The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-11
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Story Of a Maniac ana His Invon-
ton.

There were n dozen OF us who were
waiting for a train that was ioatinn
along four or five hours behind time
Tho junction whore We were held nm
willing prisoners was a remote and
lonely crossing without any scenic at
fractions 81 any kind, and totally limo
cent Of any mems OF passing away the
time. Not q book or paper could be
bought and tho alleged restaurant
was a place Ia which to con.
tract nm aggravated case Of dys.
pcpsia Wo read tho time-ta bles and
computed the distances between the
stations on tho various roads repre-
sented; we got hungry and fell to talk.
Ing OF the hotels Ia various cities. un.
I'll. satisfied with the Barmecido fcas.
our imaginntions set forth, that sub
ject grew old; we criticised the rail-
way managers Of the country and sug-
gested laws with dreadful penalties
for allowing trains 10 vary a second
from the published time; we compared
our watches and each Insisted that his
was Just right and had not varied for
months, and still the train did not como.
Then with one accord We fell TO watch
ing flock Of pigeons that were flying
about Ono Of them was d beautiful
tltmbler. She would riae to height Of
two hundred feet and suddenly her
wings would drop as II she were dead
aud she would como tumbling over and
over until she would almost strike the
earth, when she would recover herself
land sweep up into the air only to re-
peat her performances. Among tho
party there WINS portly gentleman
who was evidently delighted with the
birds action and his explanations Of
\ delight were frequent.
That must be d glorious sensation
for tho bird he said, TO fall as Ii
limp and hfelcss, with the speed OF an
arrow, knowing that she Is ia no dan.
ger. ] was reading not long ago III
some paper that men who have boon
saved after failing long distances In.
vnriably claim 10 have experienced q
delightful sensation while dropping
through the air. =
II had little experience In that line
q short time ago, said another OF the
party, who was dressed like a priest or
an Episcopal minister, ''nnd ! assure
you my sensations were the reverse
Of pleasant /"
Here was chance 10 kill time which
we were quick TO avail ourselves OF,
and half Of us asked the gentleman TO
relate his experience. lie seemed per-
fectly willing TO do so, and moment
afterwnrd we had disposed ourselves
on the edge Of the platform and the
trunks that stood around, m as COM
Portable positions az we could find.
/ u am a clergyman" began the gem
tlcman, ''and among the members Of
the church under my care Is gentle
man who Is an enthusiastic student Of
electric phenomena, and TO him the
world Is indebted for number Of Inn
provements in the telegraph. telephone
and incnndescent light, which Is cred,
tied to better-known inventors. Re-
Gently he has been investigating the
claims made that telephone pictures
were possible, and have become very
much interested In his researches,
though lay no claims TO being an cleo
trical expert.
My friends Office is in the twelfth
story Of one Of the high buildings In
Chicago, where my homo Is, and from
the windows there Is distance Of not
far from one hundred and fifty feet TO
the pavement below. | have often
thought that there would be no shadow
of chance for man who should fall
from one OF these windows, little think
ing what was In store for me.
II frequently call on my friend be-
cause his talk Is interesting, and be-
cause his Office Is high enough to be
about rs cool a place as there Is in the
city.
Zone morning about two weeks ago
| dropped into his Office just as he was
preparing to go out. He sat down, but
! insisted that he should not stay ON
my account, and finally he suggested
that | stay till he returned, which he
said would be In the course Of an hour.
agreed TO this and was soon deeply
interested In new work which found
lying on the table.
Il had not been alone long when n
gentleman entered and saluted me, say
ing: Are you interested in electrical APP
paratusT / answered that was to
certain extent, and that my friend who
occupied the Office was an expert,
have something here that want
TO show yon, said the stranger. 1t Is
going to rcyolutionize the whole cleo.
trical system Of the country
shall be glad TO examine It. re-
piled, as he proceeded I'd unlock
small metal box he carried in one hand.
From the box hc took acurious looking
machine that appeared to be made OF
some metal resembling aluminium. II
was in the shape Of d box, on one side
OF which was funnel-shaped orifice
resembling the receiver Of telephone.
The sides Of the box were glass, and
inside was n complicated system Of
v heelsl Taking key from his pocket
the stranger wound the machine up
and the wheels began 10 run with as
tonishing rapidity. Little glass tubes
were inside the machine and a sub
stance which surmised was quicksilver
was In them AS soon as the machine
began to run, this substance began to
shoot back and forth with the rap idity
Of lightning
Going to the telephone In the room.
the stranger quickly detached the
transmittcr and replaced it with his
machine Ringing upthe central sta
ton he asked me the number Of my
telephone and ! gave It to him, and
soon the connection was made Turn
ing to me he said
Z Now look In
II did so, and to my amazement / saw
that the interior OF the room In nv