Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-11-05
The Storv Teller.
WHO w As HE"?!

year 1866, Mr. Blonger, senior member Of
the well-known firm of .Blonger d. Co., ma
chinists and manufacturers of marine en-
giues, established in 1903, was sitting before
a blazing fire in his office in the east end Of
London, when a visitor was announced
"Show him in. James," said the old gentle
man, and continued the perusal of the Times
A moment after, the door opened, and young
man, apparently about twenty-four years o.
aye, plainly attired, entered and stood hat il
hand, awaiting the leisure of the gentleman
who merely glanced at the stranger, and im
mediately resumed his paper evidently think
ing his visitor to be person Of no Importance
After silence of few minutes, Mr.. Blongel
laid down his paper, and looking up abruptly
said:
"Well, my good sir, what do you want with
me?'
care you the elder Mr. Blonger?" inquired
the stranger, with an unmistakable American
accent
81 am."
81 heard of you, and came to see you.
understand that you transact large and sue
cessful business, but it is not on that account
that have called upon you. l am told that
you have considerable influence with the chief
persons in the British government, and it is
for that reason that I pay you this visit"
Mr.. Bonger placed his gold-rimmed spec
tacles on his nose, and gazed in mute aston
ishment at his visitor, who continued
II am the inventor, or discoverer rather, Of
secret of nature, process which will revo
lutonize the world, which will reverse natur
al laws, which will inaugurate new order Of
things; discovery, the results Of which are
are so vast that no human mind can compre
hend them. In short, I can suspend the Law
Of gravitation."
At this monstrous assertion look Of alarm
appeared upon the countenance of the listen
err but as he compared his own brawny frame
with the slight figure of the lunatic before
him, it gave place to contemptuous smile
and he answered somewhat impatiently-
"Well, well, my dear sir, perhaps you can
perhaps you can; but | am not in that line O
business, and you had better apply to some
body else.
The young man went on with imperturba
BILE gravity. 81 can swing the mightiest man
ofwar England possesses into the air with my
little finger I can lift the largest cannon Il
Woowich like cork | am"
Eyes, yes, know-but [ am busy now,
replied the manufacturer, rising and advanc
ing toward the bell to summon servant.
"Wait, Mr.. Blonger," said his visitor in {
tone of such deep earnestness that that gen
tleman hesitated in spite Of himself-"wait s
moment; am not mad know you do moi
believe me, and do not wonder at it but
will show you that what say is true"
He laid his hat upon the table, and drew
from the breast pocket of his coat glisteninl
blue wire There was an iron anvil in cor
ner of the ROOM He wound the coil Of wire
round the anvil in moment, lifted it like {
feather from its place to the middle Of th'
apartment, and then stepped proudly back
The anvil hoatcd like bubble in the air.
TO say that Mr.. Blonger looked astonishe(
and aghast would convey but mild idea o
the expression Of his countenance at this mo
ment. 1t was one Of absolute horror. HI
stood gazing first at the anvil and then at th'
man, and at last, with sigh of relief, he ejac
ulated, "perhaps this is only jugglery," anc
dropped into chair. The young American
snatched the coil of wire from around the an
vii, and it fell at once with terrible force
crushing in a portion of the floor. 81 bes
your pardon, sir, but is there any juggler,
about that, think you?' he asked with a smile
and also sat down. The conversation tina
ensued was long and earnest, and resulted il
this conclusion: Mr.. Blonger was to motif,
one or two of his personal friends in the cabi
net, several scientific men ofhigh repute, ant
two or three prominent foreigners, the whole
number not to exceed twelve, that he wishe'
concert a wonderful discovery in science, tn
nature Of which would then be communicated
The young stranger agreed to repeat his ex
periments on the occasion Of tl" ncetmc, AM
explain the process by means Of which the.
were accomplished ; for the prcsrilL he dcclin
ed to make any further revelations.
On the night of the 23d Of November, 1856
there assembled in St. Georges Hail. in Lon
don, three members of the English cabinet
four gentlemen we'll known in the scientfi
world, two prominent Frenchmen and tw
Italians-eleven in all, exclusive Of Mr.. Blon
ger. At the earnest solicitation of that gen
tleman, these persons had come to meet the,
knew not whom, and see they knew not what
On the PLATFORM at the end Of the hail. lay
small cannon, a heavy piece Of iron shafting
and several large iron wheels. What thcs
articles were for, they could not imagine. A
halfpast eight o'clock the young man arrived
and was introduced by Mr.. Blonger as
young American who did not care to have hi
name announced. The stranger was dresse'
i'll a rough suit, the worse for wear, and wor
slouched black hat. His hair was brow
and straight, his eyes were large and brigh
gray in color, and his face was as destitute Q
beard as woman's. He was above the me
dinm hcinht mud unrx slenler and his 40