Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-05
PERPETUAL MOTION IN CHICAGO,
A Machine which Furnishes SITS own
Motive Power, and Propels Itself for
seven Months without Ceasing.

! Motive Power, and PropeIs Itself for
seven Months without Ceasing.
Chicago. in addition 10 her wonderful
possessions. has finally outstripped the
world in machines, and now claims TO
have discovered the principle of perpet,
ual motion, and to have 10 operation a
a machine which fully demonstrates that
principle. II was invented by Horace
Wickham, Jr.. a native of Orange Coun-
~, New York. and is thus described BY
the Chicago Times.
Arriving at Mr.. Wickham's residence,
the party were shown into that gentle
mans bed chamber Beside the couch
was an ord nary table, and, aud upon
that rested thick marble slab, which
formed the foundation of his device
Four iron legs held the ma BILE above
the table, and the slab, with its accom-
panying machinery, could be lifted clear
from the boards and carried into the adj
joining apartment.
The boy turning the crank" was
summarily dropped from the minds aud
tongues Of the visitors. 1t was much
palmer than the noses upon their respcc>
tive faces that the impolIing force
all laid above, aud not below the mar
bic.
Several upright standards were firmly
screwed upon the slab, and these sus
tanned the something that was perplexing
to the wits of the party. A lever some
two feet in length, delcately hung be-
tween two Of the standards, was osciIIa
ting steadily up and down, like the walk
ing beam of n miniature steamboat. In
fact, il was, to. all appearances, more like
a tiny walking beam than. anything else.
A thin shaft hung from. one end. the low
er extremity of which was attached to n
main wheel. and this to few PLAIN cogs,
surmounted by an infinitesimal ''gov
ernor." suchas is used for regulating the
speed Of all steam engines. ..-TY
The diminutive beam seemed TO drive
the main wheel, the whee.s seemed to
turn the cegs, The cogs forced the ..gov-
ernor" TO spin about ALI of this was
simple enough, bat what, i'm the name OF
mischief. worked the beam?
PERPETUAL MOTION EXPLAINED.
Tie young enthusiast was ready at the
iDquner's elbows with the answer. He
showed how the walking beam was hol-
low. and its interior formed an uubroken
circuit. in which little balls, partially
filled with mercury, were chasing each
other in tn enternal pursuit: how the air
was exhausted from the channel in the
beam SO that the spheres Of quicksilver
may play in vacuum; how, when a ball
reached the end of the beam furthest
from the wheels. valve was driven up
into the top of the course. to be again
hurried on its unbioken route; how the
main wheel bad quicksilver in some of
its spokes, ready at the proper instant to
overcome the weight of the balls at the
further end Of the beam-in short, ex-
actly how his very simple, yet altogether
beautiful device was operated. But he
did not show the visitors how they might
explain the same in print so that lucid
description of the machine might be Civ
en- TO the world.
To essay to describe the plainest me
chanIcal operation is to engage 10 drive
The average reader TO lunacy. but it is
hoped tina. the following brief account
viii aid the public in understanding Mr..
Wickbam's invention. until they shall be
afforded chance to inspect and judge
for themselves.
CREDENTIALS.
Before proceeding to ary detailed de-
scription Of the affair, il is we'll to state
that the readers of the Times are not tc
be caJoled into studying out the minutia
Of the machine upon the mere assertions
of any tyros in the grand science of me
ehanics. The device has already been
inspected by practical workmeu, skilled
machinists, and sound, sensible men in
ali walks of life. The master mechanics
Of several leading railways have careful
ly examined MIR. Wickhsm's machine
and their testimony is freely given in hi:
favor. Among others who have wit
messed its workings and who have been
rcd to acknowledge that it is either &
perpetual or magnificent undiscovered
fraud. are the Hon. w. r. McAllister
Col S. A. Buckmaster, Hon. j. H
knowlton. Col. Arthur, of the Illinoi,
Central railway; ex Postmaster William
Price, MIR. Joseph lehman. Hon. T. H
Marsh, w. Y. Daniels. Esq, Rev. r
w. Swift, Dr.. Blain, Mr.. Jameson, aud
many others who have declined 10 allow
their names to be published at the pres
ent time.
ALI have agreed that the little machiu,
submitted to their inspection by Mr.
Wickham either furnished its own mo-
tive power, or else that they were una
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