davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27
XXI

When we had attained considerable
height. 90 that We could see 20 a great
distance on either side. the spectacle
became even more fearful than 1t was
when we were close 10 The surface.
On all sides banks and dykes were go
Ing down. trees were being upfo0ted;
buildings We're tumhlng and The ocean
was achieving that victory over the
land which had long been us due. but
which the ingenuity OF the inhabitants
OF Mars had postponed for ages.
Far away we could see the front OF
the advancing wave crested with foam
that sparklcd In the electric lights and
as II swept on 81 changed The entire
aspect Of the planet-in front OF IL all
life. behind II all death.
Eastward our Wow extended across the
Syrtis Major toward The land OF Lihya
and the rerion OF Is.dis. On that side
also the dykes were giving way under
the tremendous pressure. and the fob Is
were rushing toward the sunrise. which
had just begun 10 streak the eastern SKY
The continents that were being over
whelmed on The western side Of the
syrtis were Meroe, Aeria, Arabia, Edom
and Eden
The water beneath US continually
deepencd. The current from the melting
SHOWS around the southern pole was at
its strongest. and one could hardly have
believed that any obstruction put I'm its
path would have been able to arrest IL
and turn II into these two all-swallowing
deluges. sweeping east and west Blu,
as we now perceived. the level OF the land
over a LARGE part OF its surface was hum
drsds Of feet below the ocean. 30 that the
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27
AtThat Instant the Immense Power Honse cave way.

possible il might in It's first mad rush
oyertop the highest elevation on Mars.
As DAY broke and the sun slowly rose
uuon the dreadful scene beneath us. We
leean 10 catch sight OF some OF the Nee
ine inhabitants. We had shifted the posi-
ton OF the feet toward The south. ana
were now SUSPENDED above the south
eastern corner Of Aerla. Here a hish
bank Of reddish rock confronted the sea-
whose waters ran flashing and roaring
along the bluffs 10 supply the rapi0
draueht produced by the smptying Of the
Svrtis Major Along the shore there was
a narrow line Of land, hundreds or miles
I'm length. but less than quarter or
mile broad which san rose slightly above
the surface Of the water and THIS lana
OF refuge was absolutely packed with
the monstrous inhabitants OF the planet
who had fed hither on The hrst warning
that the water was coming.
In some places % was so crowded that
Ia. late corners could not find standing
ground on dry land but were conunu-
ally slipping back and falling into tho
water II was an awful sight 10 look
al them II reminded me Of pictures that
] had seen OF The deluge IN the days or
Noah. when the waters had risen TO
the mountain tops. and men, women and
children were lighting for foothold
upon me ldat uly tF'sS tA-t hi~ N"'e'
contained.
We were an moved by a desire 10 help
our enemies. for we were overwhelmed
with feelings OF pity and remorse. but
10 aid them was now utterly beyond
our power The mighty floods were out.
and The end was IN the hands Of God.
Fortunately we had little time for
these thoughts. because no sooner had
the day begun 10 dawn around us than
ths alrships Of the Martians appeared.
Evidently the people IN them were dazed
bv the disaster and uncertain what to
DO. IL ls doubtful whether at first they
comnrehendcd the fact that We were the
agents who had produced the catacylsm.
nut as the morning advanced the air
ships came docking In greater and greater
numbers from every direction, many
swooplng down close to the flood In order
TO rescue those who were drowning.
Hundreds gathered along the slip OF land
which was crowded. as have described,
with refugees. while other hundreds rap
idlv assembled about US, evidently pre-
pairing for an attack.
We had learned In our previous con-
tests with the aiTships OF the Martiaps
that our electrical ships had a great
advantage over them. not merely In ran
idlty and facility OF movement. but IN
the fact that our dlslntegrators could
sweep in every direction. while 1t was
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

