INVENTOR'S LAST WORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 336, 24 June 1911, Page 10

INVENTOR'S LAST WORDS.

"A SUCCESS." DEATH IN HOUR OF TRIUMPH. "A tragedy of joy" best describes the death of Mr. Charles Edwin Bratt, the sawmill engineer, who expired from heart failure owing to excitement shortly after witnessing the successful completion of some machinery he had invented. Fifteen year* of unremitting toil and patient care had gone to the making of this machinery, which he had designed for the purpose of making casks at the rate of five or six thousarid u day. A small private syndicate was recently formed, Mr. Brntt being appointed managing director, to work the invention, which consists of eight elaborate machines. These were delivered some months ago at temporary premises hired by the syndicate at South Bromley, near Poplar, and on Monday the principal machines were subjected to important teste. "The result," said Mr. Arthur van .Someran, secretary of t.hc syndicate, "was in every respect satisfactory, and Mr. Bratt, feeling that his invention of many years' labor was a triumphant success, expressed unbounded delight. 'Nothing could be better.' he said to the foreman, and then, ringing me up on the telephone, he exclaimed excitedly. 'The machines are working beautifully.' Willi a cheery T'ood-night' to the men "i (he workshop he left the ollice. and a few minutes after reaching home expired in his armchair. His last words to liis wife were, ''nicy are a success.' "Over-exertion. ,-,* much as excitement. I am persuaded, caused his death. For years past Ms invention had meant al»>"s|. everything to him. and he had worked at it ninht and day, designing J l "' phins. superintending the nmntrfac•ll'' ot the machines i u various parts ot Hie country, attending to the patents, and carrying on all sorts of negotintmiK So carefully had he arranged cver.vthmg (hat there will be no difficulty m working the invention, but we feel that we have lost an inventive genius."