The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-22
A NARROW ESCAPE
story Of Maniac ana ms lnvsD-
tion.

waiting for . train that was IoAnn9
along four on 1--we hours behind time.
The Junction where VIC were held nm
wiling prisoners was remote and
lonely crossing without any scenic ~
fractions OF any kind, and totally limo
cent Of any means Of passing away the
time. Not q hook or paper could b
bought and The alleged restaurant
was place In which v con
tract an aggravated case 81 dys-
popsia We read the timetables and
computed the distances between tho
stations on the various roads repre-
senied; we got hungry and fell TO talk
ing of the hotels 10 various cities. nm
III. satisfied with the Barmecide feast
our imaginations set forth, that sub
jcct grew old; We criticised the rail-
way managers Of the country and sna-
crested laws with dreadful penalties
for allowing trains 70 vary second
from The published tinej We compared
our watches and each insisted that bis
was Just right and bad mot varied for
months, and still the train did not come.
Then with one accord we fell to watch
ing flock of pigeons that were flying
about One Of them was q beautiful
tumbler. She wotild rise 70 . height Of
two hundred feet and suddenly her
wingn would drop as II she were dead
and she would come tumbling over and
over until she would almost strike the
earth, when she would recover herself
and sweep up into the air only % re-
peat her performance Among the
party there was d portly gentlemen
who was evidently delighted with the
birds action and his ordinations Of
delight were frequent
THAT must be glorious sensation
limp and lifeiess. with the speed 81 an
arrow. knowing that she Is In no dan.
ger. was reading not long ago In
some paper that men who have been
saved after falling long distances In
variably claim 70 have experienced
delightful sensation while dropping
through the mir. =
II had little experience in that line
. short time ago, said another of tho
party, who was dressed like priest or
an Episcopal minister, land assure
ron my sensations were the reverse
d pleasant
Here WIS q chance to kill time which
we were quick 10 avail ourselves Of,
and half ii rs asked the gentleman "a
relate his experiences. He seemed per-
fectfy willing TO do 40. and moment
Afterward we had disposed ourselves
on the edge Of the platform and tho
trunks that stood around, IN az com
Portable positions as we could find.
= am . clergyman" began the gen.
tleman. 'sand among the members Of
the church under my care Is o gentle
man who Is an enthusiastic student Of
electric phenomena, and to him the
world n indebted for number Of TIM
provcments in the telegraph, telephone
and incandescent light, which Is cred
tied 10 better-known inventors Re-
Gently be has been investigating the
claims made that telephone pictures
were possible. and have become very
much interested III his researches,
though lay no claims to being nm cleo
trical expert
Ny friends Office Is Ia the twelfth
story Of one 81 the high buildings 10
Chicago, where my homo Is, and from
the windows there Is distance OF not
Tar from one hundred and fifty feet TO
the pavement below. ! have often
thought that there would be no shadow
81 = chance for man who should fall
from oneof 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 as cool place as there Is In the
city.
'One morning about two weeks ago
/ dropped into his Office just as he was
preparing 70 go out lie sat down, hut
] 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 10 this and was soon deeply
interested In new work which found
lying on the table.
Il had not been alone long when d
gentleman entered and saluted me, say
ing: Are ron interested In electrical APP
paratus? answered that was to
certain extent, and that my friend who
occupied the Office was an expert
!" 4 have something here that want
TO show yon. said the stranger. II Is
going 70 reyolntionize the whole cleo
trical system OF the country
4 shall be glad to examine it. re-
piled. as he proceeded to unlock .
small metal box he carried IN one hand.
From the box he took curious looking
machine that appeared to be made 81
some metal resembling aluminium. It
was In the shape 81 q 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 complicated system Of
wheels Taking key from his pocket
the stranger wound the machine up
and the wheels began to run with as
tonishing rapidity. Little glass tubes
were inside the machine and d sub
stance which snrmised was quicksilver
was In them As soon as the machine
began 70 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
transmitter and replaced It With bis
machine Ringing up the central sta
tion he asked me the number Of my
telephone and ] gave It to him, and
soon the connection was made. Turn
tng to me he said:
Z 'Eo1S leok inr
did 50, and 70 my amazement saw
that the Interior Of the room In my
house, In which the telephone Is stu.