TO unrecognizable fragments. hundreds
OF the alrships continually dropped from
their great height 10 be swallowed up IN
the boiling waters.
Yet they were game TO tho last They
made every effort TO get - ms, ara m
their frenzy they seemed to discharge
their bolts without much reglrl rs 10
whether friends or foes were injured
Our eyes We're nearly blinded b. the
ccaseless glare beneath US, and the up
roar was indescrlbable.
At length. after the fearful contest
had lasted for al least three hours II
became evident that the strength Of the
enemy was rapidly weakening. Nearly
the whole OF their immense fleet of air.
shlps had been destroyed or so Ear lam
aged that they were barely able 20 iloat.
Just so long. however as they showed
signs OF resistance We continued TO cor
orr merciless ore upon them. ana the
signal 10 cease was not give uitil the
airships which had escaped serious dam
age began 70 fee in every direction.
THANK Cod. the thing is over" said
Mr. Edison We have got the victory
at last. but how We shall make use Of
It is something that at present / do not
see"
but will they not renew the attack"
asked some one.
u do not think they can" was the re-
ply. 1--WE have destroyed tho very hower
Of their feet"
and better than that" said Colonel
Smith. I'VE have DESTROYED their elan;
we have made them afraid Their dis
ciniine is gone"
But this was only the beginning ~
our victory. The foods below were
achieving a siiU greater triumph. ard
now that we had conquered tho air.
shlns. We dr0nned within a few hundfed
Feet OF the surface Of the water end
then turned orr face westward IN or
der 70 follow Tho advance ~ the delnge
and see whe'hcr a. we had honed II
would overwhelm our enemies In tho
very centre OF their power.
IN a little whileawe had overtaken the
from; wave which was s'ill devour'ng
everything We saw II bursting the
banks Of the canals. sweening awav for
eefs OF gigantic trees and swallowing
cities and villages. leaving behind moth
inc bnt a broad exnanse o. swirling and
eddving waters. which IN consequence or
the prevailing red hue Of the vegetation
and the soil looked as. shuddering we
gazad down M IL. like an ocean Or MOOD
flecked with foam and steaming with the
escaping life OF the planet from whose
veins II gushed.
As we sklrted the southern borders
OF the continent the same dreadtui
scenes which we had beheld on the coast
OF Aerla presented themselves. CROWDS
OF refugees thronged the high border OF
the land and struggled with one an
other for foothold against the contin-
uailv rising food.
We saw. too. Hitting In every direc-
ton. but rapidly fleeing before our ap-
proach. many airships, evidently crowd
ed with Martians, but not armed elIheF
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

latter. when once the barriers were
broken. rushed into deprcssi0ns that
yawned % receive IL.
The point where we had dealt our blow
was far removed from the great capital
81 Mars. around the Lake Of the Sun.
and we knew that we should have to wait
FOR the floods 20 reach that point before
the desired effect could be produced. BY
the nearest way. the water had at least
5000 miles 10 travel We estimated that
its speed where We hung above IL was
as much as a hundred miles an hour.
Even n that speed were maintained. more
than two DAYS and nights would be- re-
ouirod for the foods 10 reach tho Lake
Of tho Sun.
But as the water rushed on Il would
hro.k the hanks OF all the canals inter-
secfing the country. and these being
also elevated above the surface. would
ada the impetus Of their escaping wa
tors 10 hasten the advance Of the food.
We calculated. therefore. that about two
DAYS would suffice TO place the planet
at our mercy.
Hair way from tho syrtis Major 10
the Lake Of the Sun another great con-
Meeting link between the Southern and
Northern ocean basins. called on our
mans Of Mars the Indus. existed and
through this channel We knew that an
other great current must be setting from
the south toward the north. The hood
that we had started would reach and
break the banks Of the Indus within one
day.
Tho food travelling I'm the other d.
raction. toward the cast. would have con-
sldorablv farther 20 90 before reaching
the ncichb0rhood Of the Lake OF the Sun.
II too. would involve hundreds OF great
canals az Il advanced. and would come
ulunclnr upon the Lake Of the sun and
IT'S surrounding forts and cities. prob
ably about half day later than the ar
rival Of the deluge that travelled toward
the west
Now that we had let tho awful de-
strovor loose we almost shrank from the
thought OF tho consequences which we
had produced. How many millions would
perish as the result Of our decd, we could
not even guess Many Of the victims, "a
FAR as we knew. might be entirely inno-
cent Of enmlty toward US. or OF the evil
which had been done 10 our native planet.
But this was a case IN which the good
n they existed-must suffer with the bad
on account Of the wicked deeds Of the
latter
have already remarked that the con-
tlncnfq OF Mars were higher on their
northern. and southern borders where
thov faced the great oceans. These ma
tural barriers bore TO the main mass OF
tho land somewhat the relation OF the
odro OF n shallow dish TO its bottom.
Their rlss on the land side was too
gradual 10 give them Tho appearance OF
hills. but on The sido toward the sel
thcv broke down IN stecn banks and Cliffs
several hundred feet IN height. We
guessed that Il would be in the direction
OF these elevations that the inhabitants
would Zee. and those who had timely
warning might thus b. able TO escape
I'm case tho food did not-as It seemed
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

