The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-07-01

carl sweep onward, until all the seas are
exhausted
"Rising from my seat l went to the
wash~stand in the corner of the apart
nent, and drawing bowl full of Spring
valley water, turned to Summerfield and
remark, words are empty theories are
ideal-bdt facts are things
Il take you at your word So say
Ing he approached the bowl, emptied it
OF nine>tenths of its contents, and silently
dropped the potassium coated pill into the
liquid. The potassium danced around
the edge of the vessel, fuming, Kissing and
blazing. as ii always does, and seemed on
the point of expiring, when to my aston
lsh1nent and alarm a sharp explosion took
place, and in q second of time the water
was blazing in red, larid column half
way to the ceiling.
"'for Gods sake l cried, 'extin~
gulsh the flames or we shall set the build
ing on ire!'
clad | dropped the potassium into the
bowl as you prepared it, he Quietly res
marked, 'the building would indeed have
been consumed Lower and lower fell
the Pickering flames, paler and paIer grew
the blaze; until finally the fire went out,
and | rushed up to see the effect of the
combustion.
Not drop of water remained in the
vessel Astonished beyond measure at
what had witnessed, and terrified almost
to the verge of insanity, | approached
Summerffeld and trembIingly inquired
TO whom, sir, is this tremendous secret
known2' 80 myself aIone,' he respond
ed 'and now answer me a question-is
it worth the money?'
cit is entirely unnecessary to relate il
detail the subsequent events connected
with the transaction. l will only add
general statement, showing the results Of
my negotiation. Having folly satisfied
myself that Summerfield actually held in
his hands the fate of the whole world,
with its millions of human beings, and by
experiment having tested the combustion
of sea water, with equal facility as fresh,
l next deemed it my duty to call the atten-
ton of a few of the principal men in San
Frarcisco to the extreme Importance of
Summerfeld's discovery.
A leading banker, a bishop, a chemist,
State University professors, a physician,
judge, and two Protestant divines were
selected by me to witness the experiment
on large scale. This was dene at
small sandhill lake near the seashore, but
separated from it by ridge of lofty noun
tains, distant not more than ten miles
from San Francisco: Every single drop
of water in the pool was burnt up in less
than fifteen minutes. We pext did all
we could to pacify Summerfield, and en-
deavored to induce him to lower his price
and bring it within the bounds of possi-
bility. But without avail. He began to
grow urgent in his demands.
''The subcommittee soon commenced
work amongst tho wealthiest citizens of
San Francisco, and by appealing to the
terrors of few and the sympathies of all,
succeeded in raising one-half the amount
within the prescribed period. shall
never forget the woe begone faces of Cali
fornia street during the month of October.
The outside world and the newspapers
spoke most learnedly of money panic-a
pressure in business; and the disturbances
in the New York gold-room. But to the
initiated there was an easier solution Of
the enigma. The pale spectre of death
looked down upon them all, and pointed
with his bony finger to the fiery tomb Of
the whole race, already looming up in the
distance before them. Day after day /
could see the dreadful ravages of this Sc
cret horror, doubly terrible, since they
dare not divulge it. Still, do all that
they could, the money could not be obtain
ed The day preceding the last one given,
Summerfield was summoned before the
committee, and full information given him
cruel he still continued. Finally, a pro-
position was started that an attempt
should be made to rase the ether half of
the money in the City of New York. To
this proposition Summerfield ultimately
yielded, but with extreme reluctance. 1t
was agreed in committee, that l should
accompany him hither, and take with me,
in my own possession, evidences of the
sums subscribed here that a proper sp-
peal should be made to the leading capi-
talists, scholars and clergymen of that
metropolis, and that, when the whole
amount was raised, it should be paid
over to Summerfield and bond taken
from him never to diyulge his awful secret
to any human being.
'sWith this he seemed to be satisfied,
and left US to prepare for his going the
next morning.
s'As soon as he left the apartment, the
bishop arose, and deprecated the action
that had been taken, and characterized it
as childish and absurd He declared
that no man was safe one moment whilst
shat diabolical wretch still lived; that
the only security for us all was in his i'm
mediate extirpation from the face of the
earth, and that no amount of money
could seal his lips or close his hands. 1t
would be no crime, he said, TO deprive
him of the means of assassinating the
whole human family, and as for himself