Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-06-22

ago. DO you remember relating to
me at that time an incident concerning
the effects OF prairie on fire. that YOU
had yourself witnessed but few days
previously near the town of Mata-
gorde: If l recollect correctly you
stated that on your return Journey
from that place you passed on the way
th1 charred remains of two wagon
loads of cotton and three human beings
that tho night before had perished in
the flames that the three slaves. the
property of Mr.. Horton, had started
a few days before to carry shipment
OF cotton; that a norther overlook
them on the treeless prairie, and few
minutes afterwards they were surprised
by beholding n line Of rushing fire
surglng, roaring and advancing like
the rcsistlcss biliows Of an ocean swept
by gale that there was no time for
escape, and they perished terribly in
lighting the devouring element
Yes. | recollcct the event.
Now, then, ! wish reply to the
simple question, did not the single
spark, that kindied the confederation
consume the negroes and their charge
No: But what did You reply, of
course. that the spark set toe entire
1 prairie on fire that each spear Of grass
! added fuel TO the flame, and klndlcd
! by degrees conf!agration that con
tlnued 10 burn 50 long as it could feed
on fresh material. The pilIulc III that
/ phial is the little spark. the oceans are
the prairies. and the Oxygen the fuel
| upon which the fire is to feed until the
/ globe perishes in inextnguishable
flames. The elementary substances in
that soall phial rccrcate themselves
they are sclf-gcnerating, aud when
once fairly under way, must neccs,ari-
iy sweep onward, until the waters In
all the seas are exhausted There is,
however, one great difference between
/ the burning Of prairie and the com
huNtion OF an ocean, the lire at first
spreads slowly, for the fuel is difficult
TO ignite; III the last, il flies with the
rapldity Of the wind, for the substance
j. oxygen, and thr most lnilanmabIe
agent IN nature
Rising from my seat | went to the
washstand IN the corner Of the apart
mcnt and drawing bowl half flll Of
Spring Valley water, | turned to sun
meriield and remarked Words are
empty theories are iical-bnt facts
are things
i take Won NJ Your WORT 50 SAY
ins. hr approached thr bowl emptloi
II OF nue-tcnths Of it, contents, aud
silently dropped the potassium-coated
Pill into the liquid. the potassium
danced around the edges Of the vessel.
iumnI, kissing ami blazing, a. ii
always does, and Scemcl on Tie point
Of expiring when 70 my a3,t2ni7hmsnt
and IN 2 second Of time the water wa,
blazing IN rcd, Iurid column half-way
to the ceiling.
Fer Cod, SAX cried. cxtin-ui~t
the Ilamc, Or sc Shall ... nc building
on fine II
Had I dropped the potassium into
the bowl ~ YOU prepared it. ~ quietly
remarked. the building would indeed
have been consumed l,wrr aul
lower frll the illckcrinL flames, paicr
and Palcr grew the blaze, until finally
the lifc went out, and | rushed up tn
see the effect Of the comhustion.
Not Il drop or water remained in thr
vessel A.tpnlshvl brvuni measure
at what had Witnessed and terrified
almost 10 the verge of insanity. ap-
preached Summerield and trcmbiiu.y
inquired, 10 whom, iii. i, tn, l,c-
rncndous secret known: 10 myself
alone. he responded and nov answer
me question, Is It worth the money I:
1t = entirely unnecessary TO relate lu
detalt the subsequent events con .ycted
with thi. transaction. will only add
a general statement, showing the
result, OF my negotiations. Having
/ fully satisfied myself that Nu nmertitld
/ actually held IN his hands the fate OF
the whole world with its millions ur
human beings, and by experiment hav-
IN tcstct. the combustion of sea water.
with equal facility as fresh, nest
deemed It my duty TO call tile attention
ot few Of the principal men in san
Francisco 10 the extreme Importance
OF Nuuinerlicid's discovery
\ leading banker. a bishop, a chem
i-t. two State University professors. a
phy sician, 4 judge and Two Protestant
divine, were selected by me to witness
the experiment on large scale. This
was done al a small sandhill lake, near
the sea shore, but separated from il
by ridge Of lofty mountains, distant
not more than ten miles from San
Francisco. Every single drop Of wa
ter In the pool was burnt up in less
than fifteen minutes. We next did all
that we could to pacify Summcrteld,
and cndeavo ored to induce him 10 lower
his price and bring it within the
bounds of II reasonable possibility.
But without avail. He began to grow
urgent III his demands, and his brow
would cloud like Il tempest-rid SKY
whenever we approach him on the sub
ject. Finally, asccrtainlng that no
persuasion could soften his heart or
touch his feelsngs, Subcommittee
was appointed 10 endeavor if possible
to raise the money by subscription.
Before taking that step, however, We
ascertalned beyond ali question that
Summerheid was the sole custodian oi
this dread secret, and that he kept no
written memorial of the formula OF. III,
f prescription. He even went so far a.
to offer Us IA penal bond that his secret
should perish with him in case IS,
/ complied with his demands.
, The subcommittee soon commence,
!. work amongst the wealthiest citizens d
Sun Francisco. and by appealing to til,
u terrors of few and the >ympathie- OF al
: succeeded in raising oDe-half lht
y amount within the prescribed period.
: shall never forget the wo-bcgone lace
5 oi California street during the month .
October. The outside world and tin
Il