San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-24

made.
One night Pellico paid another visit to
the office of Maj. Dalton.
"Major," said he after some talk about
powder, gun cotton, Greek fire and other
matters, "the main object of our explo-
sives is to destroy the enemy?"
"Um, well yes, to certain extent" re-
piled the gallant Confederate.
"What do you think, then, Of a bomb
that is capable of doing hundred fold
more damage than any now in use?'
''It would be big thing"
"Well," continued Pellico, II have in
vented it. l have a chemical compound
that can be projected into the enemy's
lines through the medium of a shell, and
when the shell bursts a deadly vapor
spreads over an area of 100 yards. killing
every living thing One shell Is capable
of killing an entire regiment"
"Why. my God, man." exclaimed the
major, "that would be murder!'
"And what is war;" asked Pellico in
his low, soft voice.
The subject did not drop there. The
man in black had so much to say about
his invention that the major found him
self deeply interested.
'This little thing" said Pellico, ex-
hibiting something that looked like pill
covered with tin foil, "would kill house
full of people,"
at is hard to believe"
"Let me convince you," urged the
chemist. ''If you will walk square with
me will show you something"
The major objected, but the Italian as
sured him that his intended victims were
several hogs in the rear of the office.
When they reached the place they
found the hogs quietly snoozing in fence
corner.
They then retired fifty yards or so, and
Pellco blew his little pill through hol-
low cane.
"Wait three minutes" he said.
At the expiration of the time the two
approached the fence corner.
Four large hogs lay stretched out on
the ground. 1t required only a glance to
see that they were all dead.
"NOw," said the chemist as they walked
away, this experiment is on very small
scale, but you can form an idea from
what you have SEEN"
at is astonishing" commented the
major.
Nothing to what have DONE" said
the man in black. "In Cuba | took a sling
and threw a ball of this stuff as big as my
fist into village. The next morning it
was found that all the inhabitants, some
800 or 400, were dead. People outside
supposed that it was some mysterious cpl
demic, but it was not"
Maj. Dalton drew himself aloof from his
companion.
"And you killed those innocent people
for nothing?' he asked Indignantly.
''In the interests of science, my dear
major. Besides, they were native Gu
bans. would not have treated genuine
Spaniards that way"
The major pulled his mustache and
walked on in silence for few minutes.
"What do you propose?" he asked, after
some reflection.
my scheme is big one," replied Pei
leo. ga few little pellets thrown into
Libby, Salisbury and AndersOnville will
rid us of all the Yankee prisoners, and
save our government no end of expense.
Then you must use my invention in the
field. The armies of Sherman and Grant
will melt away before it, and a few hun
dred such prOjectiles fired from long range
guns into New York will turn that me-
trOpOlis into a city of the dead. What do
you say"
"Hello, corporal, come here" yelled the
major
Several soldiers ran to the spot in
hurry.
"Seize him" shouted the officer, "and
take him to the guard house. He is an
enemy, a murderer, the devil himself, l
believe. But, hold on-search him."
"Only some papers and these pills."
said the corporal.
"I'll take them," said the major. "Now
hustle him off to the guard house."
The major walked with rapid strides to
the office of the commander of the post
The provost marshal was summoned as a
party to the conference, and other officers
were also called in.
The council lasted until a very late hour.
Never in their whole military experience
had the officers been confronted with so
serious problem.
When they dispersed the sentinel out
side heard one of them say:
HE is a monster, an enemy to the
whole human race. We cannot accept his
aid, and if we let him go he may at any
time turn against us and against our
people,
"There is but one thing to do" said the
major
The next morning the man in black was
found dead on the floor of the guard house.
By his side lay shred of tin foil.
81 searched him." said the corporal,
''and took all those shiny pills away from
him. How did that get there, wonder,
and what in the mischief is it anyhow"
The commander of the post, the provost
marshal and Maj. Dalton showed little
surprise when they heard of Pellico's
death. The corporal, however, heard the