Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-23
rue STEAM HANS DEMISE.
HIS Enraged Inyentor knocks
Him Into SmitheFeens. IS


inventor and master, Captain Rowe,
became onrsged a few weeks ego be.
esuse Of his pupils ntractabilty and
struck him q fatal blow in the temple.
crushing in his skull and causing bis
yapory brain 20 fill the air for yards
around He fell on the ground. gave
one heartrending whistle through bis
iron nose, then slowly pulled his life
away. Various causes are assigned
for the Steam Mans tragic and ua.
timely demise. He had been built BY
Captain Rowe, at the corner Mar
shall and Willow streets, after years Of
patient thought and persistent labor,
and when completed, appeared to bea
wonderful libel on real humanity. His
head was large. and the width and
depth OF his forehead indicated great
intelligence. His body was well
rounded, symmetrical and powerful
while his arms were exaggerated imi.
tations of the arms OF a powerful
blacksmith. The legs Of the Steam
Man were marvels of invnetive genius.
They we're joined at hip, knee and
ankle, and we're intended to cause the
curious piece Of mechanism to walk
and run and trot as naturally as a
human being. TE
Soon after finishing the work Of
almost half a lifetime, Captain Rowe
gave q private exhibition at Manayunk.
The Steam Man, was generously fed
with a diet of wood, coal and water,
and then, to conform with the laws Of
his peculiar organism, a blazing torch
was applied to this seemingly indi.
gestible food. 1t took ten minutes or
more for the Steam Man TO exhibit
signs Of life after finishing the meal.
Then his big eyes began to glow; his
breath came with a long, powerful
respiration; his chest heayed and be
stretched his off leg as though proud
of his power. Captain Rowe
came forward and pressed a lever
located on the Steam Mans
stomach. With a shrill shrek of
delight the iron pupil stepped
out with a firm tread, and after going
a few steps, paused and began to
breathe very hard. Captain Rowe
became slightly irritated and gave the
lover another turn, whereupon the
Man lifted his left foot and made q
vicious kick at his master. Captain
Rowe at once saw that bis pupil want
ed water, and in order not to cool him
off too suddenly, administered a small
drink of twelve gallons. This ap
peared 10 please the Man for a few
moments, and he breathed forth a
fiery cloud of thanks Again was the
lever manipulated again did the curl.
Gus being lean forward, this time
waving his arms aud snorting loudly.
Captain Rowe was standing a few feet
in advance, and in attempting to get
out Of the way, he stumbled. The
next instant the man was on top Of
him and had given him a stunning
blow in the chest with his iron arm.
The Captain, who is a large, powerful
man, and somewhat impulsive, got
angry and aimed a blow at his pupils
nose. 1t was ~countered very ~cleverly.
and the Man struck the Captain in
the chin. Captain Rowe saw that to
stand in front would be placing him
self at al immense disadvantase, and,
almost livid with rage, he jumped
nimbly aside, seized club and struck
the Steam Man in the head, knocking
him silly" The unfortunate creature
trembled from head to foot, and then
went down all in a heap Not content
with having ielled bis intraotable
pupil, Captain Rowe attacked him AZ
he lay PROSTATE and broke him into
small pieces. The remains of the
defunet steam pugilist are now In the
queer. looking boat, that the Captain
calls his home, now lying on the
Schuylkill bank, near Wissahiekon
landing. The natatorial house was
found yesterday afternoon in charge
Oi tue captain 5 %cnlldren, and his
eldest boy expressed the opinion that
the Steam Man would never be resur
rected. He added the further infor.
nation that his father is now combining
his attention 10 the construction of q
steam carriage. The latter invention
is housed beneath a shed on a vacsnt
lot at Ninth street and Ciirard
avenue.