The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-16

takes that have rendered others worth
less. He has produced one that is
practical.
The lines Of q shell have been fol-
lowed as closely as the presence Of the
driving mechanism would allow. This
has necessitated a broader beam and
more depth, but the general long, mar
row and clean-cut effect that shell
has is preserved. These sharp lines
enable the bicycle shell to forge
through the water at speed of
twelve miles an hour. Bicycle boats
heretofore have never been able to
equal half this speed. In justice to the
inventors, it should be said that their
boats were never driven by more than
one pair of legs, while this has six to
furnish the power
The query will naturally arise why
Mr.. Plass built a sextuplet bicycle shell
especially for young women devotees
Of the wheel. With this end IN view
Mr.. Plass constructed an eiliptical gear
so that every pound of pressure exert
ed by fair riders feet would tell to the
most advantage. He also designed the
boat as light as proper observance Of
strength and rigidity would permit.
1t is very simpe in it's mechanical
equipment The propeller, which is of
bronze, has a high pitch which is
equivalent to a high gear on a sextup-
let that travels on land.
The propeller shaft, which is of steel.
extends almost to the bow. It is Jour
nailed between every rider to preserve
its alignment. It also has a thrust
collar" of brass just like an ocean
liner. In the center is a balance wheel
that gives steady motion This wheel
Is not very large on account of the lin
tied space, but quite sufficient to store
enough momentum to carry the propeI-
Ter over the center"
The pedal shafts carry what Is know,
as a worm gear" which engages the
| driving shaft. This gear is arranged
SO that one revolution of the pedals
causes five Of the propeller, which is
thus driven at high rate of speed. To
bring the sextuplet shell to a ston or
| to move backwards. Mr.. Plass has in
vented a novel contrivance. Instead of
back Dedalfng, as a bicycle rider is
| forced to do, the gear is shifted by a
little lever which is affixed to the
| handlebaT, much like brake, Thus
while the revolutions Of the pedals con-
versed and the screw behind Is backing
water as fast as six sturdy legs can
| drive it. The cleverness of this idea
will at once be manifest to every BIZ
cycle rider who knows how rnucn
| easier and more powerful it is to pedal
the accustomed way than to back
pedal.
An even keel is maintained by two
hollow cigar-shaped cylinders six feet
long, Of aluminium, one on each side of
the boat, held in place by outriggers.
They are necessary because the seats
of the girls are poised so far above
what is termed by boat builders the
center of balance. These outraged
floats give a wide base, which is equiv
alent to a wide beam. and prevent
capsiZing.
The six young women mount, and
when the pedals begin to work the pro-
peller revolves, and they glide about on
the water as gracefully as ever did the
Defender. 1t can no longer be said
that man IS wonaan's superior on the
wheel, for while we have had sextupIet
machines for men on shore, no six
men have ridden any bicycle in the
water together, unless 1t has been off
the river bank, and by mistake. It Is
another instance of the pre- eminence Of