morning was most uncanny and hor-
rible. Thousands upon thousands or
the Martians still remained here 10 be-
come the victims OF the deluge. Some,
perhaps. doubted tho truth OF the re-
port that the banks were down and tho
floods were out: others. for one reason
or another had been unable to get away;
others like the Inhabitants OF Pompei.
had fingered too long. or had returned
after beginning the flight. TO secure
abandoned treasures. ard now II was too
late 10 get away.
with a roar that shook the planet tho
white wall rushed upon the great city
beneath our feet. and In an instant IL
had been engulfed. on went the Hood.
swallowing up the Lake OF the Sun IT.
self. and in a little while. as far as our
eyes could range. the land Of Thaumasla
had been turned into raging sea.
(TO BE Concluded
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27
Odds and Ends.

The first street railway In America
started on the Bowery. New York, and
ran from Prince street To Fourteentn
street I'm 1891.
Four hundred years ago only seven
metals were known. Now there are nifty
one. thirty Of which have been discovered
within the present century.
You don't require big income 10 get
along" In Japan. \ man can 1--we there
Ike a gentleman on 500 a year. This
sum will pay the rent OF house. the
wages Of two servants and supply plenty
Of food.
one OF the Oldest and most curious
samples Of the locksmlth's art Is at
tached 10 the door Of Temple church.
Fleet street London The key weighs
seven pounds. Is eighteen inches long.
and. unlike other keys, II was not made
for the lock. On the contrary, the lock
was made for the key.
Old Cairo r. changing vislbly. The cleo
triG tramway 70 the Pyramids Is an
accomplished fact and the elght-mile
trip-before so expenslve-is now possible
for few pence. lsmaiis great causeway
will In no way be spoiled, as the rails
have been laid right along the side OF
the avenue. and. indeed. arc scarcely
noticeable.
curious law In England whereby street
hawkers were forbidden 10 sell plums
and apples for the reason that servants
and apprentices were unable 10 resist tho
sight OF them. and were. consequently,
tempted 10 steal their employers money
in order 20 enjoy she costly dellcacies.
Tulips are cultivated In Constahtinopie,
and there Is a tulip festival there once
a year in spring. Every palace. room.
gallery and garden Is decorated with
tulips OF every kind. Al night they are
all lighted by colored lamps and Bengal
fires and the Sultan sits in their midst.
while women sing around him and MS
odalsques dance before him.
The oldest piece OF wrought iron In ex.
istence IS believed 10 be roughly
fashioned sickle-hlade found by Belzoni
In Karnac. near Thebes. II was imbedded
in mortar under the base OF the sphinx.
and on that account Is known as The
sickle OF the Sphinx" IL Ia now IN tho
British Museum. and is believed 10 be
nearly 400 years old.
An ingenious stage waterfall devised by
NJ Gailhard has attracted attention ut
the Paris opera balls. II Is made OF
tulle stretched on frames Initiating the
curves Of a fall. Behind II little streams
OF water are discharged through per-
forated pipes against metal plate. 80
as 10 throw q spray upon the tul'e.
When the electric Hight Is played OH this
the effect Is magical.
For cleaning optical lenses German
techinal journal recommends vegetable
pith. For this purpose the medulla OF
PUSHES. elders or sunfiowers Is cut out.
the pieces dried and pasted singiy along.
side OF one another upon piece OF cork.
whereby brush-like apparatus Is OBJ
taired which Is passed over the surface
OF the lens. For very small lenses pointc1
pieces OF elder pith are employed.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

Now as he hung over our heads and
saw the water up 20 our very necks and
stll swiftly rising be shouted again:
Catch hold, for Gods sakei'
The three men who were with him IN
the ship seconded bis cries.
But by the time we had fairly erasped
the ropes. 80 rapidly was the food ris-
ing. We were already al0at. With the
assistance OF Tom and his men we were
rapidly drawn mp. and Immediately Tom
reversed Tho e.ectrlc polarity. and the
ship began % rise.
AT that same instant. with a crash
that shiversd the air the Immense me-
taldc power house gave way and was
swept tumbling like a hui torn loose from
IT'S base. over The very spot where a mo-
ment before We had stood one seconds
hesitation on the part of Tom and the
electrical ship would have been battered
into a shapeless Wad Of metal by the
caIecIins mass.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

