The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-01-23
An Extraordinary Invention.

lBc slbfN VI u Lic-
chaGical invention, tod by the Newark
(N. J. J AdUertiser, recalls to mind the mar
velous tale of rFrankenstein." by Mrs.
Shelly. We trust, however, that in this
case the creature will not "return TO
plague the inventor as did the strange
being who forms the chief attraction of
the book referred to:
"Mr Zadock Dedarck, Newark ma
chlnist, has invented a man; one that.
moved by steam, will perform some Of tho
most important functions of humanity;
that will, standing upright, walk or run,
as he is bid, in any direction and at almost
any rate Of speed, drawing after him
load whose weight would tax the strength
ofthree stout draueht horses. The history
of this invention is as follows: Six years
ago Mr.. Dcddrics, the inventor, who is
but 22 years of age, conceived the novel
idea of constructing a man that should re-
ceive its vitality from a perpetual motion
machine. The idea was based on a we'll
known mechanical principle that, if
heavy weight be placed at the top Of ar
upright slightly inclined from vertical,
gravtation will tend to produce horizon
tai as well as vertical motion. The prof.
ect was not successful. However by OBJ
serving carefully the catise of he failure;
preserving and perfecting the man-form,
and by substituting steam in place of the
perpetual motion machine, the present
success was attained.
"The man stands seven feet and nine
in :hes high, the other dimensions of the
body being correctly proportioned, nia.
king him second Daniel Hlmbert, by
which name he is facetiously spoken of
among the workmen. He weighs 500
pounds. Steam is generated in the body
or trunk, which is nothing but a three
horse power engine, like those used in our
stelm fire engines. The legs which sup
port it are complicated and wonderful
The steps are taken very naturally and
quite easily. AS the body is thrown for
ward on the advanced foot, the other is
lifted from the ground by spring and
thrown forward By the steam. Each step.
or pace: Advances the body two feet; aud
every revolution of the engine produces
tour PAGES. As the engine is capable of
making more than 4 thousand revolutions
~ "cuiN SCt OfNt iGt dI
this calculation, at the rate Of 4 little more
than mile minute. As this would be
working the legs fastet than would be
safe on even ground or on Broad street
cobble stones, it is proposed to run the en-
CINE at the rate ct 800 revolutions per
minute, which WOULD walk the man at the
moderate speed of half mile minute.
s.Tha fnliar~ II
rockaway carriage, the shafts of which
serve to support him in a vertical position
These shafts arc two bars of iron. fasteu-
ed IN the usual manner to the front of the
carriage and are curved SO as to be Joined
in circular sustaining bar, which passes
around the waist, like gir,h, aud in
which the man moves SO as 10 face in any
direction. Besides these motions, ma
chinery has been arranged by which the
figure can be thrown backward or for.
ward from vertical nearly 10 degrees.
This is done in order to ascend or descend
all grades. To the soes OF the feet spikes
or corSs are fixed which effectually pre-
vent slipping. The whole affair is so
firmly sustained by the shafts and has 81
excellent foothold that two men are un-
able to push it over. In order to to cna-
BILE it to stop quickly, it is provided with
two appliances, one of which will, as be-
fore stated, throw it packard from the YER
teal, while the other bends the knees in
a direction opposite to the nature position.
la order to prevent the giant from
frightening horses by its wonderful ap-
pearance, Mr.. Deddrick intends to clothe
1t and give it as near as possible a ike
ness TO tho rest of humanity. The
boiler, aud such parts as are unnecessarily
heated, Will be encased in felt or WOODEN
undergarments ntal)ons, coat and
vest, of the latest styles, are provided.
Whenever the fires need coaling, which is
every two or three hours, the driver stops
the machine. descends from his seat, uu-
buttons Daniels vest, opens door, SHOW
els in the fuel. buttons up the vest and
drives on. On the back, between the
shoulders, the steam cocks and guages arc
placed. As these would cause the coat to
set awkwardly, knapsack has been pro-
vided that completely covers them. a
blanket neatly rolled up and placed on the
top of the knapsack perfects the delusion.
The face is moulded into cheerful coun-
tenance of white enamel, which contrasts
well with the DARK hair and mustache.
A sheet-iron hat with a guage top acts as
a smoke stack.
"The cost of this "lirst man" is g.
600, though the makers, Messrs Deddrick
X Grass, expect to manufacture succeeding
ones, warranted to run year without re-
pairs, for $500. The same parties expect
to contract. on the same principle. horses
which will do the duty of ten or twelve
ordinary animals of the same species.
These, it is confidently believed, can be
used alike before carriages, street cars and
plows. The man now constructed can
make his way WITHOUT difficulty over any
irregular surface whose ruts and s'oues
: are not more than nine inches below or
aoove the level of the road"
A gentleman il whose cred bility the most
implicit confidence may be placed, relates the
i following singular story, the parties To which