The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-06-24

for an instant? I do no. assert
that the entire surface Of the sea
would instantaneously bubble up
into insufferable flames; no, but
from the nucleus of a circle, OF
which this phial would be the cer-
:er, lurid radii Of flames would
shoot outward, until the
blazing circumference would roll
N vast billows of fire upon the
uttermost shores. Not all the
clouds of the deluge could
extinguish it. nor all the tears of
saints and angels could for aa in.
slant check lis progress. Onward
and onward it would sweep. with |
the steady gait of destiny until the
continents would melt with fervent
heat, the atmosphere glare with the
ominous conflagration, and all liv-
ing creatures-i1 land and sea and
air-perish in one universal catas-
trophe.'
Then. suddenly starting to his
feet, he drew himself to his full
height, and murmured solemniy,
/ feel like God, aud recognize
my fellow men but as pigmies that
I spurn meath my feet
At this Parker states that he at
tempted to reason with Summer
field upon the absurdity of believ
ing that he held in his hands power
SO mighty, at which the latter re
torted with quotations from the
Scripture, Humboldt's Cosmos and
the works of famous astronomical
writer's. proving that it was not
only possible for entire planets to
be destroyed by fire, but that such
terrible events had actually oc-
Cured. This answer concluded.
he handed Parker a small phial. re-
questing him to open it and smell
of its contents, the result being
that strong odor of potassium
was observed. At this Summer
fell continued, OF course said
he, "vou are familiar with the chief
characteristic of that substance
1t ignites instantly when brought
into contact with water Within
that little globule Of potassium |
have imbeddeh pill OF my own
composition aud discovery. The
NJ oment it is liberated from the po-
tassium, it commences the work oi
decomposing the fluid on which il
floats. The potassium at once ig-
mites The liberated oxygen, and the
conflagration OF this mighty globe
is begun
Yes, said I, begun, il yot
please, hut your little pill soor
eyaporates or sinks, or melts in th'
surrounding seas, and your confla'
grafton ends just Where it began
But sueered he, the elementa
ry substances in that small phia
recreate themselves; they are self
generating, and when once fairl,
under way, must necessarily SWEEP
onward, until the waters in all tn
seas are exhausted.
Rising from my seat, went t.
the wash stand in the corner Of tn
apartment, and drawing a bowl full
OF Spring Valley water, turnet
to Summerfield and remarked
"W ords are empty, theories ar
ideal, but facts are things
Il take you at your word S
saying, he approached the bowl
cmptied it O: -tenths of it
contents, and silently dropped tn
potassium coated pill into the Ii
quid. The potassium danced roun
the edges Of the vessel, fumine
Kissing and blazing, as it AWAY
does, and seemed on the point Q
expiring, when to my astonishmen
and alarm sharp explosion too
place, and in a second of time til
water was blazing in a red, luri
column half the way to the ceiling
For Gods sake cried, 'extin
euish the flames, or we shall set th
building on fire
Had l dropped the potassr'
into the bowl as you prepared il
he quietly remarked, the buiIdin
indeed would have been consume
Lower and lower fell the fiickerin
flames, paler and paler grew tt
blaze, until finally the fire wei
out, and l rushed up to see tt
effect of the combustion.
. Not drop of water RENAME
r in the vessel! Astonished beyor
measure at what l had witnesse
, and terrified almost to the verge
, insanity, l approached Summe
+ field ami tremblingly inquired: I
whom, sir, is this terrible seer
/. known3' 'To myself, alone he r
a sponded, and now answer me
, question, is it worth the money!
1T is entirely unnecessary 20 r
Q late in detail the subseq ent even
4 connected with the transaction.
J, would only add a general stat
mcnt, showing tie result of II
negotiation Having fully satisi
t myself that Summerfie!d actual
| held in his hands the fate of t.
L whole world, with its millions
: human beings, and by experime
) having tested tue combustion
d sea water, with equal facility
o fresh, | next deemed it my duty