The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Who was the leader OF the House in
Lincoln's Administration In The Birth
OF a Nation Ralph Lewis plays the part
as Aastin Stonemdn. Il. X.
Thaddeue Stevens OF Pennsylvania
was the leader in the House and the only
question is how far Thomas Dixon, the
author. intended to portray Stevens. An
inquiry OF Mr.. Dixon brings a letter in
which he says
"Yes-my character OF Stonemdn vas
founded on Thaddeus Stevens. leader Of
the House during the war and recon-
struction. Stevens. of course. was not
40 human or respectable as my stone
man. Stevens livei in open adultery
with n negro h~ousekeeper for 35 years.
lie WAS never married and had no chill
dren. He left his negro mistress Lydia
Brown an annuity in his will and was
buried beside her in what was then the
negro cemetery of Lancaster, Pa"
I enclose n clipping from n recent
number Of the Liverpool Mercury In
which yoi will see an inquiry about n
ship called the Ericsson. The editor has
appealed TO me for such information as
! can furnish. therefore, appeal to
THE SrN as, having read II for thirty
years. | have found It to he without a
peer In the matter OF throwing light on
obscure questions. ARTHUR THORNTON.
The substance OF the clipping Is that
the Ericsson paddle boa;) was origi-
nally built for propulsion by a calorifc
engine. but was atterward converted
Into an ordinary steamship. The
Ericsson on one voyage left New York
In April or May, 1865. for Liverpool.
where she arrived safely. The pas
sengers consisted OF a German family
and an English gentleman whose
brother. ]. T. w. (Hightown) makes
the inquiry concerning the ship of the
Mercury. Before the steamer left New
York" says J.. T. W. the s~piritualists
or clairvoyants predicted that she would
founder during the voyage on a certain
day. and she very nearly did. for all the
crew were drunk. hut the mate by
Misunderstanding them persuaded them to
go aloft to take in sail, which saved the
situation.
81 have no idea what line the ship
belonged TO, hut she must have flown
the American flag. as she was. I believe.
owned in New York. The Ericsson was
designed by the famous Mr.. Ericsson.
and. | believe, was built AZ I4aird's.
B~irkenhead. in 1899 But this may de-
note the first ship that was built pro-
PEELED by calorihc power. AS n boy OF
twelve the writer remembers seeing the
ship in the Mersey. and he carries a
distinct impression that she had eight
tunnels
II was in 1899 that Ericsson came 20
New York after having failed TO i'm
press the British Admiralty with the
value OF his invention OF the propeller.
The American Encyclopedia apple
ton, 1870 says in its article on him {:
I'm 1852 he brought out n new form OF
caloric engine in the ship Ericsson. II
propelled this ship OF 1000 tons from
New York to Alexandria on the Potomac.
In very rough weather. IN the latter part
OF February. 1853. on this trip the
engines were In operation FOR seventy
three hours without being stopped for
a moment. and without requiring the
slightest adjustment. the consumption
Of fuel being only five tons in twenty
four hours but her speed was not great
enough, and the caloric engines were
subsequently replaced by steam engines"
That seems TO be the craft. The same
work, under the heading 'Caloric
Engine" has this further reference
About 1853 a large ship was built In
New York. called the Ericsson. provided
with caloric engines OF tne most colossal
size, constructed under the supervision
OF the inventor but the experiment was
unsuccessful, and the owners we're COM
PEELED to substitute steam for the caloric
engine"
"Appleton's Cyclop~d,a OF American
Biography contains a passing reference
OF the same purport.
II should be possible TO piece tosether
the true history OF the Ericsson.