Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-07-19
The Automaton H0yse-A Wonderful Eilyeii-
ton.

ton now on exhibition at the great sshoW'
in Paris, we clip from private letter pub
lished in the Charleston Courier Of the 7th
Il was fortunate enough to be present yes
terday evening at a private view Of this Won
derful invention. The throng at the exposi-
ton is SO dense in the day time that any at
tempt to work it during the exposition hours
was impossible. Through the kindness of
NJ. de NJ, whose acquaintance made III
1858, when he was attache at Washington,
formed one Of fifty persons provided with
special permits. On entering, groups OF the
Gent G0rdie made me think the Emperor
was present but did not see him until the
middle Of the exhibition [ saw among the
curious, Nasmyth. of hammer celebrity, and
Whitworth, arm in arm with Howe, Of sew
ing machine notoriety.
'sI'he Iron horse bears no resemblance to
its equine namesake. Imagine trunk
shaped box about seven feet long, and wide
enough for man to saddle, and about five
feet high the whole concern mounted on
| Eve wheels; the wheels concealed, however,
under the machine. 1t is covered with leath-
er, and has saddle, only the saddle is very
high in front and back, so that there is no
chance Of being endorsed In front is a
steering apparatus Of the simplest kind-tw
silk cords just before the saddle a steel bar,
which regulates the speed. If you pull it
up, you start the machine pull it higher up,
you increase the speed if you depress it, you
slow until a point is reached, when the appa~
ratus stops.
''The inventor, quite young man. COM
menced winding up the machine with what
seemed to me to be crank motion, and as
| distinctly heard the click of the rachel,
therefore supposed it was worked by a coil
spring, but have reasons since to think that
| was mistaken. suppose it took two min
utes to wind it, when he mounted it, and
started it by pulling up the steel bar. 1t
moved gradually off, SO that for the first
minute could walk along side of it, but
presently it started at the speed of a fast
horse, and in moment more was lost, going
round the curve of the circle
Il suppose you know the great exposi-
ton Of a series Of concentric rings, each one
devoted to peculiar branch Of industry
i The one the machine was running on was
the Nmero QuaHrc, section del Mecani-
ques, and is among the largest, measuring
some yards, more than an English mile 1t
seemed to me to be incredible that he should
have performed the circuit in two minutes
and twelve seconds. A hearty clapping Of
hands greeted the machine as it came career
ing On, and gradually stopping without any
apparent trouble.
Il noticed the emperor, generally tact
turn, loud in his applause, clapping his
hands as Justify as I did, and I was assured
by NJ &c NJ. that he had never seen his
majesty on any occasion before show the
least sign of COMMUNICATION. The inventor
then said that he would put it up to its
speed but to do that he must give the ma
chine start. He then wheeled round, and
just like q jockey starting horse, got it W
to its maximum; as he passed us he seemed
to be flying The circuit was made in fifty
seconds. A new salyo of applause met him
as he brought the machine to where the en-
peror was standing, and [ must say fell
some just emotion when the emperor tool
the Legion Of Honor from his buttonhols
, and placed it Oh the young inventors breast
: 'sM told me that its endurance, if | ma,
use the term, was extraordinary that at it
highest speed it would keep on going for fou1
hours. [ was led to believe that the me
chanical power was secondary in it. and tina
a galvanic battery was the real motive power
! It is rumored that battery Of constantly
$ increasing elements sustains the motion. =
: Anyhow the secret is we'll kept, the Empero
= having with the inventor, the only knowl
edge of it. NJ also told me that at Vincen
f nes battery of artillery was to be moved
with it instead Of horses
Il may add that | saw four persons noun
e it, and it moved much more rapidly thar
t would carriage, An interesting experiment
. was made as to its cap9bility Of going owe
g rough country. Several loads OF dirt wer
shot on the floor, and it passed over it witt
Z apparent ease. One thing [ remarked wa
: that there was perpendicular play in tn
e Wheels and that as difficulty was surmoun
It ted one wheel would be higher than tn
d other, whilst the body was on the sam
d plane.
IS Il think that it has been placed purpose
# ly in a retired part in the exposition, and
0 learned this morning that the secretary {
d war has had it removed from the exhibition
l. ''The inventors name is Victor de MAJ
,e dea"
The Salem (Mass.) Journal (radical)