The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-29
4 TERRIBLE MACHINE.

In the Kings county On. W peniten-
tiary IL confined q man who claims that
he has invented an aerial machine proved
by many tests to be perfect in every re-
spect. He has written to President Cleve-
land and the secretary of the interior,
Hoke Smith, asking them To SEQ that tho
government gives IL a trial, and. If salts
factory, hat the government purchase the
right TO manufacture the machine. For
this right he asks the modest sum of $685.
600. 600.
This man In Victor l.. Ochs. He Is 35
years old, and he Is a prisoner for endeav-
oring TO create a revolution In Mexico
about a year ago. He is of medium height,
well built, and finely educated, apparent
ly, speaking French, German and Spanish
with much luency. by birth he is a Mex
lean, but soon after no was born his par
ents settled in Texas, and no Is an Ameri-
can citizen.
81 began my experiments" said he,
''in Fl Paso, Tex. l earned my living by
publishing q small newspaper in tho Italian
language. But / spent little time In my
office; / was too interested in the expert
ments ! was conducting. These were made
In my own house. No one lived with me,
and / took no ore into my confidence. In
fact, l was never a great hand nc making
friends, and therefore was not bothered by
tho inquisitiyo. Often / worked all night
long, and got no sleep the next day be-
cause of my newspaper work. My expert
ments were not inexpensive. Indeed, as l
began to see tie ~ they cost me many
dollars.
81 took tho machine back To my FL Paso
house, and n short time later ] decided TO
go personally TO the patent office at Wash
ington and get my machine patented. /
had started for the capital when a sheriff
arrested mo and claimed the reward of
$50, 900, which the United States and Mex
leo had set on my head. l was tried on a
charge of attempting to cause a revolution
In Mexico and iniuring the interests OF
America In that country. l was convicted
and sentenced TO three years in the peni-
Tertiary. The prisons In that part Of the
country were full, so l was sent here. 1
want the United States government TO
take up my invention purely and simply
because Of the money there would be In 10
for me. 1 charge $25, 000, 900 for 1t, and l
want to state right hero that Will not
sell it for one cent less than that amount.
If the government will give 1t one fair,
impartial trial, IL is all / ask, for ! am
COIllutHb lllhl N~iN ~ IAl va 10 OOhN INV
ing. IL the government will not give IL a
fair trial, I'll sell it 20 some other country.
"Of what use would the machine be to
the government? 1t would be OF so much
use that in the event Of war IL could be
used with about 80 times the deadly effect
OF n battleship. The machine is construct
cd so that it will carry two pounds TO ev-
cry one Of its own weight. High explo-
sives in any quantity can be carried in 1t,
and you or any one else can see In a min
ute how they could be used in warfare.
Tho machine can be built Of any size, and
it Is so simple that n child almost could
manage II. One can be built in three
months. Put a large force OF men Mt work,
and you can build enough 20 put a stop TO
a war IN short time. The machine will
move at a velocity Of 800 miles an hour.
That Is tho limit. You can cause It TO go
as slowly rs you choose. It is provided
with n steering apparatus, 20 which IL an
swers with wonderful obedience. Ii can
DO propelled as high rs you like, and IL
you want to be within "a foot of the ground
it IL just as easy. The cost Of the machine
l decline TO state, for reasons OF my own.
You can say this: That | am not making
this move TO regain my liberty. / don't
want my liberty. What l want Is tho Unit
ed States Co take up my invention, and /
think It will. Where Is the machine nowf
IL Is in safe hands. / won't say where un-
til l get my patent or the government
ONE 20 an understanding with me"
Just how the machine Is built Ochs de.
clines to say. He refuses to say also OF
what It Is composed, but 10 Is supposed az
the penitcntiary that ~ Il built Of "A com
position resembling pnpic. machc. 1t isex-
tremely light, SO Ochs says. The motor
power, he snys, Is m invention Of his own,
aud no refuses TO tell what 10 Is. lie de-
mics that IL IL electricity. The machine Ia
rcpletc with air tight compartments, and
In the bow Is an observation tower, with
steps leading TO it from the passenger
compartment.
Oohs has n remarkable history. He and
otbers we're of the opinlop that prcsideut