The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-08
The New York World says:

The New York World says
A few weeks ago there arrived in this cit,
from New Orleans dapper little Frenchmai
named Paul Magner, accompanied by a leu
tonic friend OF ripper years, a DR.. Edward
kuneman. The former had been practicine
chemist in New Orleans, and claimed to be
the discoverer Of wonderful process by
which flax or cotton fiber could be converted
into silk, or into texture SO nearly like silk
as to defy all ordinary inspections and tests.
The results of this process-of which the
Frenchman had the secret-had already been
exhibited by sample to a limited circle OF
manufacturers and experts at the South.
So thorough and deceptive was the change
which it accomplished that the majority of
such persons could only imagine fraud.
They smiled with incredulity at the assump-
ton that the specimens submitted to them by
the Frenchman were other than genuine silk,
which they insisted he must have substituted
adroitly for the fax and cotton yarns that he
protested to have transformed. But Paul
Magner was O. chemist of some reputation.
| He claimed that he had devoted long patient
months to the analysis of the various fbers.
| In the cocoon of the silk-worm he had identi-
| fled certain elements which were wanting in
the fibers Of the cotton and fax plants.
| These elements, chemically obtained, he
| claimed to be able to apply to the latter pro-
ducts as that they should be converted into
an article which must be regarded as silk in
all that the name implies. Parcels of cotton
and flax yarns, accurately weighed, distinc-
lively marked and otherwise identified, had
been passed into his laboratory by the dozen,
and within fifty minutes he had returned cor
responding ones of lustrous silk The latter
had even been analysed by expert chemists
and certified not to be real silk, but to be
veritable cotton and flax yarns as aforesaid
A few persons accordingly were led to be-
leve in NJ. Magner. Among others was
New Orleans agent of Messrs. Seligman &
Co., bankers, OF this city. The chemist had
applied for patent at Washington and in
several European countries to protect his
process, but he had no capital wherewith to
work it. An arrangement was made with
hira On behalf Of this firm that he should
come on to New York to develop his process,
that they would supply him with prelimi-
nary funds and that SO soon as he could con- |
vince them that the manufacture was prac-
ucabie On an extensive scale an ample |
amount of capital would be forthcoming to |
take partnership in his invention or to pur-
chase the right of using it within deter
mined area. The Dr. kuneman referred to |
was personal friend of Magner's, one who |
he brought with him as an associate in his
ambitious projects.
Meanwhile tidings of the discovery had
reached Messrs Prall Brothers, silk manufac-
turers at Paterson, N. j., whose New York
ware-rooms are in No. &C Greene street. Mr..
Edwin T. Prall sought out Monsieur Magner
anxious to be informed of his remarkable dis
covery. He found him, as he told the writer
yesterday, to be an accomplished, well-read
gentleman, apparently acting in good faith,
and utterly absorbed in the possibilities of his
discovery. If anything, he was too enthusi-
astic, too rapt, and was consequently nervous
md excitable to degree. With Frenchman
md an inventor, however, this was perhaps
natural; and so it was arranged that he could
nave the use of Messrs. Pralls silk factory at
oaterson-there to perfect and amplify his :
Methods, and there to begin the new manu- !
acture The Frenchman was to have the
'se OF machinery and power. The manufac-
urers expected to bis agents for the sale of c
he goods, and the Seligman's, as already Z
tated, were to advance the capital as ''spe- s
iaf' partners, or, as was determined later, a r
pint stock company was to be formed, with n
roportionate interest to each.
The mercurial and sanguine inventor was
Don busted In the construction of retorts
nd apparatus of various kinds. In these
lbors he was assisted by his friend DR.. Kune- q
Ian. Monday week both made their appear
nee in Paterson, the former accompanied R
y lady as his wife, and pretty little girl,
leir daughter. The whole party put up at G
le Hamilton House. The Frenchman began A
, be very busy at the PralIs Mills, in over y
Us and shirt sleeves, manufacturing his a
1emicals. A quantity of the latter, prepared "a
Y the transmutation of cotton, fax, etc.,
ito silk was soon in readiness small par q
of Hovx ko1
bbon by Fralls machinery, came out as M
ossy as the prrest silk. All concerned were r
ecstacies. "There's millions in It'll" was G
10 unanimous cry, and it was thereupon E
lptized and was to be known in commerce 4
7 the name Of soiene. z
But now comes the most singular story
ON Paterson. Wednesday of last week the
Fenchman suddenly disappeared. The r
octor could not account for his absence. a
adame and her little daughter seemed to 3
ke the matter tranqially. The Pralls were 1
ystified. Soon after his disappearance E
g proprietor of the hotel received tele- NJ
am from Mr.. Seligman, asking him to ad- B
Sc when the lady should leave. This she WI
q Friday last, since which time nothing has
en- heard either of herself or her talented -
&c. Mr.. Edwin Prall says he has learned
her departure for Europe, possibly pre-ar ,
nged with the mysterious chemist. The
'ctor is still in New York, and processes to
in a terrible quandary at the desertion of Ste
) friend. He had left, he says, lucrative Sci
actice in New Orleans to found his fortunes
the silken bonanza r.;
Mr.. Prall still maintains perfect faith in
, Frenchmans process and the integrity OF c.,
, man himself. He thinks that the latter ''-
worried and overweight, perhaps be- CO..
ne entirely crazy and fled to Europe to OH
ape imaginary evils. box of ribbons
ven from common fiax-yarns, but brilliant Ste
from the looms of Lyons remains at Mr.. n pal
Ms Office to testify what might have been. ''''
Paris has within its walls 63, 1863 houses, of
ich 394 are in course of construction, and Bar
z uninhabited. The official figures show
& the entire population numbers l, S51 1872. Shi
ese inhabitants live in 81, 622 houses Of Shil