davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03

makes man a prisoner on the earth. II
he could overcome or neutralizc CRAWL
tation, he could float away free crea-
ture of interstollar space. Mr.. Edison
in his invention had pitted electricity
against sravitation. Nature, in fact,
had duno the same thing long before.
Every astronomer knew it, hut none
had been able to initiate or to reproduce
this miracle of nature. When comet
approaches the sun, the orbit i'll which
1T travels indicates that it is moving
under the impulse of the suns gravita.
ton. 1t is in reality falling in n great
parabolic or elliptical curve through
space. But while a comet approaches
the sun it begins to misunderstanding
out for millions and sometimes hun
drcds Of millions of miles on the side
away from the sun-an immense lumi-
nous train called its tail. This train en-
tends back into that part of space from
which tho comet Is moving.
Thus the sun at ono and the same
time is drawing the comet toward itself
ana driving of from the comet in an
opposite direction minute particles or
atoms which, instead of ohcying the
gravitatiunal .urcc. are plainly com.
PEELED to disobpy it, That this energy,
which tho sun exercises against its own
Eravitatiun, is electrical in its nature
hardly anybody will doubt. The head
of the comet, being comparatively heavy
ard massive, falls on toward the sun,
despite the electrical repulsion. But tho
atoms which form Che tail. being almost
without weight, yield to the electrical
rather than to the gravitational influ.
encc and so fly away from the sun.
Now. what Mr.. Edison had done was,
in effect, 10 create an electrified particle
which might I've compared to one of the
atoms composing tho tail Of "a comet,
although in reality it was kind of car
Of metal weighing some hundreds Of
rounds and capable If Tearing some
thousands Of pounds with it in its Hight.
BY producing, with the aid Of the cleo
trical generator contained in this car,
an enormous charge Of electricity Mr..
Edison was able to counterhalancc and
a. triflo more than Cuunterhalancc the
attraction Of the earth, and thus cause
the car t. fly oil from tho Garth as an
electrified pith hail flies from the prime
conductor.
As we sat i'll the brilliantly lighted
chamber that formed the interior of t,
car and whore stores of compressed an
had been provided. together with chem.
ical apparatus ly means Of which fresh
supplies Of oxygen and nitrogen might
hc obtained for our consumption during
the flight through space, Mr.. Edison
touched u polished button, thus causing
the generation of the required electrical
charge on the exterior Of the car, and
Immediately we began to rise.
Tho moment and direction Of our
flight had been 50 timed and prcarrang-
ed that the original impulse would
carry Us straight toward the moon.
When we fell within the sphere Of
attraction Of that orb, it only became
necessary to 50 manipulate the electrical
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03
THE BURLINGTON PRESS THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3 1898

wonder arose from tho multitudcs which
ness the experiment.
Tho wall did not fall; il cid not
break asunder: no fragments shot this
way and that and high in the al. there
was no explosion; uo shock or noise
disturbed the still tmospherC-only n
soft whir, that seemed to peryade
everything and to Jingle IL tho nerves
OF the spectators, Gnd-what had been
was not! The wall was gone! But high
above and all around the place wbere
1T had hung over the street with it's
threat of death there appeared swiftly
billowing outward in every direction q
faint, blush cloud. 1t was the scattered
atoms Of the destroyed wall
And now the cry con to Mars" was
heard from al sides. But Tor such an
enterprise funds were uceded--mlicns
upon millions. Yet some of the fnircst
and richest portions Of the earth had
been Impoverished by the frightful ray.
ages of those enemies who had drupued
down upon them from the skies. Still
the money must bo had Tho salvation
OF the planet, as everybody was now
convinced, depended Cpon the success.
ful negotiation of gigantic war fund,
i'll comparison with which all the cx-
penditures in all the wars that had been
waged by the nations for 1000 years
wonld lie insignificant. Tho electrical
ships and the vibration engines must be
constructed by scores and thousands.
Only Mr. Edison's immense resources
ana unrivaled equipment had enabled
HIM To make the models whose powers
had been so satisfactorily shown. But
to multiply these upon war scale was
not only beyond the resources Of any in
dividu"l-hardly nation on the globe
III the period of its greatest prosperity
could have undertaken such work.
All the nations, then, must now con.
join. They must unite their resources,
and II necessary exhaust all their boards
IN order IT, raise the needed sum-
Negotiations were at once begun. The
United States naturally took the lead,
and its Leadership was never for u
moment questioned abroad.
Washington was selected as the place
OF meeting for a great congress of the
nations Washington, luckily, had been
one OF the places which had not been
touched by the Martians. But if Wash.
lngton had been city composed IF no.
tells alone and every hotel So great as to
be little city III itself, it would have
been utterly insufficient for the accom-
mediation Of the innumsrable throngs
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03

