The times., 1901-03-27
DEATH ENDS HIS STRUGGLE
Sidney Maltby's Lifelong Battle
for His Inventions.
Confronted by Tremendous obstn-
cIes in Evolving the Plans for
Steam Conference.-The Faculties
Fail just ns His Dream Is Realized

Confronted by tremendous Obshh-
cIes in Evolving the Plans for
steam Conference.-The Faculties
Fail Just as His Dream Is Realized
The funeral Of Sidney MaItby. inventor,
at Langdon this morning win be the clos
ing scene OF a series OF events which
rendered almost tragic the last months
of his long life. The successful compile
tinn Of an invention which for thirty years
held his thoughts and energy and an at
tack of mild insanity paved the way for
financial difficulties. Confinement ut st
Elizabeth's followed.
Release from the asylum and then
slow lingering illness terminating in
peaceful death were the final acts in
life drama, the elimination of which was
success closely followed by disappoint-
ment.
Mir AlaItby was wen known in Wash
instou. In this city he spent fully nan
of the seventy-five years Of his me re
was a machinist of a high order OF skill
About thirty years ago he turned ms at
iention toward the invention of a steam
condenser He wanted TO crystalline GER
tain nlans he had evolved during his
working DAYS 1t was his hope to produce
a steam condenser, a model Of utility and
coInpactness. He became possessed OF the
inventors fever. Nothing would do but
that all his time should be given to work
on the cherished invention. With his vile
he moved to Langdon, and there beside
his house he erected a workshop and an
engine.
Maltby worked at his trade as machiu-
isl only enough to gain sufficient money
for the support of himself and his wife.
She entered heart and soul into his plans.
Il Chi he
in his ultimate success braced him for
many another effort after failure OF some
detail had caused his hopes TO flag.
But as Maitby grew older the eagerness
10 perfect the invention kept him from
regular work more and more. until at last
the old man found it difficult to get en-
pIovrnent when he wanted it, Bat his vile
came To the rescue and opened part OF
their home TO boarders, and thus SHlai'
sum was gained each week. Work on the
invention was then pushed more rapid'E'
and The hopes Of the old coupe roSe a.
il approached completion.
Finally il was finished and patents were
applied Tor and success seemed quite win
in tba crtsp Of the inventor 10 reward ms
wears of patierf and persevering toll. Men
who were. well acquainted with the nature
of the invention were taken TO see the
model which was carefully concealed
from urving eyes in the workshop. lHeN
pronounced it valuable. Offers were made
for the invention. They were liberal OIL
ferS. too and some of those VINO Nle"eu
the model said they would advance money
for lis manufacture.
Traditionallv. misfortunes never ooiiS
sfrol, In this case of Maltby it seemed
ihat strokes Of good fortune follower III.
ss,ne rlile. Following the completion of
AGAINST smoke in the District And then
afaltl,v invented a smoke consumer which
z-es considered superior to nearly all
tb,se i'm use at that time. Liberal offers
vcrc made for this invention, too ii
vas then when all seemed TO be bright
est that Maltby's mind began To fail
When il came to the final step the
sharing with others Of his invention the
rroduct OF thirty years Of study and Ia
bor. his heart failed him. He conld not
bear the thought that others should take
his models from him. He shrank from
the thought that outsiders should kno"
- his success His wife saw
1ming on. and tried 10 per
make contract with the
10 desired to back the in
heir capital and place il on
would not listen. He re-
ures.
strain involved i'm steady
invention had weakened
1rH- Then the harassing wor-
D.. O. pecuniary obligations threw an
edded weight upon his enfeehled intel
lect When several years ago his work
on the invention arrived at the stage
where he fOresaw its successful culml-
nation he borrowed money in order that
he might pursue his work unmoleSted.
He gaze a chattel mortgage on the build
/ .rFv=~avv
and another from whom he had obtained
the sum required. He is also said 10
have turned over to them Il paid-up in
surance policy for Sl,009.
The mortgage fell due in last August.
Notice Of the foreclosure Of the mort
gage and the sale Of the building Was
sent To Maltby. This brought home TO
him the fact that the building in which
he had realized his fondest hopes was to
haps turned over TO some outsider who
had little respect for his wishes in re-
gard 10 the property. He became
changed man. Before this he vas moody
and suspicious, but now the change was
even more pronounced. At last one day
in August when the mort gage could be
foreclosed. the holders Of il lost no time
in going 10 Afaltby. With them We're two
prospective purchasers. An attempt was
made to sell the property. but was
thwarted by Mrs. Maltby. Her name was
not attached to the mortgage, and she at
once made strenuous objection.
But the holders Of Maltby's note were
not satisfied. They made an attempt To
enter the workshop in which We're kept
his models Maltby was so i'll he could
scarcely stand, but the ruthless violation
Il sfrrIaf h u.