Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-15
A GREAT INVENTOR DEAD.
Capt. Ericsson, the Famous Engineer
Passed Away.
A Remarkable Career.


Capt. John Ericsson, the famous Swedish
engineer who designed the iron-clad Mont
tor and launched her complete in 100 days,
died in New York March 8. He had been
i'll for only one week when physician was
called in. Owing to his advanced age Mr..
Ericsson failed to rally.
Capt. John Ericsson was born July, 81,
1903, in the province Of Wermeland, Swe-
den. His father was proprietor Of mines;
his brother Baron Nils Ericsson became
chief of Swedish railways. John was made
"a cadet of engineers when IL wears of age
Two years before that he had constructed
a miniature saw mill and pumping machine
that attracted attention Ia Sweden. AT IL
he entered the army and in 1927 was pro-
NOTED captain by King Charles John Der
nadotte.) In 1926 he constructed fame
engine and went TO London TO introduce
it, and while there resigned his position in
the Swedish army. He produced, in rapid
succession, AN instrument for sea-soundings
a hydrostatic weighing machine
and numerous other devices, in
Guiding tubular steam boiler.
In 1929 he competed with Stephenson for
the historical London & Manchester rail-
way prize, for which he built the locomo-
tive Novelty" that was said TO excel lin
lightness, elegance and speed all other com
petitors, but Stephensons proved superior
in point of traction. The same year he in
vented a steam fire engine In 1888 he con-
structed the famous caloric engine, and in
1853 the ship Ericsson Of 1000 tons propel
ell by this motor. a sea trial from New
York to Washington and back established
great economy in fuel, but at speed too
low TO compete with steam. In 1886 Erics-
son invented and patented the screw pro-
peller which has revolutioniZed cation
In 1887 he built "A screw vessel which lowed
the American packet ship Toronto on the
Thames. During his early life he was 10
Europe what Edison is TO America He
invented in three years forty different
mechanical contrivances, two-thirds OF
which were patented.
In 1889 Capt. Ericsson vast invited 10
visit America. He came at once, and in
1871 he designed for the United States gov
eminent the screw propeller warship
Princeton, with machinery placed below
the water line. This, the pioneer of screw
warships, carried II inch wrought iron
gun, designed by Ericsson, also a wrought
iron gun carriage that took up the recoil
without breeching. He contributed several
valuable inventions TO the London eXhibi.
ton OF 1S5l, including a promoter, an
alarm barometer, n sea-lead and other phil.
osophical instruments. In 1854 he offered
the plan of a turret vessel TO Napoleon Ill,
and in 1861 built for the United States gov
eminent in 100 days the IRON clad Monitor,
which on March ., 1862 defeated in Hamp-
ton Roads, the confederate iron clad Merri-
mac that had Just destroyed the Cumber-
the rest of the wooden fleet. The Monitor
and the Princeton practically revo-
lutionized warship building and caused
the reconstruction of the fleets of the
world. Other monitors quickly followed
the first one and won many naval battl es,
and Ericsson's system was taken up by the
naval powers of Europe and carried out on
a large scale. His latest war vessel, the
Destroyer, carries "A submarine l6-inch gun
which discharges 300 pounds Of gun cotton
in a !, 500-pound prolectile against an iron
clad's hull beneath the armor belt.
Ericsson's later scientific studies include
computations OF the influences that retard
the earth's rotary motion, and the intensity
of solar heat. His spn-motor. erected in
lSS3, develops a steady power, obtained from
the inexhaustible supply Of direct mechani-
cal energy stored up in the sun. This motor
is not patented, being intended by the de-
signer as a contribution 10 applied science
The variety of Capt. Ericssons work is
only less remarkable than it's intrinsic i'm
portance. His inventive genius has brought
out new discoveries in every department Of
mechanics and he has received honors from
every country of the world.