The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-01
OBITUAR Y.
John Ericsson,

On Thursday last John Ericsson, the oele-
brated inventor and engineer, died at Rlchland,
New York, from hydrophobia. caused by the
bite of dog several months ago.
John Ericsson was born in 1903 in the pro-
vince of Vermeland, am ong the iron noun
tains of Sweden His father was the proprietor
of an iron mine, and the engineering tastes of
young Ericsson, therefore. had ample opportu-
mites for development When only ten years
of age he had constructed several complicated
mechanical contrivances which attracted the
attention OF Count Platen, who procured him
an appointment in the corps of Engineers, and
at the age of twelve years he was appointed
Naveleur on the grand ship canal OF
Sweden. In this capacity, In the year
1915, he was required to set out the
work for more than six hundred men. At
the age of seventeen he entered the Swedish
army and was ordered upon q survey of the
northern part of Sweden, which he conducted
with such skill and accuracy as to secure the
waTmest appreciation of his superiors. About
this time he made some experiments showing
how mechanical power may be produced, in
dependently of steam, by the condensation or
flame, and he succeeded in producing motive
power equal to a steam engine of ten horse
power. In 1925 he obtained permission to visit
England. where he applied himself with new
ardor to his experiments, and produced anum-
ber OF interesting mechanical inventions.
In 1929 o prize was offered by the Liverpool
and Manchester Railway tor the best loco
motive engine. Ericsson undertook to com
pete at seven weeks notice, and by
principle of artificial draught which
he used, he succeeded in making fifty miles
an hour. and won the prize In 1888 Ericsson
brough, before the scientific world in London
his caloric engine, the acting medium em-
ployed being atmospheric air. The machine
constructed bV him WAS nm OYdinArv an Oina oF
| ive.horse power. and 1t excited much interest,
| but the unfavorable opinion of some scientific
men operated TO fetard It's success. In the
| meantime, however, Ericsson applied himself
to the perfection of another idea, the screw
| propeller, and he constructed q model which
acted so well as to convince him OF the practi-
cability OF the invention. He next built
boat forty feet long, which. when frst put in
motion, glided through the water at the rate of
| ten miles an hour. aud her power TO tow large
vessels was proved by her propelling schooners
OF one hundred and forty tons burden at the
rate OF seven miles an hour, and the American
packet ship Toronto was towed up the Thames
At the rate OF i've miles an hour. Notwtth-
stanoing the success of these experiments, the
english engineers refused to countenanoe the
invention, and he could not excite the
interest OF the Board of Admiralty.
so ne turned his attention to the New
Wofld. Mr.. traneis b. Ogden, the American
Cohsuiat Liverpool, became convinced OF the
value ofEricsson's invention, and introduced
MIN TO the notice OF Robert f. Stockton. OF the
ohiteo States Navy, who undertook to secure
the favorable consideration of the United
States government for the new propelling appa-
ratus' ano he succeeded in persuRding Ericsson
10 abandon his professional engagem ments In
england and to take mp his residence In
the United States
Ericsson liked his residence In New York In