The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-08
Le CheyaI nIechaniaue.

The following description of new invention,
now on exhibition at the great "show in
Paris, is given in a private letter:
"I was fortunate enough to be present yes
terday evening at o private view of this won
derful invention. The throng at the Expo
sition is so dense in the daytime that any at
tempt to work it during the exhibition hours
was impossible. Through the kindness of NJ.
do NJ, whose acquaintance I made in 1858,
when he was ahaehe at Washington, I formed
one of fifty persons provided with special per-
mits. On entering, groups of the Cent Gardes
made me think the Emperor was present, but
1 did not see him until the middle of the ex-
hibition. sow, among the curious, Naysmith
of. hammer. celebrity, and Whitworth, arm in
arm with Howe of sewing machine notoriety.
"The iron horse bears no resemblance to
| its eqnine namesake. Imagine trunk shaped
box about seven feet long, and wide enough for
| q man to straddle, and about five feet high, the
whole concern mounted on FIVE wheels, the
| wheels concealed, however, under the machine.
1t is covered with leather, and has saddle,
| only the saddle is very high in front and back,
so that there is no chance of, being unhorssd.
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
y
you slow it until point is reached, when the
apparatus stops.
"The inventor, quite g. 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, there
fore supposed it was worked by coiled spring,
but have reasons since to think that was
mistaken. l suppose it took two minutes 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 I could walk
alongside of it, but suddenly it started at the
speed of fast horse and in q moment more
was lost, going round the curve of the circle.
l suppose you know the Grand Exposition is
composed of series of concentric rings each
one devoted to peculiar branch Of industry.
The one the machine was running on was the
Numero Quetre section del Mecaniques, 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 twelve seconds. A hearty
clapping of hands greeted the machine as it
came careering on, and gradually stopping
| without any apparent trouble.
81 noticed the Emperor, generally taciturn,
loud in his applause, clapping his hands, as
| Justify as did, and was assured by NJ. de M.
that he had never seen his Majesty on any
occasion before show the least sign of commen-
dation. 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 wheeled
round, and just like jockey starting horse,
got it up to maximum; as he passed us he
seemed to be flying. The circuit was made in
| ffty-eight seconds. A new salvo of applause
met him as he brought the machine to where
the Emperor was standing, and 1 must say
felt some just emotion when the Emperor took
the Legion of Honor from his button hole and
placed it on the young inventors breast.
"M. told me 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 mechani-
col power was secondary in it, and that gal
vanic battery was the real motive power. It
is rumored that q battery Of constantly in
creasing elements sustains the motion. Any
how the secret is well kept the Emperor hav-
ing, with the inventor, the only knowledge Of
it. NJ. also told me that in Vincennes bat
terry of artillery was to be moved with it, in
stead of horses.
81 may add that saw four persons mount
it, and it moved much more rapidly than would
carriage. An interesting experiment was
made rs to capabilities Of going over rough
country. Several loads of dirt were shot on
the floor, and it passed over it with apparent
ease. One thingI remarked was that there
was perpendicular play in the, wheels, and
that as difficulty was surmounted, one wheel
would be higher than the other, whilst the
body was on the same plane.
81 think that it has been placed purposely in
retired part of the Exposition before this
exhibition, so as not to attract too much atten-
tion, and learn this morning that the Secre-
tary of War has had it removed from the E1-
hibition.
"The inventors name is Victor de Nardea."