The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-12


/ AN OH DAaa Cossrsuoa % " s s1sIsI
ruL IfAcHltg As1s Becomes ril6 larth O. =
His Ows IsaEsuIyY II Frank linl Ky.1) Fat
riot September referred asaes
weeks ago to afi snYenti0I cal e. per taal
motion, y constructed aby IN old negro VINO
lives three miles west this piac u IS -
wagon, so arranged that, after being SET 70
motion, 1T runs Itself ljY wit ;Qfs the iact
that the weight of grayitaticil Is thrown
Forward OF tne centre OF ton, and eonse-
uuently the machine Is compelled 70 run.
It has been the intention of the 10 Yentor
to have f1isiwagon at the fair on the 9ln o,
September, so that its value may be testeo !.
publicly in the presence Of the thousanas OF
people who will be present; and we leaf e .
from one Of our best mechanics that iast
Wednesday--fhe same day of the circus = :.
the old negro mounted the machine, ads
justed the bands, tipped the balance. weight
oyer, the centre Of motion, gave the driving
wheela shove, and started for Frankin 10
report to John 3. Montague, secretary OF
the Association, and have his machine regu-
larly entered on the books.
About one mile this SIDE OF the old me-
gro's home there is q noted point called
"Red Pond" Immediately at the forks OF
the Cross Plains and Springfield roads; and
here, unfortunately, an accidenti occurred
which we fear will cause a disappointment
to many inventors who were coming to our
fair for the purpose Of examining this won
ierful invention. The machine was hum
ming along the. smooth, sandy ROAD al; about
fifteen miles an hour, andt happy inventor
was on deck, feeling as proud as Fulton on
board bis first steamboat, when, in making
the turn just near the margin Of the He'd
pond, the starboard front wheel collided
with heayy-set post-oak sapltDg, and the
rebound was SO powerful that the old negro
was thrown forward oyer the dash board,
and was at the same time struck by the flapge
of the driving-wheel, which precipitated bis
speed so much that when his head struck
the fence-panel on the opposite side OF the
road he was so badly smashed that his death
must have taken place Immediately.
Coroner Hartfeld's inquest was uncertain
as to whether he bad been killed by a sud-
den stroke of the driving-whee or by too
hasty collision with, the panel of the fence,
The machine, after this accident, struck out
with freedom, and passing the residence Of
Captain Lea, soon made lis way across in
the direction of Boisseau's meadow, but was
arrested in its progress by a large log, which
tilted the balance weight back OF the centre
of motion, and the wild wagon was standing
gently at rest when oyertaken by the coro.
ner and bis party, who were following along
to take care of the killed and wounded.
Since the tragic death Of the inventor, no
man has dared to mount the fiery, untamed
steed, but our informant assures us that 1t
will be on exhibition at the fair grounds,
and we invite the attention Of inventors and
machinists to its peculiar mechanism. We
will not youch for any mans life who mounts
it and sets it in motion in a timbered local
ity, but it can be managed safely on the half
mile track on the fair grounds, and will be
put to its best speed, if any man can be found
who is competent to guide it. s-