The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-08-17

John Hamilton Brown died July Gath at his
home in West Hoboken, N. j. and was the
subject of brief obituary published in The |
Journal Aug 9th. We have since found in |
our files the following account of him, pub
lished Jan. H. 1863:
To The EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Here e
another Waldo county man with a record |
john Hamilton Brown was born in Liberty 70 !
years ago, the of Joseph Brown, who
lived d farm Oil the west side of George 8
Lake. John Hamilton left home before he
was twenty Yeas of age, and worked in Mas
Sac lusetts for while. He invented while
there hand peggiug macnlne for pegging
shoes, went to New York dispose OF it and
has lived there since. He has at least
one hundred patents MS credit. After in
venting various machines to make ruff1ing,
tiutlDg nd all klnds OF fancy goods worn by
women, he Invented d sewing machine to quilt
cloak and coat Innings in squares, checks, Zig
Gag, and all Kinds OF ways. Before his ma
chine This quitting was done On machines with
one needle and it was very slow process He
made a machine that had needles enough to
quilt whole web If Cloth at once going
Lnrough. He made it possible for one girl to
run several machines, like running
looms in cotton mill. he then took up gun
Team used number OF years ago when they
went to England and beat the British team
Mr.. Brown " as memUer of this team and
/ made The highest score at 1000 yards. shortly
after he Conceived the idea of making built.
up cannon that could not be bursted with gun
powder, and made what is well known the
world over as the Brown Segmental' Wire
Wound Gun, and that now holds the worlds re-
cord. The test was made by United States
| officers. To prove the strength of his invention
he made a tube and put Dree4h block into
each end, filled it with powder and touched it
off. The powder burned and the gas all came
out OF the touch-hole without in juring the
tube That test was made more than so times.
IL has been figured by U. S. engineers that a
| l2-inch gun made on this plan will throw shot
100 miles, l0-ipch 80 miles and 6-inch 80
| miles.
1t is well known by those familiar with guns
that the rlfllng is very important feature,
and when the riflng is gone or worn off the
| gun Is thrown aside as no good. The life of a
! gun is from 6U to 100 shots, and this govern
ment, and the whole world, have racked their
brains to find out the cause of this wearing
\ away of the rlt1ng and to discover remedy
| for it. Mr.. Brown claims to have solved this
problem and is now having his invention test
ed at Sandy Hook by our government officers.
If it proves to be what he claims it will be
worth millions of dollars, for it will prolong
the life of the expensive heavy ordinance
used by all nations more than one hundred
told OF for an indefinite time.
Mr.. Brown had gun constructed on his
plan with the safety appliance to prevent scor-
ing and that gun is being tested at this mo-
ment at Sandy Hook, as | have said, and SO
far with success, the whole world will be
greatly benefited by this invention by Lib
erty, Maine, farmers son. Without attempt
! ing to mention all of has inventions / will re-
/ fer briefly to a few recent ones: A gas burner
that you can blow out or turn on after the
flame is gone without an escape of gas; gas
/ burner for advertising purposes that comes
and goes like a fash light; an attachment fol-
railroads. to prevent collisions from front o,
rear and that stops rains from running into
open bridges and switches. / could make this
ON working safety, non-exp losive auto.
mobile tire that can be punctured twenty five
times and not necessltate stopping for repairs
The automobile world will soon hear more
about this invention.
The writer is an own cousin OF the inventor
and dlned with him at his home, 494 Clinton
avenue, West aoboken, N j., week ago A
the table were four generations of his family
and 1t was only discovered by myself, and at
tention WIS called to it. They mad not though
OF 1t, although 1t had happened number O
ttaaes before. Mr. Brown is a widower ant
lives with his daughter, and her daughters SO,
Was present, representing the fourth genera
llon.
John Hamilton Brown is cassed with tn
great inventors of the wor ii, and is known al
over tue Wold Every natlon that uses heay,
ordnance kaows him we'll
Yours truly
JOHN K. BROWN.