The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-09-03
THE ALUMINIUM NAN.
Five Hundred Years He Proposes
to Stay On This Earth.

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region of the Rocky mountains
says the New York World, wht
merely wished to live to be 5O(
years at least and enjoy himsel
with utter immunity from physica
decay for that period, and who at
tanned the corporal condition nee
essary for the fulfillment of his de-
sire by exchanging the gaseous par,
of his organism for aluminium. On
the occasion of the correspondents
first meeting him he explained his
materialistic views of life and his
other ideas at great length, and then
spoke of the remarkable project
which he eventually carried out.
l asked him, writes the cores
pondent, how he proposed to defeat
the laws of nature. No man in
history had compassed such an
age, except those recorded in the
Old Testament.
THAT" said he, "is precisely
what confirms me in my belief. II
Methuseleh compassed nearly 1000
years, why should l not reach hall
that span? The trouble is that
some element in the human make
up is wanting. Ipropose to find it,
and with an electric battery which
I propose to invent I will force out
the ephemeral and weakening ele-
ments and introduce a more sub
stantial one"
"This is sheer nonsense" I re-
piled. "The elements composing
the human body are so aptly and
evenly adjusted that to disturb any
Of them would result in death, so
that you will only succeed in short
ening the life that God has given
you."
At this point in the conversation
he paused for an instant, not from
any lack OF argument, but in order
that he might scan me more closely.
| was no less interested in observ-
ing him. He was a man about 36
years of age, and 1 never will forget
while life lasts the picture he pre-
sented while he stood there, his fine
form outlined against the sky, his
dark-blue eyes lighted up with in
terest and deep thought, his hands
clasped as if he would wiring out
the secret he so longed to possess.
Suddenly he was reused from his
contemplating mood, and with great
deliberation took a paper package
from the inside pocket of his coat.
Selecting slip from the bundle he
handed it to me with the request
that 1 would read it.
Ifound the slip to read as follows:
"Man is composed of thirteen ele-
of which five are gases and
eight solids. If we consider the
chemical composition of a man of
average weight, of 154 pounds, we
find that he is largely composed of
oxygen, which is in a state of ex-
IRENE compression; in fact, a man
154 pounds has 95 pounds
of compressed oxygen in..his make
up. The volume of this at an or
linary temperature, if freed, would
exceed $50 cubic feet. The weight
If the hydrogen is only fifteen
pounds, but were this in free
state, at a temperature of 78 deg,
t would occupy O. space equal to
800 cubic feet. The other three
gases are nitrogen, nearly four
pounds; chlorine, about twenty-six
ounces, and huorine, three and one
welfth ounces. OF the solids car
ION stands at the head of the met
alloids, there being about thirty
me pounds; next, potassium, two
'unces; and iron, one ounce; of
COMMON salt, two ounces"
I read the document through and
aw that it contained a chemical
nalysis of a mans body.
"Now do you understand" said
le.
/ failed to catch the drift Of his
INQUIRY and confessed that I was
nore deeply mystified than ever, if
hat were possible.
"Can you not see. my FRIEND" he
aid in a low but somewhat petu-
ent tone, "that propose to elimi-
ate the fitting, ephemeral gases
ontained in the human body and
ubstitute in their place a solid,
1etallic substance, thus rendering
be human form divine, not only
! name, but in stability and en-
urance?" II
Yes, | saw. It was plain to be
cen that the man was insane, but
i such a case argument was USE
'ss. I was then on my way to
[elena, Mont, and was obliged to
Q at that place on the following ,
ay to meet business engagement.
was dealing in mines in those
avs, and expected to meet party
New York capitalists. who had ,
ome out for the purpose of buying
gold mine which / had. in hand.
would gladly have convinced my
lend of the utter futility of his
opes, but deemed the task beyond
y powers of persuasion; so I {
ade him good-day, and mounting !
y horse rode on toward my point