Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-14

gases Of water and feeding upon them.
until the shores of Europe and America
would be wrapped in sheet of flame.
...No leluge that ever drowned the
world could extinguish the contiagration.
but would rather transport the fiery
legions to the very pillars of the heavens.
and it would spread from shore to shore
and from ocean to ocean, until it had en-
folded the globe in its seething embrace.
Every creature Of the sea. the air and the
land would perish-aye. the earth itself
would melt into feryent heat
During this startling speech he had
worked himself into fearful frenzy, to
fix his intense gaze upon me as he con-
clutled with a light that burned into my
inmost being. felt was in the presence
of mailman.
...Oh, we'll said. with what calm
ness could command, we won't antici-
nate so dreadful catastrophe as You so
wildly describe. But it is evident you
have made remarkable discovery. lam
anxious to know just how you accom-
plished it,
..Which is my secret he said, with
another smile, and saw that my dispas-
sionate speech had had soothing effect
upon him. The man was evidently sane
except upon that one subject.
".You are the most sensible man l
have met he soon resumed, and am
going to impart enough Of my secret to
Won so you will act with good faith in
assisting me in direction where am
powerless.
".lt needs not my words to tell you
that water is composed of two gases, by
drogen and oxygen, in parts as two to
one United in that proportion these
elements are impervious to fire. Every
schoolboy knows that. But mix them
in any other proportion, and heat, fame.
combustion is the immediate conse-
quence.
CHOW, l have discovered the key
which unlocks the affinity holding to-
gether the constituent parts of water.
A few grains of this powder are suffi-
Gent to dismember its warlike elements,
when the funeral pyre of the human
race is kindled as far as this planet is
concerned
impossible! l could not help ex-
claiming. God in his infinite wisdom
never created world so beautiful as
this. and then placed in the hands of its
subjects the means of its destruction
Poor fool he said compassionately.
'You forget that the moon is but a fire
extinguished world; that planets with
out number are the charred remains OF
what were once scenes of life and beauty;
that the sun is molten mass Of heat;
that he has said in his own word, i'll the
end THE heavens shall be folded to-
gether like scroll, the elements to melt
with fervent heat"
".You see this vial. 1t contains po-
tassium. 1t needs not me to tell a man
of your information the result when this
is brought into contact with oxygen. 1t
ignites instantly. This powder here, the
secret of whose compound is known only
to me, contains properties which instant
" decompose the watery elements. The
moment the oxygen is free the potassium
ignites it, and the work Of fiery destruc-
ton is begun.
lyon betray look of doubt. Per
haps you think that this action will be
merely local-that the properties will
quickly burn out, and in consequence
| the fire die for want of sustenance. If
so, you err. The properties of this pow
der are self generating, and as long as
| the water lasts must of necessity con-
tinue their work of decomposition, the
oxygen continually feeding the flames.
- i
want to demonstrate it more clearly to
YOU
"As he had done before. he turned the
potassium into the basin and then sifted
in certain amount of the powder. The
Missing and Tuning quickly began. fol
lowed by sharp report, when column
of fire again sprang up, which lasted
until the water was consumed.
lyon see, my first trial was no illu-
| sion,' he said, turning to me. What !
have done once can do every time
alt is a terrible thing exclaimed,
with shudder. But why have you
come to meT
because the secret is worth much to
me. But when l approach men they call
me mad and will not listen. They will
believe you, and when you have proved
what | can do they will gladly pay my
price. Then | will divide with yon, and
we shall both be rich, you to live at your
ease and | continue my lnvcs:iea lions.
Will You help me? and ht>eaught me by
the arm with a clutch l seem to feel
now.
"'Help your asked in husky voice.
| 'Would you jeopartlize the lives of the
whole human race for a few paltry thou
| sands a man of your great intellect
and research should be above
lyon still doubt inyability to do what
claim" he interrupted. Perhaps in the
open air You think would fail? Come
| with me and | will astonish even you
See, the storm has cleared away. aud the
| day is breaking
81 was puzzled what to do. There was
no one i'll the house upon whom / could
call for assistance, bat outdoors might
escape The man whom, confess, feared
| So consented to accompany him.
| 1.-The morning light was fast dispelling
the shadows of night and storm, and we
| h"o hc thilNtitN III HitHllil3 our way 10 u
little body Of water quite hemmed in by
the mountains and the forest My com
panion, rs if fearing / would attempt to
.scape, had not taken his gaze from me
since we had left the house.
| "'There is n good place to test our
work. he declared, pointing to a small
pool of water formed in depression of
The earth by the late storm.
without waiting for my reply he
threw some of the potassium and powder
nto the water. The result was startling
10 me. though had anticipated the con
sequence.
1.-The report was deafening, and the
flames seemed 10 leap to the sky illu-
minating the night scene with a chastity
light, but startling as was the light Of
the burning water the appearance of
my companion, who had seemed to be
suddenly transformed1nto demon, was
more terrible.
See, see, he cried. 1ancing to and
fro with fiendish glee. it burns. will
ourn till the pool il dry. What do you
think of my secret now? Do not hold
he key to all life? Oh. ] feel like god.
md all men are bit worins crawling at
my feet. See, the flames leap higher and
aigher!
| Now let me drop the same agents
which set that pool on fire into this lake,
4