The HynJ machine had bccn seen by
many persons.
charge upon our car as nearly but not
quite to cuunterbalancc the effect of the
moon ) attraction in order that we might
gradually approach it and with an easy
motion settle without shock upon its
surface.
We did not remain to examine the
wonders of the moon, although we could
not fail 10 observe many curious things
therein. Having demonstrated tho fact
that we could not only leave the earth,
but could journey through space and
safely land upon the surface Of another
planet, Mr.. EdiSon's immediate purpose
was fulfilled, and we FASTENED back to
the earth employing in leaving the
moon and in landing again upon our
own planet the same means of control
over the electrical attraction and repul-
sion between the respective planets and
our car which | have already described
When actual experiment had thus
demonstrated the practicability Of the
invention, Mr.. Edison no longer with
held the news of what he had been do
ing from the world, The telegraph lines
and the ocean cables labored with the
messages that in endless succession and
burdened with an iniinity of detail were
sent all over the earth. Everywhere the
utmost enthusiasm was aroused.
Let the Martians come" was the
cry. IF necessary, we can quit the
earth as the Alhenians fled from Athens
before the advancing host of Xerxes,
and, like them, take refuge upon our
ships-these new ships of space with
which American inyen,iveness has fur
nished us. "
And then, like flash, some genius
struck out an idea that fired the world.
why should we wait? Why should
we run the risk Of having our cities de-
stroyed and our lands desolated second
time? Let us go To Mars. We have tho
means. Let us beard the lion in his
den. Let US ourselves turn conquerors
and tako possession of that detestabie
planet, and if necessary destroy it in or
der to relieve the earth Of this perpetual
threat which now hangs over us like
the sword Of Danoclcs.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03
CHAPTER Ii.

This enthusiasm would havo had hut
little justification had Mr.. Edison done
nothing moro than invent machine
which conld navigate tho atmosphere
and the regions of interplanetary space
He had, howeycr-.and this fact was
generally known, although the details
had not yet leaked out-invented also
utmost that the Martians could do for
either offense or defense in tho struggle
which was now about to ensue.
Acting upon the hint which had bee,
conveyed from various Investigations j
the domain of physics and commemorative
upon the problem all those unmatch,
powers Sf intellect which distinguish
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03

son TO Mars" lrdS heard from an stiles.
which now flocked to the banks of the
Potomac, Bat when was American en-
| terprise unequal to "A crisis: The neces-
sary hotels, lodging houses and Iestau-
rants We're constructed with astounding
rapidity. one could see the city grow
ing and expanding day by day and week
after week. 1t flowed over Georgetown
heights; it leaped the Potomac; it
spread east and west, south and north;
square mile after square mile of terri.
tory was buried under the advancing
buildings, until the gigantic city, which
had thus grown up like mushroom in
II night, was fully capable of accommo-
dating all its expected guests,
AT first it had not been intended that
the heads of the various governments
should i'll person attend this universal
congress, but as the enterprise went ON,
rs the enthusiasm spread, as the neces-
sity for haste became more apparent
through tho warning notes which were
constantly sounded from tho observa-
tories where the astronomers were night
~ beholding new evidences of threaten
ing preparations in Mars, the kings and
queens of the old world felt that they
could not remain ut home; that their
proper place was at the new focus and
center of tho whole world-the city of
Washington. Without concerted action,
without interchange of suggestion, this
impulse seemed to seize all the old
world monarchs at once. Suddenly ca
Diagrams flashed to the government ut
Washington, announcing that Queen
Victoria, the Emperor William, the
Car Nicholas Alfonso of Spain, with
his mother, Maria Christina; tho old
Emperor Francis Joseph and the EN-
press Elizabeth Of Austria; King Oscar
and Queen sophia of Sweden and Nor
way, King Humbcrt and Queen Mar.
gherita of Italy, King George and Queen
Olga Of Greece, Abdul Hamid of Tur-
key, Tsait len, emperor of China; Nut
suhito, the Japanese mikado, with his
beautiful Princess Haruko; the presi-
dent of France the president of Swift.
zerland, the first syndic of the little re-
public of Andorra, perched on the crest
OF the Pyrenees, and the heads of all the
Central and South American republics,
We're coming TO Washington to take
part in the deliberations, which, it was
felt, were to settle the fate of the earth
and of Mars.
Ono day, after this announcement had
been received and the additional news
had come that nearly all of the visiting
monarchs had set out, attended by bril-
liant suits and conveyed by fleets Of
warships, for their destination, some
coming across tho Atlantic to the port
OF New York, others across the Paci.io
to San Francisco, Mr.. Edison said to
me-
This will be "a fine spectacle. Would
on like to watch it;'
Certainly, | replied.
The ship of space was Immediately
our disposal think l have not yet
'ntioned the fact that the inventors
ltrol over the electrical generator
ried III the Car was so perfect that by
rying the potential or changing the
larity no could cause it slowly or
fifty, as might be desired, to approach
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03

