Wichita eagle., 1888-09-19
The MAN BEFORE EDISON.
The Original Inventor OF the Electric
Ilght--A Lost Idea

Anybody that chooses and knows how can
make incandsseens electric lights now. The
only person who had any right 70 prevent
them las been asleep for good many Years
OF the bottom oe the Atlantic ocean. Most
people think Edison invented these & shfs, AMI
SO heidi, hat ne was rot the first. some years
ago, a young raan ia asivanc" u hls az. ~
the name Of Starr. came u IL George + "a
body with Lew iuveUtios, asking adv.cs
and assistance. Mr. Peabot!y was not ouly
pnianthropist hat a skrewl MAR of busl-
Ness he saw az once the possibilities x 80
elertric light, and gladly furnished Starr
with the means 10 30 to England and ,Als
out a patent, after c0uss.ltinr experts au1
scientists there. In thcsc DAYS every new
discovery had 70 have The stSnp 4 E1SiaEd's
scientific approval 70 make lie way elsssbero.
Mr.. Starr, like many i genius before aEt
since. was by NJ means Al experienced AID
cautious business HaE, - Mr fea0ody en-
gaged man uanEssi King % x vlth blGl IS
his business aggnt and - coudgcr the Dego-
tiationA
The two men Sc. sal for Eg<'and. lad a
prosperous voyage, and FIset With q. tlssteTius-
reception Tho invention was exhibited -
the frsr authorities in tne kingdom. was care-
fully scrutinlzed by them, aHd was uuani-
ulously pronounced % b. = brilliant a1.B ss4,-
cessfsl one. The two men remained FOR s11r,s
time IN England, and rccpiyed ucthiaE bus
consideration and enco1rag e1nent. 4 patsns
for the invention was obtained. but b. L
usage allowed by EngiizA patsrt law. was -
sued n tie rau.s - the solicitor. Mr. Eing,
instead of that Il tho iuvcutur, SIR starr.
Tae unsasFectiBg inventor dec Eot appesr
70 F.r obs I'D - s.s..
tiou, or a. least th4rs "a ~ record thai -
did So
The two msa started On their retsru "a
America Tasy had been 81 ga b1f a very
few days when Nr. Starr va fos4Ed oDs
morning in els berta dad. frura aoass nzTs.e-
rio1s and unexplained cagse. Tia BODY was
buried az sea. and kls conzpansou co1tlaret
his journsy. and presented himself - sfr.
Peabody VITA hls rsport- That g-atlssraaa
listened atten.lvely - MS scoognt = rs
journey. with 10 various bz-s.aaas trans
tons and IL tragic auale ca cauclsilr..
h.s narrative Mr. king azxsd Lbs z..siiQaasrs
II "a would confines % bz.cz up ire lnyass-
tioa With Eis money AID iae1ezoa. II.
P-abody's reply was 20 ra@e. opeE tAs dor e
Eis private osscs viss-e TIE Interview hsI
sakea rlsoc. aid sserT.Iy po.u: s7zard j..
TIE discon-ftsd G.toroey. without a word,
went cut thrUn..s &c dor in.o olivia
Ard TIA. Is .hs rssson 1ay E6tan lad -
tr~ens tie eler.rioAl-St a. over again II
invocation Lay n stzse E2&se, IS = wers =
wa CREDITED % King. AZ - ziesss coslsI g.
velop u, but b bsf atsapresre> !, va rcs
kno~a Eli is75 tea. SG<-T Ess ths real IL.
ventcr, ard even TIN, a. be zaz GezA al
tie patent sss2-d - anS,Aer nasH. u1sA.ns<
could s@ dsue- FIa4ily ksl-ses went a. w1xx
ou BIS Owu Lock ami tkossS.E@ ozt hss ss-hszs1e.
bit the h:xtezE ruxi1sh czzr.S hsvs itss.-es-
c.ded that tts f.srs ps.szz. sz-ses5sEsesl lis
AID r,ak-z ttszEs invailA AID - the ear e
patent has lApse1, tie s3sA- Under tea 10
css.sn, - c1-lzoa properly .--Czsen Week.