Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-12-28

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nearly that of ball discharged from a
cannon. The speed attained is so rapid
that our cars, filed with passengers,
occupy but hours and IA minutes in
accomplishing the 5000 miles between
Boston and Liverpool.
"That is over 1900 miles an hour, +"
! exclaimed.
There is no doubt of it. And there
is peculiar feature about it. The
time in Liverpool is 4 hours and 40
minutes faster than ours, therefore a
traveller who leaves Boston at o'clock
in the morning will arrive at England
at 81 minutes past 8 o'clock in the af-
ternoon. Is not that rapid Journey?
On the other hand. for example, as our
trains start from Liverpool at noon, the
voyager can disembark in this station al
9:34 in the forenoon-that is to say, al
most three hc-rs before he started from
the English de-.
l knew t what to think. Was /
talking W ! an insane person? Should
I have faitn IL these fabulous theories?
"Well," said 1. sit may be so. /
will assume it to be true that your in
vention can attain Incredible speed, but
when you como to stop, to suddenly ar
rest this rapid motion, will not every
thing be shattered?"
by no MEANS" responded the colo
mel, struggling his shoulders. Between
our tubes, one of which serves to go
and the other to return, and running
in opposite currents of air, commupi-
cation exists upon each side. When a
train approaches. we are made aware
Of the fact by electric sparks, and by
means of electricity the force that pushes
the train is paralyzed. Left to itself,
the train continues on its way from the
momentum already acquired, and by
means of valve which connects with a
current the speed becomes gradually
slower, until the train is finally check
ed by coming in contact with huge
bumper, the shock being scarcely felt.
But what good are all these explana-
tions2 The only way to know the ac-
tual working is by experience.
And without waiting for me to re-
spond Colonel Pierce drew out sudden
ly handle of polished copper from the
side of one of the tubes. A panel run
ming upon grooves was thrown open,
and through the aperture saw a sue
cession of narrow benches upon each of
which two persons were seated side by
side.
1.-The pneumatic carriage" explain
ed the colonel. "Let us depart. Come. "
followed him obediently, and the
panel was Immediately closed. By
means of an Edison lamp which hung
from the center of the carriage l exam
ined curiously the place in which ]
found myself. Nothing could be more
simple. A long cylinder, comfortably
padded, across which were so armchalrs
bound together in pairs, arranged in
parallel rows. At each end a valve
regulated the condition of the atmos-
phere, that in the rear permitting the
air to penetrate the cylinder, while that
in front gave egress to that which had
become impure.
Some little time passed while was
making my examination, and becom-
ing somewhat impatient l said:
well, colonel, why do we not start?"
"Start? We started some time ago, -
replied my guide,
Was it possible? Could we be en-
route? Was it really true? listened
attentively, trying to hear some noise
which would give evidence of motion.
If we had really started, if the colonel
had not deceived me in talking about
1900 miles an hour, we ought to be fal
from land under the billows of the
ocean. Above our heads the crested
waves may be beating against eacf
other with fury, are perhaps even al
this moment taking us for monstrous
serpent of an unknown species. The
whales are striking their powerful tail'
against our long iron prison house.
But l heard nothing, only sort o.
dull, scarcely perceptible buzzing. ant
| plunged in state of unbounded aston
ishment and not able to believe in thu
reality of what was happening l be-
came silent as the time went by.
Nearly an hour passed thus, when
suddenly felt dampness upon my
forehead, which awoke me from the
torpor into which l was fast falling
carried my hand to my face. 1t wal
wet. Wet! What had happened? Hat
the tube burst under the immense pres
sure of the water, pressure which mus
be formidable since we were at sucl
an immense depth. Should we. b,
swallowed up by the ocean?
A great fear took possession of me
Bewildered and almost desperate, en-
deavored to cry out in my agony.
And found myself in my own gar
den generously sprinkled by peltinl
rain, of which the large drops had in
terupted my sleep.
had gone to sleep upon rusti
bench while perusing an article writer
by a Boston reporter, setting forth tn
fantastic projects of Colonel Pierce
who fear will never meet with tn
realization Of his absurd hopes. julie
Verne.