Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-07-04

flames that the three slaves. the prop.
eriy OF Mr.. Horton, had started few
days before to larry shipment Of cot.
ton that northerner overlook them on
the trecless prairie, and few minutes al.
forwards they were surprised by behold
ing line OF rushing fire, surging roar
ing and advancing like the resistless bill
lows Of an ocean swept by gale; that
there was no time for an escape. and they
perished terribly in fighting the devour.
ing element"
"Yes, | recollect the event"
Now, then. wish 10 reply 10 the sim
pie question, did not the simple spark
That kindled the conhagration, consume
negroes and their charge? Mop But
what did? You reply, OF course. that
the spark sci the entire prairie on fire;
that each spear of grass added fuel to the
flame. and kindled by degrees a confia-
grafton that continued to burn 30 long as
il could feed OH fresh material. Tho pill
ule in that phial is the little spark. the
oceans are the prairies. and the oxygen
the luel upon which the fire is TO feed
until the earth perishcs in inextnguish-
able flames The elementary substances
in that phial recreaio themselves; they
are self generating, and when once fair
ly Under way, must necessarily sweep
onward, until tho waters in all the seas
are exhausted There is, however, one
great difference between the burning OF
prairie and the combustion OF an ocean;
the fire at first spreads slowly, for the fu-
el is difficult to ignite; in the last it flies
with the rapidity OF the wind, for the sub
stance is oxygen, and the most infiam.
mablc agent in nature"
Rising from my scat | went to the
waslistand in the corner OF tho apartment,
and drawing n bowl halt fun OF Spring
Valley water, ] turned TO Summerfield
and remarked, "wofds are. empty, ihco
ries are ideal-but facts are things"
IL take you at your word" So saying
he approached tho bowl, emptied it OF
nine.tenths of its contents. and silently
dropped the potassium-coated pill into
the liquid. The potassium danced
around the edges OF the vessel, fuming,
Kissing and blazing as it always docs.
and seemed on the point oi expiring.
when, to my astonisbment and alarm, u
sharp explosion took place. and in sec
ond OF time the water was blazing In 4
red lurid column halfway to the ceiling.
.'For Gad's sake. cried. "extingush
the flames or we shall set the building on
| fire!"
Had dropped the potassium into the
bowl as you prepared it," he quietly re-
marked, "the building would indeed
have been consumed" Lower and lower
fell The ilickering flames, palcr and paler
grew the blaze, until finally the fire
wen: out. ami rushed up to see the eft.
fects OF the combustion.
Not drop of water remained in the
vossel! Astonisbcd beyond measure at
what had witnessed and terrified almost
TO the verge OF insanity, l approached
Summerficld and tremblingly inquired,
..to whom, sir, is this tremendous secret
known" ITO myself alone he respond
ed; "aud now answer me question, ia
il worth the money!"
II Is entirely unnecessary 10 relate in de-
tail the sub sequent events connected with
the transaction will only add gen
cral statement, showing the results OF
my negotiations Having satisfied my.
sell that Summcriicld actually held in his
hands the fate OF the whole world with
its millions of human beings, and by ex-
pertinent having tested the combustion OF
sea water, with equal facility rs fresh,
deemed il my duty to call the attention
OF few oil the principal men in San
Francisco to the extreme Importance OF
| SuUmertleliS y discovery.
A leading banker. u bishop, chemist
two State Univelsi sity professors, a physi'
clan, Judge and two protestent divines
were selected by me to witness the cx'
pertinent on large scale. This was
done on q small sandhill lake. near the
sea shore, but separated from it by lofty
range OF mountains, 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 next did ali that we could to pacify
Summerlield, and to induce him 10 lower
his price and bring 1t within the bounds
of reasonable possibility. But without
avail. lie began to grow urgent In his
demands. and his brow would cloud like
tempest ridden sky whenever we ap
preached him on the subject.
Finally ascertaining that no per
s,,asion could soften his heart or touch
his feelings. subcommittee was ap'
pointed to cndeavor to raise the money
by subscription. Before taking that STEP
however, we ascertained beyond all ques
ton that Summeriield was the sole custo'
dian of this dread secret, and that he
kept mo- written memorial Of the formu-
Ia of his prescription. He even went so
far as to offer us u penal bond that his
secret should perish with him in case we
complied with his demands.
The subcommittee soon commenced
work amongst the wealthicst citizens OF