Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03

PACKED IN the pro1eetiie. There were also about
fifty gallons Of brandy, and water enough TO last
tor two months The travellers had no doubt
they would find water on the Moon, and food
too, for that matter. They were not SO certain,
however. about brandy.
Everything was nov prepared. The great
core was brought to the lannon's mouth, and
elevated by enormous windlasses. Here was
delieacy and danger. If those chains had bro
ken the fall of such an immense mass would
surely have exploded the gun-cottou, and the
shell would have travelled Woodward without
waiting for its passengers. But nothing unto
ward happened; and, after several hours work,
the shell was safely lowered to its proper posi-
ton on the mass of gun cotton.
As soon as this operation was SATISFACTORILY
BarbcRDe 5000, the amount of the third
wager. Barbicane was not willing to receive
the money under the circumstances, but Michel
insisted He wished to pay all his debts before
be left this world.
The first dav of December now arrived-a
very important day. For, II the passenger pro-
iectile we're not started on its way TO tue Moon
at exactly forty.six minutes and forty seconds
after 10 O'Clock that evening, more than eigh-
teen hundred years would elapse before the
Neon " ould again be found in the proper posi-
lions of zenith and perigree.
A perfectly enormous crowd surrounded
Stones Hill. From every portion of the United
States, and from various parts OF the Old World
spectators were assembled.
About O'Clock The Moon arose above the
horizon. Grandly and brightly she mounted
the skies, punctual TO minute to her appoint
cent welcome. Cheer after cheer arose from
five million threats.
Every one was now wild with excitement
Before the applause which greeted the Moon
had died away, the three lunar travellers APP
peaTed, ready for their voyage. On their ap-
pearance the applause burst forth with redou-
bled force; and then, impelied by national
enthusiasm the whole crowd began to sing, in
numbering chorus, the national air Of "la nkee
Doodle"
At last the singing ceased; all sound died
Il I..t, bad a,.Il sGkA
three travellers now approached the mouth of
the cannon. They shook hands with their
friends. 1t was touching scene. j. T. Maston
went: and, at this last moment, implored to be
allowed to 20 along. But Barbicane shook his
head. 1t was impossible.
The three companions descended to the she'll.
They entered 1t, and screwed the plate over the
orifice in the top. Then the windlasses and
ladders were removed from the mouth of the
cannon.
Everything was ready.
Two miles away, the civil engineer, Murchi-
son, Stood with his finger over the button of the
electric battery.
The silence became awful; people scarcely
the gaping mouth of the great gun. ''''N vi
Now there were but forty seconds remaining.
Each of these seemed an age. AT the twentieth
second the crowd fairly trembled with nervous
excitement. Some people sobbed, some tainted.
Then through the silence came the sound OF
counting: "thrty- five - thirty six !, - thirty
seven! - thirty-eight - thirty nine {! - forty!
Then Murcbison touched the button.
Immediately the most awful and unheard-ot
explosion took place Nothing like il was ever
imagined. If mighty volcano had burst into
ate ms the defamation could not have been more
fearful. A straight jet of fire sprang into the
AR, and seemed 10 pierce the very sky, and the
whole country, for hundreds of miles, was
lighted up. The ground shook as If an earth
quake had Iumbled beneath it. Not tone of that
vast asse mblage remained upright; men, women
and children were hurled upon the ground
together. The heated gas that arose from the
mouth of the cannon in such vast quantities
created partial vacuum, which was followed
by an awful hurricane, which swept down
every hut and tent in the vicinity, and
every tree within twenty miles; and burst upon
the town of Tampa, destroying hundreds of
houses, and among others st. Mary's Church
and the new Exchange building Great damage
was also done to the shipping in the port, many
vessels being torn from their anchorage and
dashed upon the shore. Ships, even at a great
distance upon the ocean, felt the effects of this
artificial storm, and the wreck OF the Chlde
Harold, of Liverpool, which occurred in conse-
quence OF the hurricane, was made the subject
of diplomatic circumstances on the part OF
England, which came near producing war be-
tween that country and the United States.
When all was again quiet, and the people
could once more stand erect, several millions OF
telescopes and opera glasses were pointed to-
wards the Moon. But they could not see the
of sight.
Notbing was now to be done but to wait for
Mountains.
The projectile was due at the Moon at mid
night of The it'll of December; and, from 5
o'clock until midnight OF that day, it might
have been possible, under favorable circum-
stances, to have watched the course of the she'll
which would have disappeared like black
point moving over portion of the bright face
of the Moon. But from the time of firing until
the night of the 18th of December the sky had
been overcast; nothing could be seen. On that
night a gre at wind-storm arose, and the clouds
nnyh fha
heavens, appeared the glorious Moon. Then
came news from the observatory of the Rocky
Mountains, which was telegraphed all over the
world. TIE projectle had been perceived
through the great telescope of the Gun Club :
The following is the substance OF the dispatch
The prOjectile fired from the great gun at
Stone Hill, December l. has been perceived
at forty seven minutes past O'Clock p. m. De-
cember II. The projectile has not reached the
Moon. lthas passed to one side; but it is near
enough, however, to be retained by the lunar
attraction. In this position its movement
has been changed to a circular motion of
great velocity, and it describes an clip
become satellite. The laws which govern this
new star have not yet been calculated; but 1t is
distant from the surface OF the Moon about 9 S33
miles. Either the attraction Of the Moon will
gradually draw the projectile to its surface, in
which case the travellers may attain the object
Of their voyage, or the projectile will continue
10 revolve around the Moon until the end of
time. The question will be settled some dav:
but. at the present, the experiment of the Gun
9Th has only resulted in giving a new star to
our solar system;
(Signed.) IT
III as nothing more for ana body to do in
thus business. No assistance could be rendered
the unfortunate travellers.
One man alone would not admit that the sit
uation was hopeless; this was the brave, indom-
liable j. L. Maston. He did not entirely lose
sight OF his friends. He took up his residence
at the observatory on the Rocky Mountains, by
the great telescope.
Every night when the Moon was visible he
gazed at 1t through this instrument and watched
the passagepf the passenger pr0iectile over its
gittering face. And thus he remained, as it
were, in perpetual communication with his
friends, who probably felt happy. in the certain
ty they must have felt that the worthy j. L.
Maston would keep his eye upon them as long
as he lived and the telescope held together.
He did not despair OF meeting them some day.
.'We will correspond with them" he would say,
to those who wished to hear, "when circum-
stances permit. 1 know them. They are in
geDious men; and they carry through space all
the resources of art, science, and industry.
With these they can do what they wish; and
you will see that they will yet come out all
right"
wooden Shoes.
Experience has shown that number of dis