The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-07-25
LIE Cheval Meohanique--A Wonder,
full Invention.

NenilOn no" on eNhlOlliOn aI Luo STcsiO
''show" in Paris is from a private letter,
published in the Charleston Courier:
81 was fortunate enough to be present
yesterday evening at q private view of this
wonderful invention. The throng at the
Exposition is so dense in the daytime that
any attempt to work it during the exhibi-
ton hours was impossible. Through the
kindness of NJ. de NJ, whose acquaint-
ance made in 1858, when he was at
tache at Washington, formed one of fifty
| persons provided with special permits
On entering, groups of the Cent Gardes
made me think the Emperor was present,
but did not sec him until the middle of
the exhibition. l saw among the curious,
| Nasmyth, of hammer celebrity, and Whit
worth, arm in arm with Howe, of sewing
machine notoriety.
E'The iron horse bears no resemblance
to its equine namesakc. Imagine trunk
| shaped box about seven feet long, and
wide enough for a man to saddle, and
about five feet high the whole concern
mounted on five wheels the wheels con-
cealed, however, under the machine. 1t
| is covered with leather, and has a saddle,
only the saddle is very high in the front
! and back, 50 that there is no chance of
| being unhorsed. In front is steering
apparatus of the simplest kind-two silk
cords-and 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 point is reached,
when the apparatus stops.
'SThe inventor, quite a young man,
comm, led winding up the machine with
what seemed to be crank motion, and
as distinctly heard the click of the rachel,
l therefore supposed it was worked by
coiled spring, but have reasons since to
think that l was mistaken. l suppose it
took two minutes to wind it, when he
mounted 1t, and started it by pulling up
the steel bar 1t moved gradually off so
that for the first minute l could walk
alongside of it, but presently it started at
the speed of a fast horse, and in a moment
more was lost, going round the curve of
the circle.
81 suppose you know the Grand Expo
sition consists of series of eccentric rings,
each one devoted to a peculiar branch OF
industry. The one the machine was run
ming on was the Nupaero Qmetre, section del
Jfecaniques, and is among the largest,
measuring some yards more than an Eng
| lish mile 1t seemed to me to be incredi-
bic that lie should have performed tn e
circuit IN two minutes twelve seconds. A
hearty clapping Of hands greeted the ma
chine as 1t came careering on, and gradu-
ally stopped without any apparent trouble.
81 noticed the Empel or, generally taci-
turn, loud in his applause, clapping bis
hands rs Justify as did, and was as
sured by NJ. de M, that he had never
seen his Majesty on any occasion before
show the least sign of commendafiop.
The inventor then said that he would put
it up TO its speed, but to do this he must
give the machine start. He then wheel
cd round, and just like jockey starting a
horse, got it up to its maximum as he
passed us he seemed to be flying. The
circuit was made in 50 seconds. A new
salvo of praise met him as he brough: the
machine to where the Emperor was stand
ing, and l must say felt some just emo
ton when the Emperor took the Legion
of Honor from his button hole and placed
it on the young inventors breast
''M. told me that It's endurance, If ]
may use the term, was extraordinary ;
that at its highest speed it would keep on
going for four hours. l was led to believe
that the mechanical power was secondary
in it, and that a galvanic battery was the
real motive power. 1t is rumored that a
battery of constantly increasing elements
sustains the motion. Anyhow, the secret
is well kept, the Emperor having, with the
inventor, the only knowledge of it. NJ
also told me that at Vincennes a battery
of artillery was to be moved with it instead
of horses.
al may add that l saw four persons
mount it, and it moved much more rapid
ly than would a carriage. An interesting
experiment was made as to its capability
of going over rough country. Several
loads Of dirt were shot on the floor, and
it passed over with apparent ease. One
thing remarked was that there was 4
perpendicular play in the wheels, and the,
as difficulty was surmounted, one wheel
would be higher than the other, whilst
the body was on the same Plane.
81 think that it had been placed pur-
posely in retired part in the Exposition
before this exhibition, so as not to attract
too much attention, and l learn this morn
ing that the Secretary of War has had il
removed from the Exhibition.
HIhc inventors same is Victor dc Mar
deS>"