Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-13
IRE HERENO LONGER.
E..lnd Ma. gingnan LaIsRhAnend
Altar TO Honths' Residence.
CHEAP GAs-MAKrSa MACHINE.
Several People Had Becomc Finn"-
ciaIly Interested In the Invention,
(which MD Not Turn ont so Well
Their board Biil Not Paid.

Gated here about tyso months ago, ieit
The city by the o'clock train Thursday
morning, leaving several acquaintances'
who are anxious TO learn their where
abouts and plans.
The career OF Mr.. Kingman In this city
was as interesting az II was brief. When
he arrived he represented himself as
coming from Boston, and gave out that
ne was on his way TO Atlanta to make
Arrangements to exhibit at the forthcom-
ing exposition an unique gasometer-an
invention of his own--and new process
If making gas which he had discovered
NE cost OF producing which would be less
han 20 cents per LOCO cubic feet. He
MANNED that In addition to this economic
attribute this gas gave a hrmer. winter.
end better light than the ordinary gas,
which costs us 81 per 1000 feet.
Mr.. Kingman Is a man OF attractive
Personality. an easy. fluent conversation
Mist. and graceful withal. Soon after his
lrrival here he made numerous acquaint-
lnces and received jntroductions to seve-
fal Influential businessmen. To all Of
}hem he dilated upon the great value Of
his wonderful discovery. He carried with
Aira. as part of his impedimenta, neat
little model Of the contrivance, and hint
ID that for a consideration he might be
Induced TO dispose Of the State rights
thereto. Interest was aroused In the
breasts Of many ofnfhe citizens Of this
,NCity Of the Golden Brick" and influence
was brought 20 bear upon the Chamber OF
N<.xvat xrshf nh ~
tf the working model was given In that
building under private auspices.
SEVERAL TOOK AN INTEREST.
AS q result OF the successful outcome
pr this exhibition alr. Kingman was
advised 10 remain IN Richmond. Mr.
kingman stopped. He had not, he adj
Knitted, sufficient capital wherewith to
meet the expense OF manufacturing the
eppurtenance I'm which the gas was to be
made, and TO this end he advertised in
&he daily papers for partner who would
invest small amount Of capital In
mos, paying business. He was given
office room at sos east Main street. in
the rear part of the store occupied by
the Troy Laundry, took a room for him.
self and wife al SIG east Frank
Ain street, and arranged for board
at 10 east Franklin street. Among
those who invested money In the
enterprise are Mr.. VI. Stein. the res
taurateur, OF Forest Hill, who paid 500;
Mr.. w. A. johnson, proprietor Of gro
Gerry store at the corner of Broad and
Nineteenth streets, who invested 81.
and Mr. Walter Andrews, formerly en-
ployed In the iron foundry OF Messrs.
Asa Snyder 81 Sons. who purchased one
fourth share of all the profits Of the en-
terprise In this city, for the sum of $50.
Mr. nd a IN Ia .rpn1CVa1
at weekly salary of s12 In making the
Tank; and other utensils which went
TO make up this primitive, yet astound-
ing gasometer. Mr. Andrews is q prac-
tical mechanic, and married man with
. family.
HIS HOME IN BOSTON.
During his sojourn here air. kingman
was peculiarly reticent as to his ante
ceuenJs. There is "a vague idea among the
people ne associated with here that he
was at one time a commercial traveller.
lie stated that his home was In Boston,
where many of his gas machines were
now in operation. he alluded TO the
streets of that city by name, and was
evidently thoroughly conversant with it.
lie had formed d stock company In provi-
dence. X. J.. he said, which had capital
of 5000, and was doing well. When
questioned as 10 the patent rights he
wished TO sell in this state, ana asked
ii he mad the papers with MIN, he said
that he had left them In Boston, but
would send for them as soon as he saw
any chance of selling them. 1t seems
that about ten days ago distrusf sprung
UP In the breasts of several people
who had come In contact with him. and,
pressing him to give the number of his
patent, one of the gentlemen who had a
friend in the Patent Office In Washington
wrote for particulars. and IL was learned
that the number given by Mr. kingman
was attached to a spirit-level invented
by some man In Chicago.
One OF the gentlemen who evinced no
small degree OF interest In the alleged in
vention was Mr.. II. L.. Lorraine, vice.
president OF the firm of Gay 4 Lorraine.
Mr.. Lorraine was approached by King
man and those who had associated them
selves with him and asked 10 purchase
an outfit for his beautiful home on Barton
Heights. II was represented TO him that
the usual price was $50. but that In view
of his influence In the thriving little sub
urb. where they were most anxious TO
obtain an introduction, they would fur
nish everything complete for so. and Mr..
Iingman assured him that his house
would be well supplied with gas at the
cost OF $50 per month.
THE MACitlNE W.
Mr. Lorraine gave Kingman permission
to 20 ahead. but declined TO pay any
money for the concern until II had work.
ed satisfactorily for thirty days. He fur
Their promised that II everything should
prove satisfactory he would invest $500
in the enterprise.
+ The machine was made by Mr. Andrews
and put together under the direction of
Mr. Kingman, in the back yard of Mr..
Lo.raine's premises. IL consists of two
rude water-tanks. the one placed about
a foot and a half above the other. and
supported by two ordinary trestles. In
the higher tank is placed a copper gas
retort resting on a zinc battery. and con-
nected through the lower tank with the
gas main. leading 10 the house. The pro-
cess Is briefly this: The retort Is immersed
in a solution OF sulphuric acid and water.
The action OF the acid on the zinc gene
rates the gas in the re,ort, which passes
thence through the lower tank. which is
filled with crude-oil. becoming carbonized
by the fumes. Mr.. Klpgman Is represent
ed as having stated that the zinc would
last for one month, and that the oil in
the lower tank could be used for six
months The machine was completed on
Wednesday. and a trial was TO have been
given the next evening in the presence Of
several OF AFR. Iorraine's friends.
1t has been found that the gas when
first lighted gives bright and charming
light for a brief space OF time and then
turning blue becomes useless az an fllu-
rrinant. giving out Intense heat. and
making sound as OF a mighty. rushing
wind SO quickly are the fumes Of the
oil absorbed. and such Is the effect OF the
sulphuric acid on Mr. Kingman's battery.
that II is estimated that the cost Of pro-
than that of the ordinary gas.
THEY LEFT NO ADDRESS.