The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-29

Girl Painters Device to Free a Runowa
Horse From q Vehicle.

oIIb atnNo "oNfSS
Horse From q Vehicle.
Though poetic and imaginative to a de-
gree. Miss Fannie C. Grothjean. a young
New York artist, hesitates to believe mat
the fortune which now seems to be within
her grasp comes as the result OF super
natural influence. At the same time she
stoutly maintains that the idea upon
which it is founded came to her I'm a VS.
ion and her assertion is fully sustained
by relatives and friends.
Miss Grothjean has invented a c~ontriv-
ance by means of which the occupants or
a vehicle attached to- a runaway horse
may free themselves Instantly froHU the
animal and thus secure at least COM
narrative safety. The invention Is Endorsed
by hard-headed business men and me-
chanics. 1t is attached to the front axle
of the carriage. BY turning a small lever
which extends a little above the dash
board small metal rods are manipulated
so as to unloose the shafts from the car
rage, letting the horse go free. This lever
is not to be turned. of course, until the
horse becomes manageable The shafts
are held up by short straps, so that they
cannot touch the heels of the frightened
animal. BY this arrangement the horse
when detached from the carriage cannot
damage either the carriage or himself.
This can be Instantly done whenever dan
ger becomes imminent. The device can
also be used as a tiller to steer out of dan
ger when the carriage is going at fun
speed.
Miss Grothjean's story of how the idea
of the device came to her is somewhat
remarkable. She was at that time living
with her mother at her home in Portland.
Ore, and was recovering from a severe
illness. She was lying in bed linking OF
nothing In particular. when, without ~ny
intention to do SO. she began to act as II
she were holding reins and driving. Sud-
denly 1t appeared to her that the horse
bolted n that. throwing the reins over
the dashboard. she turned a lever. which
set the animal and the shafts free. Then
she lost Consciousness for a time. Upon
coming to her senses she was able to
make a drawing of the continuance
through the aid of which she set the
horse free. In a day or two she consulted
a lawyer, the result being that she had 4
model made and dispatched to Washing
ton. Three months later her device was
patented. 1t has since been exhibited
twice and has acted satisfactorily on a
score of occasions. She has been onered
$40, 900 for her patent. but has refused.
Miss Grothtean was born at Portland.
Ore. She IL of German descent and Ia q
distant relative Of the poet Schiller. In APP
pearance she Is slight. delicate and poetic
looking. She is the last person In the
world, judging by appearances, one would
suspect of having a taste for mechanics.
She is young and has already won dis
| tinction as q painter. She has studied art
in Paris for five years and has had pic
lures exhibited at both the French Salon.
the Champs Elysees and tho Champs de
Mars. In 1893 Miss GrothJean had a por-
trait OF an American woman accepted at
the Champs de Mars which attracted the
| attention of Puvis De Chavannes. Jules
Breton and other well-known artists of
Paris.