The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-01-08
THE BLACs3SMETzE's DREAM
History of IEae Memphis Black
smith who Makes and E1N IRibits
the (.raude~f Mechanical Won
der Ever KNOWN.
From lie FOLLY SPRING Rep 'rter.


ed it are 50 peculiar, we propose 10 give
brief sketch Of his life, with description
Of his automatic wonder
William Robertson was born near
I Markinch, Fifeshjre, Scotland. He is
now thirty-six years Of age. The death Of
his father when he was quite young, caused
him 10 be hired to farmer, until he had
reached his sixteenth year. At which time
he was Appended 10 "A blacksmith for
SIX years. His term having expired he
made preparation to leave his native land
aud seek his fortune in the West. Re
procured the highest letters Of CONNER
cation from his employers, and started
for the Canaoas, where he arrived during
a severe money crisis, and he could get
but small wages Notwithstanding this
he went to work earnestly in the shops
Of the Grand Trunk Railway. While
there he invented and modelled the Rail
way Frog" 1t is now universally used
in replacing wrecked trains. Robertson
completed his model and exhib ted its
wonderful advantages to the master me-
chanic who stole the model and had it
patented. He made vast fortune out
OF it, never giving Robertson a cent.
Some two years afterward poor printer
confded 10 Robertson that be had certain
Ideas which, if combined with machinery,
would make the most invaluable job
printing press. Robertson readily caught
the ideas and Immediately began to re-
duce them to machinery. in three months
time it was a glorious success. The prin-
ter agreed to patent it and divide the
earnings with the mechanic, but after he
procured the patent in his own name he
never came near Robertson any more.
After the war, Robertson removed to
Water Valley, where he obtained employ
ment in the hops Of the Mississippi Cen
tral Railroad company. His skill rs a
mechanic soon gained him promotion
and he ranked high with his new en-
plovers Some fur years after this he
entered the shops Of the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad company Il jackson, Tenn.
His genius served him again = good
purpose, rs he was again promoted to the
head OF his department. Having been
cheated out Of both. the glory and profit
OF two importantinventjoua he concluded
not to invent anything more that would
attract man, bat % devote his genius to
the invention Of something that would
please the children. Some simple thing
that would not make such a noise as To
attract ney,IovinS mems attention
Ills idea was automatic natural motion.
The production of Il minstrel troupe of
squirrels, was Il complete success. SPUR
rel, skins were stuffed to the natural
shape and size, they We're dressed in at
traciive costumes and each one provided
with a musical instrument, miniature size
lie ingeniously arranged music box, so
as to accord with the motion Of the squir-
rels as they handled their several ms ru-
mants sDreng about, danced, rolled their
, eyes, end did SOU relish. The deep
tion was complete. His audience usually
consisted Of the children OF his neighbots
who were delighted with the minstrel
squirrels Although this must have
. been q most wonderful mechanical inven-
ton, Robert on gave it away 10 some
children He learned the art Of taXider-
nav while IN Canada. Specimens of his
art are now to be seen in Jackson, Miss.
Jackson, Tenn, and Memphis Col j.
l. Power, of THE CLARION, purchased
! Ills last collection About three years
since he left Jackson Tenn, and engaged
to work ak the Railroad shops Of The Miss.
, Il Tenn. r. r. lie entertained no idea
= .boye being blacksmith during the rest
= o his days. lie expected nothing from
, mis- genius at all Hitherto all OF his eff
forts had been OF no benefit to him, and
while they had brought fame and for
. tune 10 others he was still a poor obscure
; blacksmith.
These were his thoughts when he en-
tered the Memphis Exposition Of last
year and there ne saw for the first time
Bergmaus automaton village, which has
4 II nj the and
pie throughout America. 1t has been
held up rs the most wonderful piece of
mechanism ever invented. Robertson
paid twenty-five cents to see 1t, lie
, laughed Mt il; said there was not a single
character that represented natural motion.
Yet thousands OF people crowded the
place, and said it was wonderful. The
wonder that Robertson saw, was the vast
amount OF money the proprletors were
making. He returned to his humble
home changed man. He thought OF
nothing else but Bergman's automaton
village, and here he could eclipse II. In
his sleep he dreamed that he had echpsed
it. He awoke with the determination to
begin the work Being poor he had to
work in the Railroad Shops during the
day and work on the sutomaton at night.
His bread and that of his family depen-
ded on his daily labor. In seven months
from the night Of his dream he had com
Dlc,ed to his satisfaction the automatoh
industrial village now on exhibition IN
the Memphis Exposition. 1t IS far supe-
rior to Bergman's invention in every res
poct 1t required Bergman seventeen
wears to complete hi, and Robertson lin
ished a far more difficult mechanical trl-
umph in seven months. He exhibited at
the Louisville Exposition and at the Miss
issippi State FAIR, and it was the admit
: ration of all the visitors.
We Will now give description of
THE MACHINE.
II is constructed on a table 3 feet wide
bv feet. wGich rises feet in height.
Itre represents the Progress ofCivilizatI on
in the Railway. Steamboat, Neloclpede,
Steam mechanism. Sewing machine, and
. other improvements in mechanism. On
the left end of the village Is Railway
with g train complete, in perfect motion
on II. The engine, tender. mail car and
Messenger. coaches are in the train As
II nears the station the engineer pulls the
steam-brake. the fireman rings the bell,
the brakeman turns the brakes, and the
: passengers put their heads out OF the WIN
dows. and the conductor steps out on the
, platform and waits until the train stops.
F., In q moment he waves his hand for 1t To
: start, the bell is sounded by the fireman,
the engineer turns on the steam
and the splendid little train moves
on as before. Parallel with the railway
is a coach road, upon which horse, IN
no