Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-01-26

supplied-the invention complete, and
fame and fortune just within his grasp.
He lacked only the money to construct q
model and obtain patent. So, provid-
ing himself with full drawings and speci-
flcations, he began TO search sor some
person possessed not only of money, but
of credutity 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
large interest in the patent when OBJ.
tanned.
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
agreeable, and the room looked most
cherries, 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 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 to
have curbed the power of a locomotive
were laced and interlaced between the
wheels. Then Burley advanced and
cautiously placed the last piece in posi-
tion, and stood ready, knife in hand, tc
free the engine of its bonds.
With intense interest depicted on theii
countenances, the doubly Interested spec
tators drew near. One by one the ropes
were cut and every eye was strained tC
catch some sign of motion
Here, cried H., "this cord is strain
ing"
She is tugging at the rope, too" cried
D., "quick, Burley, with the knife"
At last but one limp, slack tie remained
and poor Burley, into whose eyes there
began to creep wearied, hopeless ex
preston, with trembling hand secured it
Still no sign of life or motion. Will
blank, dismayed countenances the parties
| gradually slipped out, leaving the inventor
alone with his invention. With unsteady
/ step he walked about it, trying in vain t
start it, until at last, realizing his failure
he flung his knife into corner and sanl
down with groan upon the -four.
| Poor fellow ! he died not long after.
think it killed him. The other partie,
still live here. understand that the en-
| gine was tested before its destruction, anC
| it was found that an able-bodied hors,
would have all he could do to keep it il
motion.