Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-18


JOIN cLEvEs sYMMEs. officer honorable men
ton for his daring.
His high-spirited nature which would not
overlook slight or an offense, brought him
into two affairs" one Of which necessitated
settlement according to the ''cOde, he re-
ceiving a wound in his wrist, while his opponent
was more seriously hurt by ball lodging IN
his hip.
PREEMPTISG HIS CLAIM.
Upon hir retirement from the army he be-
came a resident of ST. Louis, trading with the
Indians and furnishing supplies to the troops
stationed on the upper Mississippi. 1t was
while here that he promulgated his famous
theory, announcing it in the form of a circular,
which at the same time was intended to pre-
empt the claim in case others should make the
discov ry before he could find the means for
making the attempt. The circular was as
follows:
Light gives light to discover-ad infnitum.
81. LOUIS. Missouri TERRITORY NORTH AMERICA,
April 10. A. ID. 1918.
To all the World:
containing number Of solid concentric spheres, one
within the other that tits the poles twelve
ruth aHd anu really 70 explore he hollow the world
viii support and aid me X the Tna gt H,rs
o: Ohio. late captain OF Infantry;
PRINCIPLES OF matter. wherein show proofs OF the
soSve pSst0rs account icr ths Sssiou. Ihenoinena'
Ny terms are the patronage of this and the new
worlds
dedicate to my wife and her ten children.
select Dr. s l. Mitchell Sir H. Davy and Baron
/ ask one hundred brave COMPANIONS well equipped.
to start from siberia the fall season, with reindeer
r.ehland stocked with thrifty vegetables animals.
hot l1en: on T1achlig on. aegroe nGrahMard Of iat
'Dde % We VIII return III the succeeding Spfin Jscs
Capt Symmes addressed copy of this cir
cular to every learned institution and to every
town of any size throughout the United States
and to many Of the scientific societies abroad.
OF course the PRONUNCIATION Of such startling
belief called forth from newspapers. youthful
societies and debating clubs criticisms, friendly
and otherwise, and jests and scofings without
number.
Count yoIney laid the matter before the
Academy of Sciences of Paris in accordance
with the wish Of the propounder. but it was
soon decided that it contained nothing worthy
Of consideration.
Numerous circulars or memoirs. as the author
called them, followed this first one. each adj
vancing facts in proof of his theory replying
TO the arguments of some worthy combatant.
HIS LECTURES.
In 1920 Capt Symmes began lecturing on his
theory, beginning at Cincinnati and the larger
towns Of what was then known the west.
The earnestness and enthusiasm of the speaker
and the novelty Of the subject attracted large
audiences, but he failed to make converts OF
such as had means 70 enable him to test his
views. although on one occasion his audience
resolved that We esteem Symmes' theory of
the earth deserving of serious examination and
worthy of the attention of the American people"
In lS22 he presented through Senator johnson
apetItlon to Congress, setting forth his views,
and asking governmental aid in equippIng and
organizing an expedition to explore this in
ternal world During the two years following
both houses of Congress and the general
assembly OF the state OF Ohio were similarly
impOrtuned, but without avail However, he
was not so unfortunate in the west; his theory
excited so much notice that a benefit perform
ance to aid the polar expedition given at
the Cincinnati 1heater on March 90, 1924. when
q laudatory address was read, closing with:
''Has not Columbia one aspiring son
BY whom tn unfaiing laurel may be won?
OF symnles to grace her future scroll OF fame"
In 1925 he applied through the American
minister at the court of st. Petersburg for per-
mission to join the polar expedition which the
Russian government was fitting out. The re-
quest was granted but lack of means for the
purchase of proper outfit prevented him
from going. Still, undaunted by failure when
he expected success, he continued to write and
lecture. visiting the principal cities OF the east
and north-even to Canada-until the struggle
against such heavy odds was ended by Death
on May 20. 1929.
or his written publications there are known.
in addition to the one already given. six me-
moirs on the formation of noun tains open
poles, light between the spheres and several
short newspaper paragraphs. his theory has
been discussed in Extracts from Biograph-
ical Sketch of Capt. Symmes, published in
1885, In Cincinnati, Ohio, by citizen of the
United States. two articles In Atlantic and
Harper's and the book referred to in the first
lines of this sketch. This work is called the
second edition. and in the copy in the library
OF Congress there Is a cataloguers note saying
that the first edition is not known to the
hbrary-it Is perhaps the extracts Just men
toned and most likely written by the captain
himself