Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FRANK READE JR.S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE. f the Frank Reape Lrsraky by the The subscription Price of the FRUSEY yy te is $2.50: $1.25 six mon t-paid. Address FRANE North Moose Street. Box ne a FRANK READE JR.S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE; THE SEARCH FOR THE VALLEY OF DIAMONDS. A Thrilling Story of Adventures in Brazil. By “NONAME,” ee Reade and His Steam Horse,” *‘ Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse in the Author of * Frank Northwest; or, Wild Adventures Amon:, the ’Blackfeet,” etc., etc. CHAPTER IL 'WHICH DESCRIBES THE NEW INVENTION. Dzzp in the heart of a picturesque range of bills lay the beautiful little city of Readestown. The founder ot the place, Frank Reade, had gained a world-wide reputation as an inventor. His inventions were many and varied, and had netted him an im- mense fortune. The Steam Man and the Steam Horse had made his fame, and now at a ripe old age he had retired from the fiel¢ and bad been succeeded by his son, Frank Reade, Jr. The latter was a slender, handsome youth, with remarkably iotelli- gent features, and scarcely lees inventive genius than his father as tinte revealed. Frank Reade, Jr., moreover, as is the case with rising genius, bad developed a broader scope of talent,and soon had astonished the country. One day the ort announcement went abroad that Frank Reade, Jr., poe just completed his new and wonderfal air-ship, the “‘ Electric Air Canoe. The ceport spread far and wide, and one morning a reporter of the Associated Press presented himself at the Reade Irnn Works. ‘*Te ittrae, Mr. Reade, that you have just completed your Air Ca- noe?” asked the scribe, bluntly. ‘It is,” replied the young taventor, modestly. ‘If you will step into the yard I will be pleased to show it to you.” The reporter complied with alacrity. He gazed about bim not a little surprieed atthe magnitude of the workshops and iron foundries which were exclusively employed in the manufacture of the various inventions of Frank Reade, Jr. They passed on across the yard, and baited before the door of = large, high-roofed building. Frank Reade, Jr., tapped lightly on the door. Instantly a voice in a rich, Irish brogue sounded wittin. ‘¢ Phwat will yez have, anyway?’ ‘It is me, Barney,” said the young inventor, authoritatively. *¢ All roight, sor.” The door swung back, and a thick-set Irishman, with a comical mug and merry blue eyes stood in the doorway. ‘* Barney,” said Frank, brusquely. ‘‘I wish to show this gentleman the Electric Air Canoe. Where is Pomp?’ a sor, the naygur do be over yonder, shining up that brase- work.” Frank sawa fat, comical looking darky, as black as the ace of epades, engaged in scouring some brasswork on the Air Canoe. ‘* All right, Barney,” said the young inventor. ‘“‘ivvant you to stay here and watch the door until we come back.” ** All roight, sor.” Then Fraok quickly crossed a platform to the spot where the darky was. Pomp Instantly dropped his scouring utensils and made a low bow. ** Ise berry glad to see yo’, Marse Frank!” he cried. ‘Am yo’ cam fo’ to see de Air Canoe?” ** T have,” replied Frank. ‘‘ And I want you to accompany us over the vessel. Do you understand?’ ‘A’ right, sab!” The darky with a pleased grin proceeded to obey orders. These two eccentric characters, for such they were, had been many years in the employ of the Reades, father and son. Upon all their famous jaunts over the world the inventor had taken the two faithful servitors. So long had they bees in the employ of the inventors that both had become expert machinists and electricians. / tas the Air Canoe!” said Frank Reade, with a sweep of his a The reporter was epellbound with the wonderfal sight. He saw what was certainly the most wonderful machine that he had come across many a day. The Electric Air Canoe, as its name would imply, was modeled something in the shape of a canoe. The bow was round and canve shaped, and the whole body of the vessel had the appearance of great lightness and buoyancy. The deck was some fourteen feet in width, and the length of the canoe full one hundred feet. This gave much room and allowed for a deck-house or cabin of circular shape which was in the center of the deck. In one part of this cabin were the electric dynamos and the wonder- fal machinery which furnished speed to the propeller and the suspen- sory rotaecopes. These latter were.three in number, of large dimensions and great power. The largest one was in the center of the boat, the shaft extending upward through the roof of the center cabin or deck-house. The other two were nt oppeete enda, and here the shaft of each exterded through the roof of a emailer deck-house. In each deck- house was a dynamo. So that each rotascope was operated by a different dynamo. ‘‘The recson of that,” said Frank, explanatively, ‘is for safety and also to economize power. Any one of these suspensory rotascopes would support the air-ship, but each is called upon to do its propor- tionate amount. In cuse one dynamo failed the ship would not fall!” ‘‘ A wise precaution!” acknowledged the scribe. Also a separate tynamo was employed to work the propeller. This made four dynamos ahoard the Air Canoe. The motive power was based upon a storage system which war a ee cret of Frank Reade, Jr.'s. The main body of the canoe was made of hollow cylinders. This gave buoyancy as well as dimension to the craft. The deck was spacious and tnclosed with a guard rail which ran all the way around the vessel. In the canoe-shaped bow was a port-hole, and through this was thrast a gun which fired dynamite projectiles, also the invention of Frank Reade, Jr. Altogether the Air Canoe was atrig, neat and handsome craft, as buoyart and light as a feather. The reporter had kept his note-book on hand, and had been busy making notes. They entered the cabin now. It was an elegantly furnished room. There were rich hangings, costly inlaid floor, luxurious furniture, and two handsome state- rooms with elegant bunks. EO OO AUUC SaGO