Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-25
INVENTS SWING
FOR CHILDREN
MANY Get RIDE
S. ]. Bolton, 20, Veteran Of CIVn
War and AIedO Sorghum Maker,
Perfect Unique Device.

ooh. tell you I love children.
You see I'm still a good bit OF a
kid myself" quavered s. J. Bolton,
rs. Wrinkled gray haired veteran of
the civil war. As he spoke he
watched fondly q swarm OF chill
dren who nOcked eagrely with glad
shouts, about a whirling swing
which he had invented, solely for
the pleasure Of the little On9s.
The device which was designed
10 accommodate eight passengers,
might in a pinch carry in safety
16 children. Il was formally press
ed into service for the first time
Friday. A crowd OF several
hundred was on hand at the swing
grounds near Mr.. Bottoms sorghum
factory on the north outskirts OF
town and automobiles lined the
road near the scene.
It is to be doubted whether there
Is a contraption exactly like Mr.
Bottoms machine, although the
whirling cars of carnivals and
amusement resorts in the larger
cities closely approach it in opera
ton and principle.
The local mans swing is 20 feet
In height and covers about a %
foot circle in operation. The center
pole, a six by six inch beam, is the
highest part of the swing. II is fixed
solidly in the ground to a depth of
three feet and extends 20 feet into
the air. The top is rounded. over
which a metal inverted cup fits
snugly. This offers as bearing sur
"a N al a
inches in diameter and makes the
outrigging, four arms composed II
double gas pipe from which are
suspended four swings, each con
shutting two seats, easy to revolve.
The ropes holding the board swing
seats are kept apart by a simple
gas pipe continuance in the form
of a Y upside down.
The double gas pipe arms extend
downward from the top of the cen
ter pole at an angle, being met at
the tip of the inverted Y Of the
four swings by boards extending
horizontally from he center pole.
These act as braces.
Dropping from tho brace boards
at a distance OF about six feet from
the center poe are studdings which
are Joined together near the
ground, forming a hollow square.
Upon each Of these studdings a
small but stout arm extends oIt at
a proper height. Thus motive pow
er Is obtained from four pushera
who walk Ola the outside OF the
small square, each pushing by
means OF the extending arms next
TO the center beam inside the
sQupare. Mr.. Bolton had a Victrola
which was furnished by his son, S.
b. Bolton, Aledo music and cleo
trical man Thus a practical merry
go-round was made available for
Aledo's little folk.
AN mama, it's free" ioyously
shouted one husky little man,
dancing excitedly before his par
ent as he pleaded 10 be taken 70
the children's new paradise
IL never knew or saw a machine
like this" said the aged inventor.
who declared that with some as
sistance he had erected the swing
within the short space Of one
month, besides taking care OF his
prosperous sorghum business Il
so like kids that / tried to think
of q way that / could please them
and bring them closer 70 me, that
I might talk to them and help
them in becoming good men and
women" he said simply. Il had
no preconceived ideas and when
this Indicating swingl came to me
l could hardly sleep or eat until I
had worked II out for the chill
dren," the old man added softly
as IN after-tbought. And it's safe
and they like IT," he said. gratided
at the way the young folks took
TO the device.
Although advanced in years. Mr..
Bolton is remarkably active and IS
somewhat Of a mechanic, carpenter,
inventor and composer.
Near the close of last evenings
entertainment Mr.. Bolton made a
short talk. Il am so glad to be able
to do something for the children"
he said in part. "They are our fu-
ture generation, you know-the
children OF today are the men and
women OF tomorrow"
Upon being urged, Mr. Bolton
sang two songs. The first he des-
ignated as "Everybody's Good for
Will AAN aAAA4 AA@ AZ "a
heard sung by an army chaplain
during the Civil war. and the sec
ond, in a lighter vein, he sang. as .
he put Il, Ito leave the company
in a pleasant frame Of mind" It
was entitled Johnny Sands and .
His Scolding wife" and was clev- 4
erly rendered by voice and gesture
by Mr.. Bolton.
The swing will be accessible TO
Aledo children every night, it's in
ventor stated. That 1t Is an excel
lent recreational device for the
children was concurred in by a
large number OF mothers and ,
fathers who visited the scene. Mr..
Bolton is deserving OF much praise
for his idea and public spirited
work.