The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-11-30
AN INGENIOUS MECHANIC.


Head % . Steam Eagi.s.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
On late trip of the steamship Nebraska
from New Zealand to Honolulu the carpen.
ter of the ship became engaged In spicy
debate with the English steward aboard as
to the responsibility of England for the dcs>
truction of the United States merchan: ma.
rinc by the Alabama The debate .ermin.
xtcd in u fight, and the two combattants
were placed in irons. Upon the arrival Of
the Nebraska nt Honolulu the carpenter told
his grievances to the American Consul there.
who thought it hes, To send him back 10 the
United States on the Idaho.
When The Idaho was several days out on
the return voyage from Honolulu, her CYL
inder head was broken into fragments and
the engine could not bc used. She had Just
reached point where the ,rade>winds failed
her; her sails were scarcely large enough to
steady her in rough weather, and retarded
% she was i,y her propsller, the chances for
getting to San Francisco or even back to
Honolulu were rather blue. In m ordinary
breeze her sails just gave her headway enough
to be stored, ana Us few vessels cross or
follow the Sand wich Island steamship route,
the passengers resigned themselves to fate
and made up their minds to endure u long
and uncertain hoat. The Captain was about
TO be peti.iored to put passengers and crew
on short allowance, when the beilicose car
pcntcr came to their rescue.
WOODEN CYLINDER HEAD!
On examining the injured cylinder, the
thought entered his mind that stout cylin'
der head of tough, hard wood might stand
. sufficient pressure of steam 10 run the
engine 1T moderate speed. He stated this
To the Captain, who, after some hesitation
and xs last resort, reluctantly gave him
permission to try the experiment. The car
penter procured his tool chest from the hold.
and utter twenty-five h"urs hard work fin
ishcd and inserted the wooden cylinde'
head. twas made of three thicknesscs OF
hard teak board, rendered stean, prooffby
being covered with paint and canvas, and
was caulkcd tight and held in its place by
bolts a. in other cylinder heads. and by q
piece of timber braced against its end
Wlen tho carpenter announccd lhat he en-
.gina eas ready foe use andadssired the en-
yincer 10 turn ON steam there was genera
scsb,per from the cylncer, where number
of lhe passengers, slespless and fevertsh, hat
anxiously watched the finishing Of the work
Slowly the steam was tnrned on, the pistol
rod rose and fell, the propeller churncd TIN
water quickly. the Idaho moved on Mt he
accustomed speed and the wooden head wa
success. The cylinder head after besni
used for time swelled snd collapsed lik'
the lungs in respiration, but the invention
stood the test to the end and earned for tn
carpenter quite'a reputation. He is nov
employed on the Ajax, and las become
very hero among sea going men.
A passenger from tpe Idaho, who con
verscd with the Chronicle reporter, was yer!
enthusiastic in behalf of the ingeniou
''Chips," and says that he II clearly entities
to salvage. Doubtless but for his Amencal
views on the Alabama claims question, tn
passengers Of the Idaho, the majority o
whom were Englishmcp, would have pre-
| sented him with some memorial.