The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-09-09

Cook came to me a few days ago and
said: 81 believe | will show you my
electric engine and generator. l am
far enough along now to show you how
the results are accomplished"
A time was fixed, and at the appoint
ed hour Mr.. Cook called and took me
to his farm, about three miles south OF
Mansfield. AS an excuse for a heavy
crop of weeds in a fine field. where
hundreds of bushels of wheat should
have been harvested, he explained: 81
have been SO busy with my researches
that | have been unable TO put out any
crops. l could get nobody to attend
to the farm, and therefore it is a barren
waste. 1 succeeded in getting a few
acres of oats planted, and that, with a
small potato patch. will be all l derive
this year from this fine tract"
Here he lives, as he has lived for
years, with a wife and 14-year-old
daughter and his wife's sister. The
latter is his enthusiastic assistant, and
has helped him in many long years Of
toll. Distant from the house stands
an old shop, wherein is hidden the Sc
crets of his life. No stranger ever Gu
tiers here, for il is herein that are con-
tanned the results of thirty-six years of
labor. This seclusive rule has been al
most invariable, having been broken
but half a dozen times in over a third
of a century. Several electricians and
two or three others of known integrity
have been admitted, but only after sign
ing an ironclad agreement not to reveal,
patent, OF cause to be patented or i'm
proved without his consent any of the
parts shown to them.
The shop is dilapidated, as is the rest
of the farm, SO much is his mind taken
up in the pursuits of his studies. The
real is used as a shelter for his trusty
old horse. who has done near thirty
years of royal service, while the front
part is devoted altogether to his labor
atory.
The agreement signed, Mr.. Cook led
the way to the door, but before I'M
locking it grasped me by the hand and
had me renew the promise made in the
written agreement. This done. 1 was
ushered into the mysterious room. l
was bewildered by the appearance of
the place. The room was large, and
everywhere hung bundles of wire.
Magnets of all shapes and sizes hung
about the walls and were scattered on
the floor in confused heaps. In one
corner vas a huge machine, with large
coils and magnets, which Mr.. Cook
told me was the first machine he at
tempted to make. But in the center of
the room sat the pride of his life. l
saw at a glance hat this mysterious
man had not waisted his time and for
tune. He had branched out from the
beaten track, and had produced a ma
chine that d ffered in all respests from
dynamos Of present construction, eX-
cept in that he also used wire and iron.
This" sad he, sis my perpetual
electric generator and engine. l will
call my assistant and show you how it
works."
The machine was rudely constructed,
for Mr.. Cock made it all himself with a
few old tools that had done too much
service already. Parts of it were made
of wood, and the whole was not put to-
gether in a very artistic manner, but
it demonstrated his discoveries, and
that was his only purpose in it's con-
struction. This model weighs three
hundred pounds, and Mr.. Cook said by
the h~and-power of n man could be
generated current sufficient to light up
from thirty to fifty sixteen candle-pow-
er incandescent lamps.
His assistant having arrived, who by
the way is a young lady of handsome
appearance, the work of demonstration
began. l tested the current in several
ways and found it very powerful. Hav-
ing made electricity somewhat of q
study, l was surprised at the simplicity
of many of the principles. The manner
in which he expects to get the results
heretofore mentioned is theoretically
correct, and there is no mechanical
difficulty which he has not already
overcome.
After examining the machine care
fully in all its parts, [ was conducted
to an adjoining room, where, on &
table, sat a smaller model of more ac-
curate make. 1t contained 4 much bet
ter arrangement of the parts. and from
what he told me | am compelled to be-
lieve all that Mr.. Cook had told me. l
asked him why he had not sought cap
ital to develop his theories more rapid
ly, when he replied that he had not
heretofore been ready. He said:
81 wanted to complete my labors, so
that l could say my work is done. l
desired to give to the world a machine
perfect in every particular, that would
settle forevermore the question of
cheap power. light, and heat. Up to
now my work was not finished. l am
now almost done. Within very short
time | shall be able to show to all man
kind that L have a machine that will
revolutionize the world. When | can
exhibit a running model, which l can
in a few days, then | will be ready to
consider the many propositions that l
have already received"
Food TamDapafupn