Smyrna times., 1877-12-26

] 'i"t We Hlu 10 stOop quite low Of
entering. Mr.. Sloane entered first. and
followed. found myself in a circula
apartment, which was equal in size to
room fourteen or fifteen feet square.
walked over the iron floor, and sat down OF
a chair. Mr.. Sloane no sooner saw m,
liked there, than, with a sudden move
ment, he darted through the door again
and closed it with sudden bang after
him.
Come Mr.. Sloane I exclaimed, in an
angry tone, "this is too much of Joke
let me out instantly"
The only reply that received was a wild
laugh-a laugh that froze my blood-fol
my professional experience enabled me to
detect that it was the laugh of maniac.
Doctor" he exclaimed. after pauso nj
few minutes, l "wish you very good
evening. You will have to pass the night
IN your present abode Before night is
over, you will be able, doubtless. to under
stand all about my machine, apparatus or
whatever you like to call it,"
The idea suddenly entered nv head that
there might be some means of escona 7
again rose from my chair, and began to ex.
anime my dungeon more narrowly.
found that | was entirely surrounded bv
IRON walls, as smooth as glass. and SO hiobIv
polished that the reflection of the light
suspended in the centre began to make NV
eyes ache. could not discover the
slightest crevice or protuberance on the
surface OF the metal cast my eyes up to
theceiling, and judged that it was about ten
feet from the floor. The ceiling was an OK.
ceptlon to the walls, for, instead of being
smooth like the latter, it was composed of
twelve iron plates, overlapping each other
on the outside, and SO plainly to be dis.
tngulshed that | could count them with.
out the slightest difficulty.
When had finished examining NV
prison, determined to pass the night as
comfortably as possible, and, sitting down.
recllned my head on the table, and closed
my eyes. fell asleep. How long | slept
know not, but | was awakened bv \
peculiar sound. At first thought if was
some one grinding a knife on a grindstone
-ior 1t was purring, rasping sound. But
soon found that it was too loud for that
Tor 1t caused a slight, vibratory motion in
my prison.
jumped up from my seat and rubbod
my eyes. Was it fancy? But really
thought that my dungeon looked LITTLE
smaller than before I went to sleen.
cast my eyes up to the ceiling, and counted
the iron plates of which it was comnosed
There were only eleven! Pshaw! I had
counted them incorrectly before.
" What fool my Imagination is maxine
81 me-! | exclaimed, as sat down again
% soppose my friend, Mr.. Sloane. is at
work with some of his machinery, and it is
lhls that causes the sound and gives tho
'lbratory motion to the ROOM"
suppose quarter of an hour elonsed
'eiore decided this knotty point. then
'galn raised my eyes and glanced ornupd
me- ielt myself grow pale as death. and
ny heart almost stood still. The dungeon
vas certainly smaler-palpably, unmis.
akably smaller again cast my ewes nm to
he ceiling, and counted only nine plates or
DIVISIONS. The roof was certainly lower
There could be no mistake about it now
the walls were visibly closing in all
round me. The ceiling was now SO low
hat could touch it with my hand. The
ound OF machinery at work now becap,o
eafening to my ears.
At last | sank exhausted in tho ol,o;n
nd fell into kind of stupor. remained
TINS condition perhaps half an hour. and
'as aroused at last by something pressing
gaihst my knees. Jumped up from nv
eat and struck my head violently against
ne roof of the dungeon-for the CEILING
ad become so low as not TO allow r,o -
land upright. The walls had now an.
reached so closely together, that I could
sach any part of them by stretching out
" arms, and it was the pressure of the
elentless iron against my knees that bod
roused me. / now counted but three
VISIONS in the ceiling. While gazing ON
'e top Of the dungeon, an inscription
'aced on the ceiling for the first time s
lught my eyes:
ms machine was invented by Edward
Ioane, Esq, for the purpose of sunerceod'
lg death by hanging The walls are 60
instructed that they revolve on then,
ives, ! every revolution reducing the size
tne apartment several feet. After a
'rtaln time the walls meet, crusbing onU :
gect within the apartment perfectIy Gai !
u ten hours from the time the machinery
llrst started, the work is completed"
understood it all now. The mailman
al chosen me to make his first experi.
ent with. And ] was destined TO be
ushed to death. The walls were now >
'essIng on my back and chest at the same
me. began to suffer insulferable tor. !.
ents Tor want ofar. gave one uneartblv
ream, and believed my last moment had I
me, when suddenly the room assumed :,
g same size as when had first entered
and | rose up and shook nyself. asT .
ard voice outside exclaim =
" Any one in there ~ a q
In a few hurried tyords 7 o,,,I.;, :, = =