The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-03-04
Judge n. a. Patterson.

In q late number Of "ThG South
published in New York City, is q very
mir engraving Of n, A. Patterson, who
vas Circuit Court Judge in Winchester
'Son after the war, when the Radicals
Icld sway, In connection with his
likeness Is n handsome biography,
by the editor, rs n tribu,cto the
Judge for having invented the Eagle
Wing PropeIlcr,' an achievement that
is challenging the wonder and admira-
ton Of ship builders and engineers ms
n progressive step in nayig ltion. The
South says;
The greatest Inventions and dis
coycrics, rs IN steam, electricity. glass
manufacture, and Il hundred other arts
and sciences, have been tie result OF
a%cc!dcnt, supplemented by perception
and thought. In like manner, the
great achievement Of Judge Patterson
IN his invention o. the " Eagle Wing
Propeller, now challenging the wonder
and admiration Of sLip builders and
engIneGrs-wOndcr that 50 simple Il
thing was not thought OF before, and
admiration Tor its efficiency as Il sure
step in the revolution Of steam nar!Sa-
tion--waS the result Of accident, OF
rather the incident, Of his having III
open umbrella in his hand at u singular
and fortunate moment. Weighing
himself on Il platform scales, while
holding this open umbrella, lie found
that by moving the pea or balance
weight Of the scales 80 lbs. back thus
making an addition Of so much to ms
true weight, Il quick pull oftic umbrcl.
Ia elevated the beam. Recurring t.
this incident twelve years after, the ne"
idea Of 4 propeller blade, c~oncoyo.coE-
ycX in form, was suggested and thi,
idea was matured BY taking an eagle,
wing as natsrcs finished example o
well arranged efficiency and power
He noted in this connection, the differ
cnce Of gcncral outline and degree Of
concavo .conycXily, between the wing,
Of birds OF medium and those o
rapid flight and thus he has sought tc
copy the form Of the eagles as the besI
illustration Of propClling power; the
conclusion being: Why not propel
ship with an eagle wing, not cucumber
cd with unavoidable spasmodic thrusts,
but always " striking back ; always
"on the fly y The first application OF
this new form Of propeller was applied
q, IN 'air wheel "a small boat and car
being propelled BY a wheel operating
in the air. And the Inventor now play
fu ~ remarks, If the Air is ever success
fully nayigaled, it will be by steam i'm,
PEELED machinery. Probably my form
Of propeller may be found efficient III
going, not only up, out forward in the
air: but | shall leave such thought and
action to those less attached TO the
earth than l."
We congratulate the Judge upon bis
success in mcchaniCs-a field better
suited to him than politics. While We
dcspised his politics as criminal W.
always found him Il man OF gcnia
manners, largely endowed with socia
qualities and disposed to fun, H.
seems 10 have Il londncss for me
cAalics. and in addition to farming hn'
played the part Of general mechanic
as blacksmith, printer, carpenter. ma
son, wheel wright, NC. or his Pro
pellcr the South says:
The invention is widely applicable tc
all grades Of screw propulsion. Whilst
its greatest field will be the ocean ser
vice, yet, its advantages will he pre-
]portionatoIy valuable Oh our lakes and
rivers, and especially on our canals.
Its extra power AMI peculiar mode OF
action will render it Il champion in the
solution Of the interesting problem Of
steam canal navigation. Our canal
men will witness its elective conduct
between this city and Buffalo rs soon
as the ice is away.
The Eagle Wing" is secured by
letters patent of the United States OF
dates, January q, 1878; August 2G
1873; and October 27, 1874 1t i.
also secured by letters patent OF Grca
Britain, Canada, France and Belgium
and applications arc pending IN othc
leading European governments.
) The combined interest under domcs
, tic and foreign letters patcnt--is5uc,
and TO be issucd-is controlled by th'
Patterson Propeller Company, o
which corporation N. A. Patterson i
> President.