Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-01-25

supplied-the invention complete, and
fame and fortune just within his grasp
He lacked only the money to construct
model and obtain patent So, provid-
ing himself with full drawings and speci-
fications, he began to search sor some
person possessed not only of money, but
of credulity enough to assist him. He
was not long in finding the proper par
ties. Several gentlemen, who are to-day
numbered among the most prominent
and Influential of our citizens, Joined
him. With sagacity that has always
distinguished them, they stipulated for
large interest in the patent when OBJ
tained.
1t was then determined to construct
and put in operation one of the machines
before applying for the patent. So work
was begun in the utmost secrecy. A
room was rented 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 almost every
evening engaged in secret consultation.
The greatest part of the machine had to
be cast, and TO prevent any one from OBJ
tanning any idea of its mechanism, the
work was distributed around and sent in
part to Chicago, st. Louis. Milwaukee,
and even as far as Cincinnati 1t was
nearly six months after these gentlemen
had assumed financial control of the un-
dertaking before the last of the parts was
completed and packed carefully away in
the room before mentioned. A night
was appointed for putting it together,
and promptly at the hour fixed the par
ties interested were all on hand. The
night was chilly, dark, and generally dis
nnn md fhn nln
cheerless, lighted as it was by solitary
candle, but the inventor, bustling about,
cheerfully and courageous, sustained
the spirits of his friends, and inspired
them with little of his own confidence.
Quickly but carefully Burley began join.
ing together the various parts of his
machine, which soon grew into a vast
congiomerate of pulleys, wheels and
levers that seemed massed together with.
out any design. At length, along towards
the ''wee' sma' hours" his work was
nearly completed, and he asked the assist
ance of the spectators in tying the ma
chine, for he assured them that when the
last wheel was ended it would at once
start on its never-ending work. So il
was tied down to the floor and up to the
ceiling, and lashed to strong stanchions
set in the wall; and ropes sufficient tC
have curbed the power of locomotive
were laced and interlaced between the
wheels. Then Burley advanced and
cautiously placed the last piece in posi-
ton, and stood ready, knife in hand, tC
free the engine of its bonds.
With intense interest depicted on theil
countenances, the doubly interested spec
tators drew near. One by one the rope
were cut, and every eye was strained tt
catch some sign of motion.
Here" cried H., ''this cord is strain
ing"
"She is Juggling at the rope, too" criet
D., "quick, Burley, with the knife"
At last but one limp, slack tie remained
and poor Burley, into whose eyes ther
began to creep wearied, hopeless ez
preston, with trembling hand secured il
Still no sign of life or motion. Wit
blank, dismayed ceuntenances the partie
gradually slipped out, leaving the invento
, alone with his invention. With unstead
step he walked about it, trying in vain t
: start it, until at last, realizing his failure
he flung his knife into corner and san
r down with groan upon the -four.
Poor fellow he died not long after
r think it killed him. The other partie
r still live here. understand that the er
gine was tested before its destruction, an
, it was found that an able-bodied hors
e would have all he could do to keep it i
e motion.