Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-07-26
4 RIVAL OF THE AUTOMOBILE.
A Kansas Wind Carriage That Makes
IS Miles an Hour.

Daniel ". Mendenhau of 26S1 Elma
street is an old man Of 20 odd, and
one would not suppose, to see him
walking slowly along the street that he
is inclined to be fast. But lie gave 9,
mounted policeman one of the hardest
races of his life a few DAYS ago and
the copper's fleet horse was winded
and its tanks fecked with foam when
the pursuer finally overlook the feer
Mendenhall was not on horseback
either. He was not even in an auto
mobile or on a bicycle He was in a
hoTseless carriage propelled by wind
1t was out on Gladstone boulevard
early in the morning that the mounted
policeman was riding slowly along.
saluting the servant girls and other
early risers. Not a vehicle was in
sight, and the officer was congratulate
ing himself on a quiet beat, when all
Of sudden he heard a queer humming
sound behind him. He barely had
time to turn out Of the road when what
appeared to him like an airship on
wheel went flying by, the wheels
French military band, has been al
barely touching the ground. There
was breezy sort of whizz, a brief
glimpse of an old man with a couple
of rudder-like levers in his hand. a
whirr like the spinning OF a top. A
buzz like the humble bee's-and the
feet old gentleman had flashed by in
the twinkle Of an eye. The officer
raised himself in his stirrups ana
gazed between his horses ears. Was
it a dream? No. There were the
sails fast receding; now it was turning
the bend in the boulevard, and rolling
up the hill toward the ocarritt hos
pital.
Recovering from his momentary
daze, the copper stuck spurs into his
horse, tapped him with his club, and
gave chase with all his might. There
was the clatter of hoofs and the quick,
heavy breathing of a horse that
Weakened the boulevard resid 9nts and
made them think they had been dream
ing Of Phil Sheridan's ride On rode
the officer. Forward sped the flying
machine But it was an uphill race,
and the horse began to gain. The old
man looked back and apprehension Of
arrest at once seized him. He put on
every inch Of sail his good ship would
carry. But still the painting policeman
gained, and finally called to HIM
Don't Ge afraid, old man. I'm not
going to kill you. I just wanted to see
what sort of a thing that is you're
riding on
Mendenhall stopped and the officer
pulled up. The machine proved to be
a queer-looking, four-wheeled carriage
rather rudely built, with two horizon
tai bars like pump handles, which
propelled the carriage by hand force
As soon as start was got by working
these levers up and down, the wind
did the rest.
1--we made Is miles an hour with her
often" said Mendenhall. 81 frequently
come out on the boulevard for spin
It's easy to work. A child or lady
could run it. Yes, it's my own inven-
ton l expect to make fortune out
of it, too Not like one of these auto
mobiles-no fuel needed; always
ready"
Mr.. Mendenhall appeared before the
inventors association last week by
special invitation and exhibited a
small model Of his invention. He
showed how it worked, and told the
inventors present that he had often
ridden about town at the rate of 18
miles an hour.-Kansas City Journal