The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-21
A LIFE OF ROMANCE.
keely and His M~otor-Guiiibie People VINO
Have Contributed tn His Prosperity.

was iEen an numoIe mecnenic, ana HFeu IL
email house on Ogden street, near Tenth. ne
worked Gay aud night in the endeavor to per-
feet a machine CT engine of some sort, outit
was not until about 1874 that his efforts became
known 10 the world st large. Then men or
wealth were invited TO visit his little workshop
and view the little engine in motion. whose
power was obtained, so far "a could be learned,
from a thimble full OF cold water. Asthe months
rolled on Kelly informed q favored few OF MS
aspirations. Soon afterward some Philadei,
phia and New York scientists became Interested
in the motor, and when Keely finished his irst
machine, and named it the -monic vibrator.
there was JOY among the little band OF MS iol-
lowers. The New York contingent would come
over after business hours, and In company with
the Pniladelphians would wend their way 70 tho
Ogden-street rendezvous after DARK. The b!inas
were always closed, and the interested nelen-
bors who put their ears to the cold walls couio
only hear the suppressed conversation OK hee:y
and his company. They became suspicious aud
communicated their thoughts 10 Chief OF Police
Kennard Jones. whe resided on Ogden street
directly opposite heelyis house. As head OF the
crime department Of Philadelphia, Chief Jones
was filed with official shrewduees, and came to
the conclusion that a big game OF faro wasin
nightly blast across the way. He watchsd the
house and put a detail Of detectives on kee,ys
track. After q lengthy Investigation, which
availed nothing. Chief Jones bluutly asked ths
embryo inventor what cause brought so many
mysterious men to his house, and If he was
Matching a revolution. Kelly lauehingly ln-
formed Chief Jones that he was inventing per-
petual motion, and took the policeman into his
shop where the vibrator stood. Jones
was apparently satisfied, but continued
10 watch the : spreading scientist.
Matters progressed so favorably that the san
guine inventor began to think his followers
ought TO contribute their mite toward his run
ming expenses. Accordingly, q company was
organized, and the Philadelphia reading public
were startled one morning by the announcement
that the Quaker City contained q being who
would revolutionize the mechanical world. Inc
new company vas formed on the basis OF SI.OUO,-
0O0 capital. 20, 600 shares being issued at 500 a
share. The actual money invested was $500, 600:
The shares were taken by prominent people all
over the country, and the topic OF the day was
1.-THE keely motor" The Ogden-street abode
became too small for the purposes of residence
or motor development, and keely purchased q
big house on Ridge avenue, above Master street.
He erected a shop in the rear OF his new house.
on Twentieth street, and motor stock took a big
jump. From appearing In the garb OF an hum
bic mechanic as a plain citizen, Kelly suddenly
transformed himself into a handsomely dressed
man, and Impressed all those who came In cen
tact with him by his magnificent attire. He
showed great admiration for diamonds. and Chief
Jones, who had been watching his old neigh.
boris career, detailed the present chief or
the force, Charles Wood, to keep mis- weather
eye on the now full-fedeed inventor. Wood
was then an humble detective. and lived next
door to Keely on Ridge avenue. lie passed
SlecplcSS HsEDtS u i0cnCc IL
finally gave up the job. Unconscious of being
Swallowed, Keely industriously worked on and
was gratifed by having his stock take a big
jump every few months. Every now and then
keely gave out the statement that within sixty
days he would run q train from this city to New
York with his motor, and tho only fuel to be
used would De a lineup OF cold water. This had
the effect of making people grab for the stock.
Two or three fortunes were made off the trans
fer of the stock aud several lawsuits were the
raStrlt In fha snrin1 ~ 1890 the Stockholders
came TO the conclusion tina, it was time for the
motor 10 mote, and they SO informed Mr. keely.
