The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-05-15

Omy tnat mOIHluk, auu uAu DcCn 5O1sO
what struck by the writer's theory that
the end of the world would come
through the fiery vapors and laws OF the
interior of the earth breaking through
the thin crust thereof. / dreamed now
that such a catastrophe was imminent,
and that was calmly inspecting a
pressure-gauge to ascertain how long
the globe would yet endure. Feariessly,
as happens in dreams, felt the increas-
ing heat beneath me. Tremors and in
distinct rumblings came rising up from
infinite depths, until the ground shook
and quivered beneath my feet. Higher
ran the warning hand upon the dial, and
at length, with mighty crash, the
world exploded, and 1 was hurled, not
into chaos, but splash, into the water of
the estuary of the Thames.
Thoroughly awakened, as the reader
may suppose, rose to the surface, gulp-
ing down a mouthful of water in the
surprise. As / clutched the frame
work beside me, was conscious of
dazzling red fash like lightning, fol-
lowed by a tremendous report and a rat
tling all about me, as though shower
of hail were falling. | had seen too
much of artillery not to know what this
astonishing meteor was-a shrapnei
shell.
Perhaps there may be some of my
readers ignorant of what such missile
is; for, indeed, it is of somewhat late
invention. Let them imagine, then, a
cylindrical shell of iron, ogival-headed,
and containing as many bullets as it will
conveniently hold, comfortably set in q
bed of rosin. At the bottom thereof, is
a small charge of powder, ignited by
time-fuse bored to burn any required
time. On this delightful machine ex-
ploding out fly the bullets, and, by the
inexorable laws of dvnamics, partaking
of the original portion of the shell,
cover the ground before them for hun
dreds of yards with a fue denfer, as of a
whole regiment firing volleys.
very well to talk about; but when its
violence is directed against oneself,
there is less pleasure in the contempla-
tion. Clearly, l had slept so long that
the ordinary practice had begun, and
from two guns evidently, or the one shot
could not have followed the other SO
rapidly. Only a few seconds had for
these thoughts ere saw fash leap out
from the flag crowned battery on shore.
Instantly I dived as deep as / could,
and heard, deadened, By the water
above me, the sharp report of the shell.
As arose to the surface again saw
white splinters on the woodwork of the
target that showed how true the aim
had been. Scarcely had 1 time to take
breath when the red flash leaped again,
and again 1 dived. They were good gun
and The cnns were lipht onesEsixteen,
no,nJsr.e no Az Of,sn h.d comnste5 nwseIf
r rana v;,h tine runn;nr tbe a,;n nm
AGAIN m Almost before The reco;l had
asc.aa nnJ -.nn,;nr hnn,. shot and
oer.r;jra ~ ara - hod reeochad ;ts for,ner
,os;t;oe % .oa;n " Nc Now - no douht INV ", com. r
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no.S.. ass "e,o 80 ael ~ hoo"roa "' of uo
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NV LIZ, atraro.b os los e fa;i;r1' s E fast Eyen now now
thsra 9 rss r;na;nn no;se in nv bead
wb;ch almost stunef;ed me- and was
~ron,;ro ,mnre No f,,I avsrv instant Tf
2 stood ~, IN tha framevorL and tr;ad
:. 70 thn shora 7 r,,,sr stond ~
Last 10 % enc shot % snd J' that WAS .Imost ~ cor' %'
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and buri;ng II a. into into the he sea bevonJ
nv u nuunS ~ ioi iuou o"o oe" wy olu