With the advent of the steam engine, came a reason to equate the output of horses with the engines that could replace them. Horsepower translates into work done over time, and the exact definition of one horsepower is 33,000 lb.ft./minute.

Whether that makes sense or not, did you know that the term, "horsepower" was actually coined in 1794 by James Watt to help market his invention, the improved steam engine? No? Well, apparently neither did the family pictured above who have been in need of help for some time. 

Whatever went wrong on this forgotten byway so long ago, there is a vicarious satisfaction in knowing that it is not your problem. Did they make it back to civilization and the safety and reliability of…horses?

The truth may never be known or set anything free.

 
Sources:

http://www.web-cars.com/math/horsepower.html

Image Credits

http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/HUMOR.html

By M.Dee Dubroff

M Dee Dubroff is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York. Primarily a writer of ghostly and horror fiction, she has branched out into the world of humorous non fiction writing. She maintains eight web sites covering a wide variety of topics and writes feature articles for several local newspapers. Her book entitled: A Taste of Funny, features many well researched and humorous articles on the subject of food and drink.

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