The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-06-10
arts of our

baseless, proftless speculation"
.sNot so fast" he answered. And
then rising, he seized the small phial
and handing it to me requested me TO
open it.
I confess I did SO with some trepida-
tion.
"Now smell il"
I did SO.
"What odor do you perceive ?'
potassium. replied.
ssOi course" he added, ssyou are famil- |
| lar with the chief characteristic of that
substance it ignites instantly when |
/ brought in contact with water. Within
that little globule of potassium I have
imbedded pill of my own composition
and discovery. The moment it is hberat-
ed from the potassium, it commences the
work of decomposing the fluid on which
it floats. The potassium at once ignites
the liberated oxygen, and the conflagra,
ton of this mighty globe is begun"
eyes, said I, abegun, if you please,
but your little pill soon evaporates or
sinks, or melts in the surrounding seas,
aud your conHagration ends just where it
began"
sMy reply to that suggestion could be
made at once by simply testing the ex-
pertinent on a small scale or large one,
either. But [ prefer at present to refute
your proposition by an argument drawn
from nature herself If you correctly
remember the frst time / had the pleas
ure Of seeing you was on the island of
Galveston, many years ago. Do you
remember relating to me at that time an
!, incident concerning the effects of a
prairie on FIRE, that you had yourself
witnessed but a few days previously near
i the town of Matagorda Ii recollect
correctly you stated that on your return
l journey from that place you passed on
the way the charred remains of two
r wagon-loads of cotton and three human
? beings that the night before had perished
b in the flames that three slaves, the
1 property of Mr.. Horton, had started a
a tew days before to carry to market a
: shipment Of cotton that nortber over
took them on the trackless prairie, aud a
s few minutes afterwards they were sur
s prised by beholding line of rushing
II fire, surging, roaring and advancing like
n the resistless billows of an ocean swept
:, by-a gale; that there was no time fol
e escape, and they perished terribly it
e fl hitting the devouring element ?"
d ayes, | recoiect the event"
II sNow, then, l wish reply to The
% simple question, did the single spark
al that kindled the conhagration consume
IN the negroes and their charge 2 No? Blu
t. what did You reply, of course that thu
e, spark set the entire prairie on FIRE; tina
le each spear OF grass added fuel to th
D flame, and kiudled by degrees conha
e, grafton that continued to burn SO long =
N it could feed on fresh material. Th
,n pillule in that phial is the little spark
I'd the oceans are the prairies, and tn
"a oxygen the fuel upon which the fire is t
rk feed until the globe perishes in mex
Us anguishable flames. The elementar
n substances in that small phial recreat
a themselves they are generating
ir and when once fairly under way, mus
necessarily sweep onward, until tn
at waters In all the seas are exhausted
AT There is, however, one great differenc
d. between the burning of a prairie and til
ed combustion of an ocean the fire in tn
on first spreads slowly, for the fuel
ne difficult to ignite in the last, it file
aa with the rapidity of the wind, for til
a substance consumed is oxygen, the mo-
In Inhainmable agent In nature"
ry Rising from my seat, [ went to til
M, washstand in the corner of the apar
or ment, and drawing a bowl half full
We Spring Valley water, turned to Suu
in mer6eld aud remarked, Words al
he empty, theories are ideal-bnt facts al
til things"
be II take you at your word" So sayin
I'M he approached the bowl, emptied it {
bic nine tenths of its contents, and silent
ed dropped the potassium coated ill in
me the liquid. The potassium dance
Eas around the edges of the vessel, fumih
tbs Kissing and blazing, as it always doe
net and seemed on the point of expirin
ng when, to my astonishment and alarm
ing sharp explosion took place, and in
adj second of time the water was blazing
its red, lurid column half way up to Il
ars ceiling.
ra- s.For Gods sake, / cried, 'sextingui.
re- the flames or we shall set the building
re- fire y
Us, Had dropped the potassium into tt
en- bowl as you prepared il" he quietly !
the marked, the building would indie,
me have been consumed Lower aud low
he fell the Pickering faraes. ralcr al
ee, paler grew the blaze. until finally Il
of fire went out, aud I rushsd up to see Il
effests of the combustion. S
ap, Not q drop of water remained in Il
] it yessell Astonished beyond measure
ro- what had witnessed and terrified alme
eat to the verge of insanity, | approach
di- SummerfeId and tremblingly inquire
ing ssTo whom, sir, is this tremendous seci
ess known r ssTo myself alone, he respon
fla ed ssand |now answer me question,
BON ii worth the money
re- 4
his II Il ant;ra,y nDneoess.rv - rela,.
Ca detail the s,hse.
on r;.b tb;s tray,sac,;ar tr.sa s.;u ..,.. :
a general statement, showing the resui