The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-09-24
A KENTUCKY STORY.
All Old Uarkey Constructs a Wonder
full Machine. and Becomes tae Vie.
tim Of His own Ingenuity.

From the Franklin lKy.) Patriot, Sept. s.
We referred, a few weeks ago, TO an In
venlion called perpetual motion" con-
structed by an old negro who lives three
milss west Of this place. 1t ia a wagon,
So arranged that, after being set in mo
tion, it runs itself BY virtue of the fact
that the weight Of graviiaiion 10 thrown
forward OF the center of motion, and con.
sequently the machine is compelled to 20.
Ii has been the intention Of the inventor
to have his wagon at tho fair on tho l9Gh
Of September, so that its value may be
tested publicly in the presence Of the
thousands of people who will be present !;
and We learn from one of our bstt me-
chsuics that last Wednesday--tho same
day Of the circus--ihe old negro mounted
the machine adjusted the bands, tipped
the balance.weight over the centre OF
motion, gave the driving. wheel shove
aud started for Franklin, TO report 10 John
Is. Montague, secretary of the association,
and have his machine regularly entered
OF tho books. About one mile this eide
OF the old negro's home there is noted
point called Red Pond" Immediately at
the forks of the Cross Plains and Spring
isld roads, and here, unfortunately, an sc.
cident occurred which We fear will cause
a disappointment to many inventors who
were coming to our fair for the purpose OF
examining this wonderful Invention
The machine was humming along the
smooth, sandy road at about fifteen miles
an hour, and the happy inventor
was on deck, feeling as proud
as Fulton on board bis frat
steam boat, when in making tue turn lut
near the margin VI the Red Pond, tho
s,arboard front wheel colliied with a
HEAVIEST post oak sapling, and the re.
hound was go powerful that the old no.
gro WAS thrown forward over the daIh-
board and was at the same time struck by
the 1snge OF the driving.wheel which
precipitated his speed 40 much that WHOM
his head struck the fence panel on the OPP
posite side Of the road he was DO badly
smashed that his death must have taken
place Immediately. Coroner Hsrtfsld's
Inquest was uncertain ss to whether he
had been killed by a sudden stroke of the
driving wheel or by a too has,y collision
with a panel of the fence The machine,
after thi, accident, struck out with free
dom, passing the residence OF Capt. Lea,
soon made its way across in the direction
of Boi..eaus meadow, but was ARRESTED
in its progress by large log, which tilted
the balance weight back of the centre OF
motion, and tho wild wagon was standing
gently at rest whom overtaken by the cor.
oner and his party, who were following
along TO take care oil the killed and
wounded. Since the tragic death Of the
inventor, no man has dared to mount the
fery, untamed steed, but our informant
assures US Is will be on exhibition in the
fair ground', and We invite the attention
OF inventors and machinis,s 10 lis peculiar
mechanism. We will net vouch for any
mans life who mounts it and sAts it IN |
motion in a timbered locality, but it can |
be managed safely on the haf.mile track |
on the fair grounds, and will be put to ito |
best speed If any msu can be found who |
is competent to guide 1t.