The Portland daily press., 1871-12-29
Another Perpetual Motion Machine.


The following is an extract from Daven-
port letter to the Chicago Journal:
Not many years ago there dwelt and dealt
In this city merchant possessed of consider
able property and of very speculative turn
OF mind. His name was not Benjamin Bur-
ley, but by that name shall designate him
here.
Mr.. Burley was not content with the ordi-
nary profits of his trade, but was continually
scheming to increase his income by means
entirely foreign to his business, and often ex-
tremely visionary in their character, and,
very naturally, OF course, through his neglect
his custom fell of, until at last he was obliged
to sell out under the hammer and retire from
business, with scarcely sufficient to maintain
his family respectfully, even with the most
rigid economy. Mr.. Burley had always pos
sessed several hobbies, prominent among
which was belief in the possibility of per-
petual motion. 1t would be supposed that
after his misfortunes he would Law aside all
such speculations and apply himself diligent-
ly to the practical duties of life. Not so,
however; that was not his 'style." On the
contrary, he applied himself more closely
than ever to solving that problem that had
puzzled the brains and wasted the means of
so many men before him. 1t is needless to
follow him step by step, and tell of his many
isa1ras .r"t and disappoihtments. Suffice it to
Say tad shaS a. H. otter all his means were ex
ni' R nnt IS were covered with success.
been familiar teyhiiiim, and It was only upon
minute but very important portion of his de-
tails that bis attention had been confined;
but, at last, one day, as though by chance,
the idea came to him-the missing link was
supplied-the invention complete, and fame
and fortune just within his grasp. He lacked
only the money to construct model and OBJ
tain patent. So, providing himself with
full drawings and specifications, he began a
search for some person possessed not only of
money, but of credulity enough to assist him.
He was not long in finding the proper parties.
Several gentlemen, who are to-day numbered
among most prominent and influential of our
citizens, joined him. With a sagacity that
has always distinguished them, they stipu-
lated for large interest in the patent when
obtained.
1t was then determined to construct and
put in operation one of the machines before
applying for the patent. So work was begun
in Nichols block on the corner of Second
and Brady streets, and here poor Burley
spent most of his time. Indeed, all of the
confederates might have been found here al
most every evening, engaged in secret con-
sultation. The greater part of the machine
had to be cast, and to prevent any one from
obtaining any idea of its mechanism, the
work was distributed around and sent in part
to Chicago, st. Louis, Milwaukee, and even
as far as to Cincinnati. 1t was expensive,
but it was safe. 1t was nearly six months af-
ter these gentlemen had assumed financial
control of the undertaking before the last o1
of the parts was completed and packed care
fully away in the room before mentioned. A
night was appointed for putting it together,
and promptly at the hour fixed the parties in.
terested were all on haud. The night was
chilly, dark and generally disagreeable, anC
the room looked most cheerless, lighted as il
was by but a solitary candle, but the invento
bustling about, cheerful and courageous, sus
tanned the spirits of his friends and inspire,
them with little of his own confidence.
Quickly but carefully Burley began joining
together the various parts of his machine
which soon grew into vast conglomerate o
puleys, wheels and levers, that seemed mass
ed together without any design. AT length
| along towards the "wee sma' hours" hi
work was nearly completed, and he asked th'
assistance of the spectators in tying the ma
chine, for he assured them that when the las
wheel was added, it would at once start on it
never-ending work. So it was tied down t.
the floor and up to the ceiling, and lashed t.
strong stanchions set in the wall; and rope
! Suflclent TO nave curDeu tne power OF loco
motive were laced and interlaced between tn
wheels. Then Burley advanced and cautious
ly placed the last piece in position, and stoo
ready, knife in hand, to free the engine of it
bonds.
With intense interest depicted on the coun
tenances, the doubly-interested spectator
drew near. One by one the ropes were Gu
Aad Auerst aye was strained to catch some sig
of motion. Here" cried III. 'this cord
straining."
''She is tugging at the rope, too," cried d.
"quick, Burley, with the knife"
At last but Que limp, slack tie remained
and poor Burley, into whose eyes there bt
gan to creep wearied, hopeless expression
with trembling hand secured it. Still no sig
of life or motion. With blank, dismaye
countenances, the parties gradually slippe
out, leaving the inventor alone with his il
vention. With unsteady step he wake
about it, trying in vain to start it, until {
last, realizing his failure, he flung his kni
into corner and sank down with groan VI
on the floor.
. Poor fellow he died not long after. thin
it killed him. The other parties still liN
here. / understood that the engine was ties
ed before its destruction, and it was foun
that an able-bodied horse would have all
conld do to keep it in motion.