The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20
MLRrBLLOUS ESCAPE.
Tho Very Nearly Fatal Result Of Rema rk-
ably Rash Experiment.


81 don't know that ought to tell the
story" said Mr. Ma9ufin. "but as Magruder Is
only just out of the hospital, and not very strong
yet guess ia slfe:
"Some years ago there was great corner 10
tho st. Louis bottle market. Bottles went up
nukin'. Every junk dealer had a standing order
to scoop IN all the empty bottles that offered,
and In three months they rose hundred per
cent. and all the small boys rot rich. A ship
mont OF the bottles was traced to a village in the
western part Of the State and there was found
the buyer. "A wealthy but eccentric farmer. who
had read that In a certain year within his proba-
BILE lifetime the atmosphere was to be with
drawn from the world, and all living things
would perish. lie purpOsed to circumvcnt the
Alnii.hty by bottllng IN vast quantity OF air
to serve In nrolonging his lie after the general
catastrophe, and he abandoned his fields and
spent most of his time cOrking and sealing bot
ties and stacking them away in AN enorm Gus
barn which he had built for the purpose.
NalTudcr broOded over this story a long
time. lie did not believe with the farmer hat
the atmosphere would be withdrawn, hut he
was anxious 10 try an experiment. and early last
summer his friends wer0 surprised to see him
one evening after dinner sitting on the front
steps with AN empty bottle beside him. They
were more surprised when Magruder clapped IA
a cork, clutched the bottle, and rushed up stairs
with II; and their establishment grew into blank
anazcment when he had repeated the act sew
erh times OF an evening and many Gays in sue
cessl0n'
one evening inter Magruder had carried up
one bottle he did not return. ana he had so
regularly repeated the bottle act several times
the same night that he was generally missed.
About one O'Clock In the morning the OOaricrs
were aroused Ivy ghostly Jumping and pound
in1 that could not be traced. and 80 the people
went to he'd again. Ono Of the uoarders, Oh his
wa T. bteasfnst while passing Nagrudcr's
room, heard n feeble kicking on the inner side,
and II ilasned over him th Il tnls was tue source
Of the mysterious noises Of the night before.
The door WIS broken Omen. md II few inward
with great velocity. Mnsruder was found al
most dead, but stii family kicking up his heels
lie WIS surrounded - "A mos remarkable col
lection Of bottles, nearly all OF them sealed up.
An the cranncs ana openings e the room were
securely stOpped against the passage VI air. and
the room WIS air-tight. Bu' the most wonder
ful discovery was an air pump Just outside Of
his window. with the suction opening into the
room. and the iumu working aut ON. AliN 10y a
ClOckwOrk att tChUcnt. winch could be ma le 10
set u In motion and exhaust the air from the
room. THIS made Gle r the nature of hlsruder's
experiment. He had Intended to see II a m an
could live On bottled air after the atmOsphere
was withdraw. The air pump had evidently
done IT'S work; how signally tho bottled air
failed to do It's part, hagrudet's diving condition
when found and ais jlsi ended six nOutns' ssay
In the hospital wildly attcsi.
He owes his life TO the mcrest accident. Ours
Ia boarding house street, aud II you should
walk through IL on ! summer nlsht you would
cease 70 wonder whore all the uiin 70 to. for
every house has one or more. As near ns can
calculate there are ninety pianos IN the block !;
and when tho windows aro open aud all Of the n
are being hammered on az once the effect Is
something startling. They play mostly lively
tunes and dance music. aud the air IL full of it,.
IL was this sort Of air. bish!y inIprogn&sj with
dance muSl., that Ma.rgIer bottled and YOU
see tho instant the nir-Drwn had exhausted the
room ana he began TO uncnrK the bottles, he
was poweglnss to &c sist its influence. lI set his
feet IN mOsl N. and ms movement attracted
attention before II was TOO lat. HAD he bot
tied ms air IN cool Weather. when tue windows
were closed, .Ias. uder wouII doubAe4l nJw %
dead m an