The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-12
OBITUARY.
ROSS wINANs.


Ross winans the dsting uisned machinist and In
ventor, died at his residence IN Baltimore yester.
day, at the advanced age OF cixhty-one years.
He was for thirty years the proprietor Of the
Mount Claire shops, at which the locomotives
used by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
were built and the inventor OF many OF the most
useful attach ments and appliances shat now enter
into the construction OF railroad and engines He
never served apprenticeship TO tho business In
which he acquired much distinction, and prior TO
his removal 10 Baltimore was farmer IN New Jer-
sey. He to Baltimore about the year 1880. aud
bought interest III the shop ut which the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company was having couple Of
engines built experiment The cars which
over tho eight miles OF its track which in
operation AZ that time were drawn by horses. Mr..
Winans, though not practical mechanic was an cx-
pert draughtsman, and tor tho next thirty years
OF his lie devoted himself TO the designing
OF railroad cars and locomotives. The heavy
freight engine known as the camel back Is his nvcn
ton and he also claimed To be the original inventor Of
the passenger railroad coach constructed. His
shop became famous throughout the country and he
particularly those engaged In the transportation OF
coal Unlike most inventors, be was shrewd bus-
ness man. and amassed . largo fortune His business
by fortunate investments In real estate
In 1856 the Baltimore and ohio Railroad Company
decided discontinue the OF the camel back loco
motive. and this led TO bitter controversy with Mr..
Wnans, who wrote many pamphlets in defence OF the
engine on which he bad expended so many years OF
patient thought and labor. Having already
amassed large fortune be cared nothing for the
profit OF building them. bot, to use his own words,
he was fighting for the cause Of truth and science
Mr. Wiuans' pamphlets could not prevail against tho
hard facts OF experience. and bis pet ocomo.
tive has disappeared from tue Baltimore ana ONO
and all other railroads Mr.. Wnsns retired from
business not long alter the camel back fell into DIS
favor. He was ardent sympathIser With the South
during the rebellion, and was member Of the Fred
crick Legsatu when that body put under
by order al General Mcclellan He invented steam gum
which he attempted send TO Harper sFerry
days OF the war; but captured the Relay House
by the Uuion troops anu brought back 10 Baltimore.
IL supposed to be q formidable weapon by
pcris in military science. After his arrest and i'm
by the federal authorities Nr Wuans took
but little part In public AFFAIRS. lie owned u large
tract OF land short distance from the city, aud upt
this he made many experiments In scientific agricu
ture. He also spent much time In devsIng plans
Tor the improvement of the condition OF the poor and
houses alter an original design which he intended
10 lease TO mechanics and aboring ut
low rents. Although the houses well
finished and comfortable In every respect, the
people for whom they were intended refused
TO live them, AMI they have Tor the most part beef
tenantless MIR. Wlnans was sort OF amateur theo-
logan, and wrote several books and many pamphlets
orthodox In his religious belief, but ho was
nevertheless an honorable, upright and conscientious
man. He has two sons who Inherited his inventive
genius, and both OF them have acquired much
notorieiy IN connection with the "Winans
cigar steamer" one OF them has been IN
England Tor tho last eight or ten years
experimenting with q vessel constructed this plan
and trying TO make u practical success His other
son, Thomas Winans made great fortune in the
construction OF railroads In Russia, aud married lady
Of rank Ia that country He is now Of tho Balti-
more millionnnires