Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-16
KILLED BY HIS SKILL.
Harlander Poisoned by His
Own Secret Invention.
IT WAS AN ENAMELING PROCESS
Which Brought Him Large Profits but
Sapped His Life.
SOME RESULTS OF HIS CLEvERNEss

August Harlander, who invented and pos
sessed the secret of a highly valuable pro-
cess of enameling, died at his home in Re
serve town ship yesterday as the result of in
haling, for years, the gases arising from the
chemicals which he employed in making his
esoteric mixture.
August Harlander was of German birth.
and came to the United States several years
before the outbreak of the Civil War. He
resided and worked at the brass trade in
New York, and when the Rebellion broke
out he entered the United States navy, and
served in several lively engagements along
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Later he
transferred his services to the land forces,
and was in at the grand roundup in Vir-
ginia. After the return of peace he settled
in Allegheny, and returned to his trade
He was always greatly attached to chemical
studies, and during his hours of leisure he
spent his time in conducting mysterious ex-
periments, which puzzled his friends. He
was married about 20 years ago, and some
time after that he perfected his peculiar
process of putting beautiful and perma-
nent enamel on iron. This enamel could be
made of any color, but the colors chiefly
used in manufacture where white and black.
Harlander's Value Was Recognized.
Mr.. Harlander secured employment with
the Standard Manufacturing Company,
whose foundry and enameling works are on
River avenue, Allegheny; and salesroom at
531 Wood street, Pittsburg. He was val
liable man for the company, and he laid the
foundation for their large business in enam-
cling all sorts of iron fixtures, such as bath
tubs, closet fixtures, sinks, etc. He received
from the company very large salary, which
enabled him to establish and furnish hand
some home on Straub's lane, near the ter
minus of the Mt. Troy branch of the Pleas
ant Valley line.
Mr.. Harlander became member of Post
162 of the Grand Army and took an active
interest il the affairs of that organization.
In his leisure he made many curious things,
which he enameled in colors so that their
real composition was cleverly concealed.
One of the most unique productions of his
handiwork is to be seen at the rooms of Post
1872. 1t is, apparently, silk nat, with
smooth polish on it's surface, and dull
black band and bow around the base of the
crown. Within the hat seems to be lined
with white silk, with leather sweatband
bearing the trade mark of the maker. This
hat lies upon table, and those unacquainted
with it are often asked to try it on. When
one tries to pick it up dantily and put it on
his head, he finds that he cannot lift it with
one hand, except by second and great
effort. The hat is of iron, covered inside
and out with Harlander's enamel.
Fooled by an Iron Hat.
Sometimes this hat is handed to new
conner, with request to try it on, and the
one who takes it gingerly and lightly, as
any body would take silk hat, invariably |
lets it fall to the floor because of its great |
weight Several of these hats are owned |
in Allegheny by close friends of the in |
ventor.
Mr. Harlander did not do all the work |
with the enameling process He |
had many assistants. who did the real man.
ual labor of putting on the enamel. But |
the secret of the mixture was his, and to /
this he attended, mixing the chemical in
gradients alone for many years Recently |
he has been assisted by his son, now a lad |
Of II years. Working at this process, not
only during his hours of duty, but during
much of his own time, he became the vic
tim of chemical poisoning. This process
was slow and insidious, sapping his
strength little by little. What the chem
cals were that poisoned his blood no one
Knows, for it is not known what chemicals
he used. Several times in recent years he
mas bsen confined to his home by a mysteri-
BUS illness, which some cf his friends
thought was malaria, and others attributed
% the results of exposure during his mill
AIRY service.
The End Gradually Approaches.
About six months ago he was finally
Frustrated by paralysis, such as seizes
painters who follow their trade for many