nothing but a three-horse engine, like those used in our steam fire engines. The legs which support it are complicated and wonderful. The steps are taken very naturally and quite easily. As the body is thrown forward upon the advanced foot, the other is lifted from the ground by a spring and thrown forward by the steam. Each step or pace advances the body two feet, and every revolution of the engine produces four paces.
As the engine is capable of making more than 1,000 revolutions in a minute, it would get over the ground, on this calculation, at the rate of a little more than a mile a minute. As this would be working the legs faster than would be safe on uneven ground or on Broad street cobblestones, it is proposed to run the engine at the rate of 500 revolutions per minute, which would walk the man at the modest speed of half a mile a minute.
“The fellow is attached to a common rockaway carriage, the shafts of which serve to support him in a verticle position. These shafts are two bars of iron, fastened in the usual manner to the front of the carriage, and are curved so as to be joined to a circular sustaining bar, which passes around the waist like a girth, and in which the man moves so as to face in any direction. Besides these motions, machinery has been arranged by which the figure can be thrown backward or forward from a vertical nearly forty-five degrees. This is done in order to enable it to ascend or descend all grades. To the soles of the feet spikes or cords are fixed, which effectually prevent slipping. The whole affair is so firmly sustained by the shafts and so excellent a
|
|
foot-hold, that men are unable to push it over, or in any other way throw it down. In order to enable it to stop quickly, it is provided with two appliances, one of which will, as before stated, throw it backward from the vertical, while the other bends the knees in a direction opposite to the natural position.
“An upright post, which is arranged in front of the dash-board, and within easy reach of the front seats, sustains two miniature pilot wheels, by the turning of which these various motions and revolutions are directed. It is expected that a sufficiently large amount of coal can be stowed away under that back seat of the carriage to work the engine for a day, and water in a tank under the seat to last half a day.
“In order to prevent the ‘giant’ from frightening horses by appearance, Mr. Deddrick intends to clothe it, and give it, as nearly as possible, a likeness to the rest of humanity, The boiler and such parts as are unnecessarily heated, will be encased in felt or woolen under-garments. Pantaloons, coat and vest, of the latest styles, are provided. Whenever the fires need coaling, which is every two or three hours, the driver stops the machine, descends from his seat, unbuttons ‘Daniel’s’ vest, opens a door, shoves in the fuel, buttons up the vest, and drives on. On the back, between the shoulders, the steam-cocks and gauges are placed. As there would cause the coat to sit awkwardly, a knapsack has been provided that completely covers them. A blanket neatly rolled up and placed on top of the knapsack, perfects the delusion. The face is moulded into a cheerful countenance of white enamel, which contrast well with the dark hair and
|
|
