Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-10-16
WHO WAS HEf
BY G.. NJ. MARSHALL.

On dreary November afternoon in
the year 1866 Mr.. Blonger, senior mem
Der of the well-known firm of Blonger &
Co, machinists and manufacturers of
marine engines, established in 1903, was
sitting before blazing fire in his office
in the east end of London when visitor
was announced. "Show him in, James,"
said the old gentleman, and continued
the perusal of the Times. A moment
after the door opened and young man,
apparently about twenty-four years of
age, plainly attired, entered and stood,
hat in hand, awaiting the leisure of the
gentleman, who merely glanced at the
stranger and Immediately resumed his
paper, evidently thinking his visitor to
be a person of no Importance. After a
silence of few minutes Mr.. Blonger
laid down his paper and, looking up, alb
ruptly said;
"Well, my good sir, what do you
want with me?"
"Are you the elder Mr.. Blonger!" in
quired the stranger with an unmistakable
American accent.
81 am"
81 heard of you and came to see you.
| understand that you transact large
and successful business, but it is not on
that account that | have called upon
you, j am. toll. that .Xou. .hav9 ,e1SSif9NI1
ms Government, and it is for that reason
that / pay you this visit"
Mr.. Blonger placed his gold-rimmed
spectacles on his nose and gazed in mute
establishment at his visitor, who con-
tinued
II am the inventor, or discoverer,
rather, of L secret of nature, process
which will revolutionize the world,
which will reverse natural laws, which
will inaugurate new order of things; a
discovery the results of which are so
vast that no human mind can compre-
hend them. In short, can suspend the
law of gravitation."
At this monstrous assertion look OF
alarm appeared upon the countenance OF
the listener, but as he compared his own
brawny frame with the slight figure OF
the lunatic before him it gave place to
contemptuous smile as he answered, some
what impatiently
"Well, well, my dear sir, perhaps you
can-perhaps you can; but | am not II
that line of business and you had Dettel
apply to somebody else"
The young man went on with lmper
turbable gravity: can swing TN
mightiest man-of-war England possesse
|
III. H. .isl NJ Isn gest Cannon at Woolwich lik
cork; l can"
"Yes, yes, Iknow-but am busy now,
replied the manufactures, rising and ac
vancing toward the bell to summon
servant.
"Wait, Mr. Blonger," said his visitor
in tone of such deep earnestness tina
that gentleman hesitated in spite of hin
self" wait a moment. i am not mad.
know you do not believe me and do nc
wonder at it; but ] will show you thf
: what say is true"
He laid his hat upon the table an
! drew from the breast,pocket of his Goa
glistening blue wire. There was a
r iron anvil in a corner of the room.
I wound the coil of wire round the anv
in moment, lifted it like feather frol
i, its place to the middle Of the apartmen
and then stepped proudly back, I'll
anvil floated like bubble in the air.
To say that Mr.. Blonger looked a
tonished and aghast would convey but
mild idea of the expression of his cou
d tenance at this moment. 1t was one
s absolute horror, He stood gazing fir
G at the anvil and then at the man, and
2, last, with a sigh OF relief, he elaculate
&c Perhaps this Is only jugglery," al
n lean snatched the coil of wire fro
G. with terrific force, crushing in porti
Ii of the floor. "I beg your pardon, 8
at but is there any jugglery about tn
~ think your" he asked, with smi
n and also sat down. The conv
.s sation that ensued was long a
I'd earnest, and resulted in this conclusio
le, Mr.. Blolger was to notify one or two
e. his personal friends in the Cabinet, 81
ch eral scientific men of high repute, a
es two or three prominent foreigners,
sc whole number not to exceed twelve, Il
ne he wished them to meet him in order
a investigate in concert wonderful
ty covery in science, the nature of VIII
tie would then be communicated.
ct, young Stranger agreed to repeat his
ng perimeIts on the occasion of the me
II ing, and explain the process by meani
he which they were accomplished; for
Ily presenthe declined to make any furt
or revelations.
he On tbs night of the 23d of Noveml
wi 1866, there assembled in st. Geori
in Hall, in London, three members of
nd, English Cabinet, four gentlemen '
,he known in the scientific world, two pr
les inent Frenchmen, and two ItaliaI
The eleven in all, exclusive of Mr.. Blon
ne At the earnest solicitation of that {
'Ae tleman these persons had come to n
ing they knew not whom and see they kl
lbp not what. On the platform at the en-
l,ir the hall lay small cannon, a he
Gk piece of iron shafting and several Ii
sof iron wheels. What these articles v
.d, for they could not Imagine, AT half
Ids eight o'clock the young man arrived
els was introduced by Mr.. Blonger TO
ad, friends as young American who
ler not care to have his name announ
TIN The stranger was dressed in d rough
the worse for wear, and wore slouC