The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-09
PATENTS;
RICHMOND INVENTOR
Mr.. Charles E. Roth Has Designed High
Speed Electric Railroad to Run
$50 Miles an Hour.
HIS ESCAPES FROM LIBBY AND

Mr.. Charles Z. Roth, who has been liv
Ing at No. 90 East Franklin Street for
scveral months, and who has decided to
make Richmond his home, is an inventor
whose patents are commanding attention
nnc interest in the scientific and mechan-
ics1 world. They cover a wide field Of
special study and research. For years
Ail'. Roth has given of his time and means
IN this work, and the result has been a
very large number of patents granted,
from many of which, when placed on the
market he has realized very handsome
money returns.
Apart from his patents and the interest
which centers in them. Mr. Roth is an
exceedingly Interesting man himself He
has Travelled extensively, has lived in sew
e.at parts of this country, and mas
fund of Renaissance and experience from
which he draws many entertaining ahec-
uJ.es. His war experiences as q cavalry
cfIcer in a New York regiment and his
sury OF his escapes from Libby and An
ueIsonville are peculiarly interesting.
HIS ESCAPE FROM LIBBY.
From Libby he describes graphically
how he made his escape by jumping head
long into the canal one dark evening
~hen a squad of prisoners had been
r, ought out under guard at an especially
lalo hour 10 bring supply of water from
The canal into the prison. lie came up
,,i!low bushes. remained under the water
rnd brusbwood during the alarm that
.y.S sounded and the search that result
ri until he was given up Tor drowned.
in the darkness of the rainy night that
followed. he made his way across James
River, lay hid in a large pile OF wood on
Mo Manchester side through the next
aay. and that night struck off into the
country, 10 meet an old negro after StN-
-,al hours who concealed him under inc
hlr1shwood in his cart and took him TO
his cabin Here he remained concealed IN
,hc loft of the cabin for two or three
asys during which time he was fcd by me
negro man. He was then passed on I'D
no. night time. night after night, to other
,,eo,oes in whose cabins he remained con-
craicd during the daytime, until ne
reached tho Northern lines after some
two or three weeks.
ESCAPE FROM ANDERSoNNlLLE.
Tho story which Mr.. Roth tells OF has
cscape from Andersonrille a year latcr
As somewhat similar In this instance q
-,a,ty Of Confederate prisoners had been
taken out OF the stockade TO collect wool
fo. fires The man detailed with Roth
ard another prisoner let them get away
from him. The second man was landed
nael, in Anders,nville, hut Roth. after
MANY strange experiences. reached the
rorthern lines. He states That compared
viii, AndersonvAle Libby was a veritahle
rnaerson Rotel As a man who has
,.aco1Iec.:ons of both Libby and Anderson
..ille Mr.. Roth is an interesting histori-
cal figure.
After the val Mr. Roth came into some
.,ronerty and ,rcame interested in a Num-
ber of inventions. His patents. 10 very
.stee number. are on record IN the Fat.
emf Office in washington. From several
a. them he his realized good money re-
wild lnNfn-
tion II, the list are to be found, sew
trr machine a tubular buggy. a club
.rate a rollr skate and a multitude OF
other device. and machines. Among re-
ap+ nstentsare seven or eight. covering
high sped long distance electric rail-
,oad. calculted TO run at a speed of go
rifles an hoar.
".t's' - RECENT PATENTS.
-,o ;,tc.stinr devices which Mr.. Roth
r,s,ent,d, and with which Mr.. ellis,
&c tba locomotive Works. IS much
.,e.sas .e a ball-bearing Jack and a
,r,i,,r r1ckey-wrench, The tiny model
~ the tak three inches high lifts the
front of a 1900 mound SAFE Win case
AZ, I>ot-thinks this jack has adVa"tases
- ,,oi,,fs ,,r>. found in any now
,ba market The spring monkey
,.a,cbhas the advantage Of being cap
s,sna ofbeinE set and screwed up TO any
,cirf nd then released by pressure on g
,,,r,nrwithout the turning OF the screw.
,,ie slvantaEe of this supplemental, oe-
80 an a rnonkey-wrench IS evident TO
,,v5ne familiar with the use of that I'M
,fcrent.
HIGH SPEED RAILROAD.
ne high speed long distance electro
yaroad to run trains at a speed of go
Mes an hour IS tho largest proposition
M. Roth has In mind at this time. speed
nd safety arc the two purposes OF TINS
nhe,ne It's central thought is ~ car,
bropclled by electricity from central
trolley or rail- under the ear, resting on
Two rails as far apart as the present
standard KauGa end steadied on the