The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-19
THE NEWARK STEAM MAN.
How He looks, and What He is
Going TO DO.
From the New York Express.

From the New York Express
The inventor and exhibitor of the Newark
steam man, (Mr Zadoc Dcderck, has i'm
proved the occasion of the Barnum fire ex-
citement by hiring rooms in the opposite
house, on Broadway, for the purpose of ex-
hibiting this eighth wonder of the world AS
a speculative enterprise, the idea must have
been a success, for at 10 o'clock this morn
ing large number of persons had congrega-
ted at the door, clalhorously seeking admit
tance. Amongst those who thus sought adj
mission was one of our reporters, who thus
describes his interview with this last speci-
men of the genus home:"
Mr.. Steam Man is a person Of commanding
presence, standing seven feet nine inches in
his stocking vamps, weighs 500 pounds, meas
ures 200 inches round the waist, and decided
early hour in the morning he was rather in
dishabille, and minus his pants. This circum-
stance, though detracting rather from his
comeliness, was yet more than counterbal-
anced by the greater facilities it gave for the
study of human anatomy, and was eagerly
d'dlicu VI lOl tudI puTpOSe ne legs are
made of iron cranks, screws, springs ad in
finitum, not quite as attractive in exterior
as those we see in the weekly pictorials, but
evidently of greater durability and strength.
The motion of the legs is almost fac simile TO
that of the human extremities, and the man
ner in which they are set agoing strikingly
calls to mind the philosophic apostrophe of
the human donkey to his namesake "How
fearfully and wonderfully are we made
The abdominal region is occupied by good
sized furnace, which was in full blast. The
steam mans boiler is delicately concealed
from the profanity of the public gaze, but is
presumed to be somewhere above the fur
mace. This complex piece of machinery
got once out of order, but was happily re-
stored after careful investigation of the
cause and the application of the appropriate
remedy. The steam whistle is fixed in his
mouth, the gauge at the back of the head
and the safety valve in an appropriate posi-
ton. He wears large stovepipe hat,-stove-
pipe literally, for it is through the Uranium
that the funnel passes. His hands are gloved,
good mustachc ornaments his face. and in
outward garb he is rather good looking than
otherwise.
The steam man proper is but the figure
head, as 1t were. of a handsome phaeton,
capable of accommodating four persons, to-
gether with tank to contain half days
supply of water, and bunk for days coal.
The entire driving machinery is at tie rear
of the steam man. and within easy grasp of
the driver, seated on the front scat, who, a;
any time, can increase or diminish the speed,
turn, stop, curve, etc. Tweny pounds OF
steam will set the man in motion, 90 cents
wor th of coal will work him for a day-so
the inventor AYERS.
1t was the original intention of Mr. Dede
rick to have exhibited the steam man to-day
in full running motion, but this he says
would not be permitted by the insurance
company. lie says he can easily accomplish
mile in two minutes or a level course, and
offers to test this on Long Island course as
soon as the weather gets fine. The engine is
fOur-horse power, and the man takes 80 inch
es in each stride. Perhaps the most extraor
dinary attribute Of the animal is the faculty
of stepping over all obstructions not higher
than foot. (Of course all these assertions
are the inventors, and not the result of the
reporters investigations.) 1t or he may be
detached from phaeton, and yokcd to
sleigh or any kind of wagon. Mr.. Dederick
is ready to procreate-without any regard to
the conventional idea of nine months partu-
rition-steam men at cost Of $500 apiece.
He will also shortly produce steam horse,
adapted to ploughing, and the heavier kinds
Of draught and burden.
Whether the steam. man proves ofany prac
teal good or not, he is unquestionably
great curiosity.