only with much difficulty that the Mar
tian airshlps could discharge their cleo
trical strokes at an enemy posed III
rectly above their heads.
Accordingly, orders were instantly
flashed 10 all tho squadron 10 rise YER
tically TO an elevation SO great that the
rarity OF the atmosphere would prevent
the airships from attaining the same
level
This manOcuvre was executed so quick
~ that the Martians were unable TO
deal Va a blow before We were poised
above them IN such n position that they
could not easily reach US. Stll they
did not mean 10 give up the conflict.
Presently we saw one OF the largest
Of their ships manoeuvring in very
peculiar manner. the purpose Of which
we did not at first comprehend. It's for
ward portion comm anced slowly 10 rise.
until Il pointed upward Ike the nose Of
n FISH approaching the surface Of the
water The moment II was In this po-
sitfon. an electrical bolt was darted
from its Prov and one OF our ships re-
ceived a shock which. although Il dill
not prove fatal to the vessel itself. killed
two or three men aboard Il. disarranged
its apparatus. and rendered 1t for the
time being useless.
"Ah. that's their trick. IS IT." said
Whenever YOU SEQ one Of the airships
beginning 10 stick its nose up after that
fashion. blaze away nj H."
An order 10 this effect was transmit
ted throughout the squadron. Al the
same time several Of the most power
ful disintegrators we're directed upon
tho shin which had executed the STRAIT
ogom and. reduced 20 a wreck, II drop
ped whirling like a broken kite until II
fen into the food beneath.
Still the Martians ships came hock-
ing in ever greater numbers from all
directions They made desperate at
tennis 20 attain tho level at which we
hung above them This was Impossible
bur many. getting an impetus by a
swift run I'm the denser portion or the
atmosnhere beneath. succeeded In rising
so high that they could discharge their
electric artillery with considerable ei-
feet. Others. with more or less success.
rancated the manoouvre OF the snip
which had first attacked us. and thus
the battle became gradually more gem
eral and more fierce until I'm the course
Of an hour or two. our SQUADRON tound
itself engaged with probably thousand
oirshins. which blazed with inccssant
LIGHTNING strokes and were able all TOO
Frequently. 10 do us serious DAMAGE.
rut on our part the battle was Waccd
with n cool htAfINiithNi'N "''' "
eoiousnoss OF insuporable advantage
which bodied iu for the enemy only
thre, or four Of orr sixty electrical shios
were seriously damaged. while Tho work
81 the disntegrators unon tho crowded
feet that noated beneath Us was terrible
90 look upon @,
our strokes fell thick and fast on all
eides. u was like firing INTO flock or
birds that could not got AWAY NOT
-.i,retondino all their efforts they were
practically at our mercy. Shattered in
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

Copyright, 1898 by Garrett Z. Servis5.)
SYNOPSIS.
The Inventive genius Of Thomas A. Eli-
son makes possible am attack Of tho earth
upon Mars. This is done 20 prevent a
second INVASION Of the Maruans. who are
trying Co relieve their ovcrpopulatcd
planet. The FIRST having failed through
the breaking out Of disease and not hui
man effort Edison inveuts practical
electrical air chip. and am engine OF de-
structon called tho "Dieintcgrator.'
which viii cause the constituent partl-
clcs OF any object at which 10 may be
directed 90 go vibratc that tho object
VIII be Immediately and completely dis
perscd a large fleet of air ships armed
with disiutcgrators and manned by two
thousand men, among whom are many
famous scientists sets OUT The feet ar
rived above Tho land OF Hellos. ON Mars.
and finds host OF air ships on the
watch The Martians. who arc OF giant
stature human iu form. but Of rcpusiye
aspect. cover their planet with "a thick
cloud of smoke which The visitors pierce
with their d.slntoerators The Martians
launch their thuudcrbolts, and do much
damage 90 the Edison feet which finally
dr0ns beneath The smoke curtain and enc
Cages The enemy. in their ships. tn close
combat Tho destruction is awful. both
on land and Iu the air. and the ships from
tho earth Withdraw bat sixty in number.
The next move ls "a strategic plan pro-
posed by Colonel Smith an army officer.
THE majority Of the ships are concon-
tratcd az certain point where tho at
tcntlon OF Marusns is held. while a few
are sent no The other side Of The planet
90 eject "a landing. and n possible obtain
some much needed provisions tor the
feet Colonel Smiths ship desceuds near
q large building. The Colonel and the
narrator approaching hear strains OF
iur. they are amazed 90 find young girl
I'd human beng-piaying on a strange
instrument for the amusement OF several
Marfaus The latter are quickly dis
patched with disiutegrators and the girl
g. taken back 90 che main squadron. to-
Cethcr with large quantities of compress
"a food that arc found Boz the building
Although none can understand the girl
So is perceived that her - guaEe is Of
human or.fln The whole squadron re-
pairs 10 the farther moon of Mars Del
mos iu order 90 give the luEulsts OF the
party time to acquire the girls speech
f0r Mr Edison believes MAT she can give
them Information that will lead 90 sue
ccssful routing of The enemy After three
weeks spent ON Dcim0s. out OF sight or
Mars the Incuists are able TO understand
Aina's story Her ancestors were brought
from the earth ln "a previous invasion ~
the earth by the Mlr'ians about aWV
years AGO From the girls remarkable
narrative &c would appear that tho Mar
tiaus had visited Egypt and had ouilt
the Pyramids and the sphinx. ANA
forcfathcfs were carried back 20 Mars.
and they and their descendants had been
Kept in slavery until with The exception
OF Alma they were AN massacred on the
arrival OF The feet from the earth Aina
d.srloses way hy which the Mariians
can Doc drowned ont This is 90 break
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