He appeased their anxiety by a long circular.
which begged TO address them directly for the
purpose of correcting erroneous impressions
that existed regarding his attitude toward the
investors in keely motor stock. Again In De-
cember. 1889, after waiting eighteen months for
the appearance of perpetual motion, they held
a meeting and mildly threatened Mr.. kesley for
his long delay.
Than began a running fight between the in
ventor and the stockholders, which has not been
terminated with Saturdays denouement. Every
few weeks the public would be startled by
promises from Kelly. and more threats from the
stockholders. keely-motor stock began to fade,
and tina appearance o. the machine was a mat
ter of doubt. A favorable method by which
Keely convinced the stockholders Of the powers
contained in the vibrator, aud by which he
sought to appease their wrath, was an exhibit
ton 10 test it's pulling capacity. lie would at
tach ons end OF 4 rope to Ii machine ana the
other TO the rafters of his workshop. Then,
seating himself IN n corner Of the building, he
would tune a violin until the harmony was in
accord with the vibrator. The engine would re-
volve, and the rope begin to tighten. The har-
mony was continued until the safety OF the
building and the spectators demanded its cessa-
ton, and the jubllant violinist would then
evolve the most discordant strains from the
fiddle, turn a number of little screws, while the
machine turned the other way. and the rope un-
wound. keelys other experiments were alike
seemingly dangerous, and visitors to his shop
went there expecting to be blown TO atoms, but
they were always disappointed.
Finally, after affairs had reached a climax and
the whole scheme was on the verge of n collapse,
the stockholders having refused TO advance any
more money. keely secured the interest OF Mrs.
Bloomfield Moore. whose connection with the
company is 30 well known. She backed M her
faith in the motor By the application Of S25, 00(
cash, which was paid TO keely in q lump, and q
new era of prosperity dawred on the Keely
crest. lie moved from his home on Rid &c ave
nue. 10 a better residence on Oxford street nea.
Seventeenth. Hisnew residence was surrounded
by the homes of celebrated Philadelpnians. and
everything went smoothly. keely continually
declared that the New York ~sharpers wanted
him to give exhibitions so as to boom the stock,
but that he always refused. After they stopped
his allowances 1t became a matter of great sur.
prise as to how IL was that he could support tht
style in which he appeared. 1t then leaked out
that Mrs. Bloom field Moore had become greatly
interested in the motor, AMI that she bad in
duced some rich Englishmen to go into the affair
with her.
A short time ago Mr.. Kelly again branched
out, this time taking the residence ct the south
east corner OF Seventeenth and Oxford streets
This was fitted up in excellent style, and is tn
present residence of the inventor when he is oil
home. The numerous attempts at burglary hy
uptown thieves alarmed the inventor. aud IN
placed q twelve-inch gong on the Seventeenth
street side OF the house to warn the police. TIL.
residents were not aware of this precautionary
measure, and early one morning the nsightor
hood was aroused by the gong, which sounded
like the bells OF the entire fire department
Heads appeared 81 the windows of surrounding
houses. and whsn their owners discovered thai
the sound came from the Keely mansion they
concluded that ths motor had started, and al
the ~neighbors who held stock wens back TO bed
and dreamed of perpetual motion and big fort
unes.
The next chsptsr in tho interesting dram,
will be the release of keely on a writ OF habeal
corpus and a renewal OF the legal fight between
the lawyers Of The opposing factions. Tns cas-,
will lie carried TO the Supreme Court. and Their,
will be rendered the decision which will de
t.rmine the fate of the famous motor. AS i
stands now. Judge Finletter can keep Il eely il
jail as long IS he sees fit.
General Raum and the Ioternai I:svenae.
Interview IL Detroit Tribune.
Mr. Raum is not in favor Of taking the tax o
90 cents = gallon of whisky. THAT" said ne
would reduce our receipts SI20, 600, 600 q year
whereas l think $4,000, 600 or $50, 900, 600 is sui
tcient. a much better place for revenue reduc
ton Is the import duty on sugar. which yield