
is about five feet from the floor. The entire
floating part of the instrument, which is very
comely i'll its proportions, is silver-piated and
FURNISHED, causing the whole, as it sets I'M
der its dome of glass, to make most mag
niticent appearance.
1t is no longer vague idea floating in the
inventors head, it is not an experiment, but
grand result. 1t has now been in opera
ton four years, and is perfect Not the
slightest error can arise from contraction or
expansion 1t operates equally well in sum-
mers heat or in winters cold; in close
room or in the open air; in clouds of steam
or where no perceptibe moisture obtains.
This wonderful achievement in scientific
invention, like Andy Johnson's administra-
ton, sprung from the taior's bench. Henry
A. Clum, the inventor, whose name will here
after occupy proud place among the Swans
ct the age, was born in Clermont, Columbia
county; in 1921; was one of ten children,
whose inheritance was poverty; his father
being day laborer, could manage to give
but little education to the children. much
less support them in id!eness. At thirteen
Henry was bound to tailor, professional
gambler and sot, from whom he ran away
three times He came with his parents to
Wayne county in 1910, and settled in Pen
field, in this county. in 1041.
1t was in this year on tie tailor's board
that his first experiments in philosophy,
from which this IN 'trument has arisen, were
made
Laboring at his trade, and experimenting
on the great ideal before his mind, he found
his limited education insufficient for the sue
cessful prosecution of the great object in
view-the saving of life on the ocean wave.
He went few terms to the Brockport Col
legiate Institute, where he pursued with
eagerness those studies which would best
subsefye his great end. In fS49, when
twenty-e:ght years of age, he was sele,ted by
Rob John &5 Porter on account of his pro-
fciency in that branch of set nee, to intro
duce to the public their plan of aerial navi
CATION. He, d green, awkward countryman,
gave his firstlecture on that subject in Broad
way Tabernacle, New York, to an audience
of 5000 persons, on the evening of the 18th
of February
In 1912 he constructed large telescope
which is now jim the possession of o. NJ.
Benedict, of this city
The avails Of this telescope, with what he
could earn by lecturing, teaching, and saw,
ing wood, were all given to his darling
project. Ease, comfort, and the necessaries
of life, even, were sacrificed on the altar of
science.
For years the Professor was not the owner
of a bed, but slept on a piece of carpet spread
on the floor of his unfinished room, with
another piece for a covering; and many a
day nc. food passed his lips for the want of
means to purchase it. Yet still he worked
on for over twenty years, when the perfected
plans and drafts were submitted to the in