Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-30
The Automaton Horse--A Wonderful
Invention,

The following description of a new inven
ton now on exhibition at the great ''show''
in Paris, We clip from private letter pub
lshed III the Charleston COuyier Of the 7th
inst:
Il was fortunate enough to be present ves>
terday at a private view of this wonderful in
ventiOn. The throng at the exposition is so
dense in the day time that any attempt to
work 1t during the exposition hours was i'm
possible. Through the Kindness Of NJ de NJ
whose acquaintance made in 1858. when he
was attache at Washington, formed one OF
fifty persons provided with special PERMITS
On entering, groups Of the Cent GOircIie
made me think the Emperor was present, but
did not see him until the middle of the ex>
hibition, saw among the curious, Nasmyth,
Of hammer celebrity, WhitwortE, arm in arm,
with Howe, Of sewing machine notorietv.
The Iron horse bears no resemblance to
its equine namesake. Imagine trunk.
shaped box about seven feet long, aud wide
enough for Il man to saddle. and about five
feet nigh; the whole concern mounted on
live wheels the wheels concealed, however.
under the machiuc.. 1t is covered with leath-
er, and has a saddle, only the saddle is very
high in front and back, so that there is no
Chance Of being unhorsed. In front is a
silk cords-just before the saddle 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 20 slow until point is reached, when
the machine stops
The inventor. quite a young man, COM
menced winding up the machine with what
seemed to me to be a crank motion. and as
l distinctly heard the click of the rachel. !
therefore supposed it was worked by a coil
sprlng' but have reasons since to think that
was mistaken. l suppose it took two min
utes to wind it, when he mounted it, and
started 1t by pulling up the steel bar. 1t
moved gradually off, SO that for the first min
ute could walk along side of it. but pres
emily 1t started at the speed Of fast horse.
aud IN moment more was lost going round
the curve of the circle.
81 suppose you know the great exposition
of a series Of cOncen,ric rings, each one de-
voted to peculiar branch of industry. The
one the machine was running on was the Nh
nero QuGrtTe, section del ueckanigues. and
is among the largest. measuring some wards
more than an English mile 1t seemed TO be
incredible that he should have performed the
circuit in two minutes and twelve seconds A
hearty claPPing of hands greeted the ma
chine as 1t came careerIng on, and gradually
stopping without any apparent trouble.
IL notice the emperor, ceuarally taciiurn,
loud in his applause, clapping his hands as
Justify as did, and l was assured by NJ de
NJ. that he had never seen his majesty on any
occasion before show the !cast sign OF comuen-
datiOu. The inventor then said that he would
put 1t up TO its speed, but to do that he must
give the machine start. lie then wheeled
round, aud just ike jockey starting a horse.
; got 1t up to ITS maximum Is lie passed US lie
seemed to be flying. The circuit was made
IN hity seconds. y new salvo Of applause
met him as he brought the machine to where
the emperor was standing, and must say l
felt some just emotlno when the emperor took
the Legion Of Honor from his buttonhole and
placed 1t on the young inventors breast
'M. told ne that its endurance. if may
use the term, was extraordinary that at its
highest speed it would keep on going for four
hours. was led TO believe that the mechanical
power was secondary in it, and that ealvanic
battery was the real motive power 1t is
TumOred that battery Of constantly ipcreas-
ing elements sus'ains the motion. ANYHOW
the secret is wei! kept, the Emperor having.
with the inventor. the only knvwIedge of it.
NJ. also told NE that at Yincennes a battery
Of artillery was to be moved with il Instead
of horses.
81 may add that saw four persons mount
it, and 1t moved much more rapidly than
+ would carriage. An Interesting experiment
was made as to its capabiIify OF gong oyeI
I rough country. Several loads Of dirt weEe
shot on the floor, aud i; passed over it w.tH
apparent ease. One thing remarked was
. that there was perpendicular play in I'll,
wheels. and that as 4 difficulty was surrnoun
ted. one wheel would be higher than III,
other, ,whiist the body vas on the same plane
| 81 think that it has been placed purposel
IN retired part in the exposition, and
learned this morning that the secretary O
war has bad it removed from the exhibition
'The inventors name is Victor de Nardea'