We had one very great advantage. The
Narflaus had evidently placed so much
confidence ln The electric network which
surrounded the power house that tney
never dreamed OF enemies being aOle 10
uerctratc fiat least without GiVlnB
warning of their coming
but The hole which we had blown lh
had been made n0.selessiy. and Mr. Edi-
son believed since no enemies had APP
peared that our operations had NOT been
BETRAYED bv any automatic signal TO
watchers inside the building.
Consequently we had every reason TO
think that we now stood within the lne
OF defence 600 which they reposed the
greatest confidence. without th'H uaNiHa
The least suspicion Of our presence
Alma assured us that on the occasion
Of her former visit 10 the power house
There had been but TWO scniincis or me
entrance At the inner end Of a long
passage leading Co the interior she s"ld
fhare were two more BESIDES 'hesn
there we're three or four Marian fnei-
neere watching ihe machinery in the in-
terior Of The building a number OF olt
ehius were supposed 90 hs ON guard
around the structure but probably thcF
vigilance had been relaxed, because No'
long ago the M7r'ans sent AN cA'eD.'Io"
rralrst Ceres which had been $50 suc'' $50
mi that the power % that planet 20 make
E.NNNh NI'N'N t'+r+t~ ftH-H
s,onoslne ms TO have been annihilatsd
q, the recent battle among the clpuos
ttev would have no fear or cause Tor
vigilance ON our account
The entrance TO The great structure
Was iow-at least when measured by
ths stature OF the Marfans Evidently
the intention was nai oniy one p'I
an time should md room TO pass
through a.
DraWIng cautiously near we discerned
.bo oufllncs Of TWO gigantic forms stand
Ing lu the darkness. one on elihor "de
~ he door Colonel Smith whispered
90 me:
rigbt wiu attend 90 me other one
Adustinc our aim as carefully as was
.rfs-tIo lr The gloom Colonel Smith and
: g,ri,ifoneousiy discharged our disinfe-
erqtors sweeping them rapidly up and
a. ln the manner which had become
familiar 20 US when cndeaNofing 10 o.
ttrov one Of The gigantic Mafuans WIN a
= single stroke And so successIul were
a. mat the TWO senunels disappeared as
A. ttcv rad been ghosts OF the night
Instantly we an hurried forward and
enterod the door Before US eNtended
long straight passage. brightly ID /
Illuminated bv number OF electric cam
az Ia polished sides cleaned with .
tloo8-red reflections and the gallery
dominated al a distance OF two OF three ,
hundred feet with an opening into large .
cbarber beyond on the farther side OF
which we could see part Of a giganuc |
md complicated mass OF machinery
Making as little noise as possible we (
pushed ahead along the passage ou' when I
~ had arrived within a distance OF ,
dozen naces from the inner end. We stop
ne0 and Colonel Smith. getting down /
mon his knees crept forward until no /
RAD reached the inner end OF the pas
,sgs There he peered cautiously around {
ths edge into the chamber. and. turning /
bis head a moment istsr. beekoned us |
Ia come forward. We crept TO his side, |
,ne looking out into the vast apartment. !
could perceive no enemies
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

The Amaleamated Society Of Carpenters
and Joiners OF England has 77 branches
and IS 800 members AZ Rugby and Derby
a few weeks ago employers granted IN
advance of ! cent per hour