Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-03-14
DEATH OF CAPTAIN ERICSSON.

The Famous Naval Constructor and In.
vexltOr. who Built the Monitor, that Re-
voluti onfzed Naval Warfare. il NJ More
Brief Sketch of His Contributions to tho
Mechanical Advancement of His Adopt
ed Country-A Long Life of Usefulness,
and an Honored Name Handed Down to
Posterity.
New YORK, March 9.-Captain John
Ericsson, the famous Swedish engineer,
who designed the iron clad Monitor ana
launched her complete in one hundred
days, died yesterday morning shortly
after twelve O'Clock. He had been i'll for
only one week when physician was
called in. Owing to his advanced age
Mr.. Ericsson failed to rally. The de-
ceased was born on July 81, 1898, in the
province of Wernland, Sweden.
JOHN ERICSSON.
John Ericsson, one OF the most eminent ma
rine architects and engineers OF the age, was g.
graduate OF the Swedish navy, which ne en-
tered as early 1890. In the short space OF
six years he rose to the rank OF Captain. HIS
remarkable inventive genius showed itself
when as mere boy eleven years OF age ne con-
structed with his own hands and after design
of his own a miniature saw-mill. He also made
numerous drawings OF complicated macnlnerys
which coming under the notice of Count Platen,
a celebrated engineer of that time, attracted
him to the boy. with the result that young
Ericsson, on the Counts recommendation, was
appointed a cadet in the Swedish corps OF me.
chancal engineers. At fourteen years OF age
he had charge OF six hundred SOLDIER
operatives in the construction OF ca
nal He then entered the Swedish regular
navy, and rose rapidly during bis service OF
half dozen years. Captain Ericsson resigned
his commission in 1927 and devoted himself TO
mechanical inventions. He produced in rapid
succession an instrument for taking sea sound
ings; hydrostatic weighing machine and nu-
merous other devices, including tubular
steam boiler and artificial draught by centrt-
fugal fan-blowers. In his steamer Victory,
built for the English navy, he made the first
application to navigation Of the principle OF
condensing steam and returning the water to
the boiler, and in the same year invented
self-acting gun-lock which permitted the dis
charging Of naval cannon at any elevation, de-
spite the rolling Of the ship. In 1929 he in
vented the steam carriage Novelty in COM
petition with George Stephenson for the his
1orical Liverpool & Manchester Railway prize
This engine was planned, built and
placed the ground all within seven
weeks time, and although it surpassed
all others in lightness, elegance and speed. yet
Stephenson's famous Rocket" proved superior
in traction, and was awarded the prize. The
four most important features introduced in the
Novelty are used in the locomotive OF the
present day. Captain Ericsson afterward re-
ceived the great gold medal OF the Mechanics
Institute of New York for a steam engine com
pleted by him at this time. The link motion"
for reversing locomotive engines was invented
by him in 1890. In 1888 he realized his long
cherished plan of a "caloric engine, which was
hailed with amazement and delight by the me-
chanical world. Captain Ericsson was award
the Rumford gold and silver medals by the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his
improvements in the management of heat as
shown in his caloric engine. Under an order
from the United States Navy Department, Cap
tain Ericsson completed in 1S4S the celebrat-
ed screw war-ship princeton which, on &C
count of its many new inventions, is regarded
the pioneer of modern naval construction.
The GROWING achievement in Captain Ercs-
sons long and brilliant career was the design
ing and construction by him in one hundred
days of the famous war-ship Monitor" in 1861,
for the Government of the United States The
Monitor was partially submerged iron-clad,
which arrived in Hampton Roads March Q, 1862,
just in time to defeat and destroy the Confed-
crate iron-clad Merrmac, which on the day
preceding had created great havoc among the
Governments wooden feet. But for the vic.
tory of the Monitor the result of the war might
have been changed through European interior
ence In 1859 Captain Ericsson constructed a
feet of thiriy-nine war-ships for the Spanish
Government. His latest war vessel, the De-
stroyer built in 1881. His Sun Motor,
erected at New York in 1888, develops a steady
power obtained from the mechanical energy
stored up in the sun.
Captain Ericsson had been the recipient of
many honors. Besides receiving royal favors
from Sweden, he was knight Commander OF
Royal Orders in Denmark and Spain; recipient
of the grand cross OF naval merit from the late
King Alfonso of Spain, and OF special gold
medal sent by the Emperor of Austria; had re-
ceived the thanks of Congress, and was q men,
Der of various scientific institutions in Europe
and America.
His funnral services were held at Trim
ity Church.