The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-13
Cotton Turned into Silk-A Wonderful Story
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A few weeks ago there arrived in this city
from New Orleans dapper little Frenchman
named Paul Magner, accompanied by Ger,
man friend of ripper years, Dr. EDWARD
Kuneman. The former had been practising
chemist in New Orleans, and claimed to be
the discoverer of wonderful process by
which flax or cotton fibre 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 which the
Frenchman alone had the secret-had already
been exhibited by samples to 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 a 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
professed to have transformed. But Paul Mag
ner was a chemist of some reputation. He
claimed that he had devoted long, patient
months to the analysis of the various fibres.
In the cocoon of the silkworm he had identl-
fed certain elements which were wanting IN
the fbers of the fax and cotton plants These
elements chemically obtained, he claimed to
be able to apply to the latter products IN such
manner they should be converted into an artl-
Gle which must be regarded as silk in all that
the name implies. Parcels of cotton and flax
warns. accurately weighed, distinctivey mark
ed and otherwise identified, have been passed
into his laboratory by the dozen, and within
fifty minutes he had returned corresponding
ones of lustrous silk The latter had even
been analyzed by expert chemists, and certified
not to be real silk, but to be veritable cotton
and fax yarns aforesaid.
THE INVENTOR COMES TO NEW YORK.
A few persons were accordingly led to be-
lieve in NJ. Magner and his process. Among
others was a New Orleans agent of Messrs.
Seligman & Co., bankers of this city. The
chemist had applied for patent at Wash
ington. and in several European countries to
protect his process, but he had no capital
wherewith to work it. An arrangement was
made with him on behalf of this firm that he
should come on to New York to develop his
process that they would supply him with pre-
iiminary funds, and that so soon as he could
convince them that the manufacture was prac-
ticable on an extended scale an ample amount
of capital would be forthcoming to take part
nership in his invention, or to purchase the
right of using it within determined area:
The DR.. Kuneman referred to was personal
friend of Magner's, one who had assisted him
in New Orleans, and whom he brought with
him as an associate in his ambitious projects.
Meanwhile, tidings of the discovery and dis
coverer had reached Messrs. Prall Brothers,
silk manufacturers at Patterson, N. j., whose
New York warerooms are at NO. o6 Greene
street. Edwin T. Prall sought out Monsieur
n 10 ha info oH nf u
able discovery. He found him as he told the
writer Yesterday, to be an accomplished, we'll
read gentleman, apparently acting in good
faith, and utterly absorbed in the possibilities
of his discovery. If anything, he was too en-
thusiastc, too rapt, and was consequently ner-
vous and excitable to degree With French
man and an inventor, however, this was per-
haps natural; and so it was arranged that he
could have the use of Messrs. PralPs silk fac
tory at Patterson-there to perfect and simplify
his methods, and there to begin the new man
ufacture. The Frenchman was to have the
use of machinery and power. The manutac-
turers expected to be his agents for the sale OF
the goods, and the Seligmans, as already stated,
we're to advance the capital as Especial" part
ners, or, as was determined later, joint stock
company was to be formed, with a proportion
ate interest to each.
THERE'S MILLIONS IN IT."
The mercurial and sanguine inventor was
soon busted in the construction of retorts and
apparatus of various kinds. In these labors
he was assisted by his friend, DR.. Kuneman.
Monday week both made their appearance in
Patterson-the former accompanied by lady
as his wife, and pretty little girl, their
daughter. The whole party put up at the
Hamilton House. The Frenchman began to
be very busy at the PralPs mills, in overalls
and shirtsleeves, manufacturing his chemicals.
A quantity of the latter, prepared for the
transmutation Of cotton, fax, etc., into silk,
was soon in readiness. A. small parcel Of fax
warn was operated on; woven into ribbon by
Pralls machinery; came out as glossy as the
purest silk All concerned were in ecstacies.
''There's millions in it," was the unanimous
cry, and it was thereupon baptized, and was to
be known in commerce by the name of soiene.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF THE INvEN-
TOR. -.,
But now comes most singular story from
Patterson. Wednesday of last week the
Frenchman suddenly disappeared. The doc
tor could not account for his absence. Mad
anne and her little daughter seemed to take the
matter TRANQUILITY. The Pralls were mysti6ed.
Soon after his disappearance the proprietor of
the hotel received telegram from Seligman,
asking him to advise him when the lady should
leave. This she did Friday last, since which
time nothing has been heard either of herself
or talented husband Edwin Prall says he has
learned of her departure for Europe, possibly
prearranged with the mysterious chemist. The
doctor is still in New York, and processes to
be in a terrible quaudary at the desertion of
his friend He had left he says a lucrative
practice in New Orleans to found his fortunes
in the silken bonanza. Mr.. Prall still main-
tains perfect faith in the Frenchman's process
and the integrity of the man himself He
thinks that the latter was worried and over
wrought, perhaps became entirely crazy, and
fled to Europe to escape imaginary evils. A
box of ribbons, woven from common fax yarn,
but brilliant as from the looms of Lyons, re-
mains at Mr. PralPs Office to testify to what
might have been.-Neo York World.
"A Nevada woman recently knocked down
... L,,o1,re npo after an other Hpr h,Ia-