Sylvester H. Roper
An American inventor of 73, who sadly, was overcome by the excitement at the success of his machine, and while riding it at the Charles River track, Boston, died from the intensity of his emotion.
The trial of his steam bicycle, during which he had met his death, was the consummation of an idea whcih had cost him years of study and hard labour. The machine on which he was riding had been tried and altered as defects were found, over and over again, and he had just succeeded in getting it to suit himself.
As far as can be learned, it was a great success in every way, as it was worked up to a great speed without showing any of the straining or twisting which had always been the trouble with bicycles operated in any other many than by foot-power.[1]