My Life

MY LIFE - CONTENTS - CHAPTER I My ancestors and early childhood in the State of Maine-Early settlers-Red Indians-Bears-Millerites-My first bear hunt -Drowning in a flume-Felling a tree-Sap-ill-su-sip-Lake Boyd . Page I CHAPTER I1 I decide to become a sea captain-The arrival of a sea captain at Orneville-Making my nautical instruments-Working for Daniel Sweat-Sweats household-Flap-jacks-A transaction in playing-cardsxatching minks-Working for Daniel Flynt -My first invention . I5 CHAPTER 111 I leave home to seek my fortune--Beat all previous records as a wood-turner at Dexter-The giht blacksmith-My first boxing match with the thermometer at 101 F.-Persuaded to give up boxing-The War-Boy Scouts . 31 CHAPTER IV On the St. Lawrence River-Arrive at Malone, N.Y.-Lively times in Northern New York and Canada-The wonderful disappear- ance of many tons of heavy machinery-Dealing with an informer-One week as a bar tender-Remarkable sale of weedy horses . 41 CHAPTER V St. Jean Chrisostome-A crown official calls me A French Canuck and attempts to give me in charge-A good-natured magistrate -Some dealings with the village bully-Luminous hair-oil- Encounter with Ned Lynch the champion bully of the county- Capturing a bull-McGills Hotel-Old Vinegar and the biggest frog in the world-Inventing a blackboard . 53 MY LIFE CHAPTER V1 Brashers Falls-Reading the dictionary through-Painting and decorating carriages-A drink of pure alcohol-Flooring the village wrestler-A fight with Louis Hentz the local bully- Fight for the championship with John Tester-A discussion on Hydraulics--Return to the State of Maine . . Page 71 CHAPTER V11 Working a big lathe on cast iron at Fitchburg, Mass.-A record job on a brassfinishers lathecomputing the power of an engine- Working as a mechanical draughtsman and a coppersmith- The grand worthy patriarch of the Sons of Temperance goes on a drunken debauch and what came of it-Spiritualism- Obtain work in Boston-Density regulators-Inventing gas machines-Automatic sprinklers . . 81 CHAPTER V111 Working in New York City-The Novelty Iron Works-Big wooden ships-The all-knowing German-Inventing a steam trap- Locomotive head-lights . - 93 CHAPTER IX A trip to the Southern States-Extraordinary state of affairs- The reign of the revolver-The girl in the chain gang-Act as hotel engineer . . 99 CHAPTER X The large gas machine at Saratoga-Stopping a leak-Putting a steam fire-engine in order . 105 CHAPTER XI Lifting competition with an Irishman-General ONeals invasion of Canada-Proposed conquest of England-The brave general arrested-OConnor and the earthquake-Wonderful display of gold watches--Five years for drawing the badger-Red Jersey mud and the envelope swindle--A wonderful old bruiser-The insurance man-The engine-drivers fortune . 111 CHAPTER XI1 Electric lighting-A slow boat and a fast boat-Brandy and milk- The first platinum lamp--Report as to how an incandescent lamp might be made-A terrific explosion prophesied-Depositing carbon from gasoline vapours-Professor Van der Weyde - Edison starts- I make the first electrical regulator . and receive the decoration de la Lkgion dHonneur- Only a sausage stuffer-First electric lights at Saratoga-A storm of beetles-Projecting the light seven and a half miles- Illuminated fountains a great success . . Page 120 CHAPTER XI11 Edisons lamps-Edison forced to use my process-Troubles with glass-blowers-Phosphoric Anhydriddonsultedon carpet- making-Demagnetizing watches-An Irish wake- Jersey lightning-The tale of two boilers ...