construct the equipment and machinery
that we shall require. This, | think, is
all need to say, Let as iroceed to
business
"Where is Mr. Edison?" cried
voice.
will Mr. Edison please step for.
wardj' said the president
There was II stir III the assembly, and
the iron gray head Of the great inventor
was seen moving through the crowd, In
his hand he carried one of his marvel
GUS disintogrators. He was requested to
explain and illustrate its operation. Mr..
Edison smiled.
81 can explain its details, he said,
"to Lord Kelvin, for instance, but if
their majestios will excuse me, doubt
whether | could make it plain to the
crowned heads, f"
The Emperor William smiled super.
ciliously, Apparently he thought that
another assault had been committed on
the divine right of kings, But the Gear
Nicholas appeared 20 be amused, and
the emperor of China. who had been
studying English, laughed in his sleeve,
MS il he suspected that n joke had been
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03
CHAPTER Ill.

The day appointed for the assembling
of tho nations in Washington opened
bright and beautiful. Arrangement
had been made for tho reception of tn,
distinguished guests at tho capitol. Nc
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-03


given object or any part of an object
provided that that part differed in its
atomic constitution and consequently
III its Migratory period from tine other
parts.
a most impressive public exhibition
OF the powers of the little disntegratur
was given amid the ruins of New York.
On lower Broadway part of the walls
OF one of the gigantic buildings which
had been destroyed by tho Martians
impended i'll such "A manner that it
threatened at any moment to fall upon
the heads of the passersby. Tho tire de-
partment did not dare to touch il. To
blow 1t up seemed dangerous eXpedi-
ent, because already new buildings had
been erected in its neighborhood, and
their safety would he imperied by the
flying fragments, The fact happened to
come to my knowledge.
Here is an opportunity, | said TO
Mr.. Edison, "to try the powers of your
machine on II large scale -
Capital" he instantly replied. II
shall 90 at once"
For the work now in hand it was
necessary 10 employ IA battery of disin-
tegrators, since the field Of destruction
covered by each was comparatively linz
tied All of tho impending portions Of
the wall must DO destroyed ut once and
together for otherwise tho danger
would rather be accentuated than an
initiated. Tho disintegrators were
placed upon the roof of neighhoring
building, so adjusted that their fields
OF destruction overlapped one another
upon the wall. Their indexes were all
set to correspond with the vibration
period Of tho peculiar kind of b.ick Of
which the wall consisted. Then tho en-
ergy was turned on, and n shout of
Evening journal., 1898-08-26
SHg SAN FRANCISCO ED

MRS. BOTKIN KEEPS A STILL TON
GUE-HER HUSBAND BELIEVES
HER INNOCENT.
A special San Francisco dispatch Of
yesterday says:
Held under arrest charged with the
murder Of MIS-. j. r. Dunning and her
sister. Mrs Botk,n at least believes in
the saying that "a. still tongue makes
a wise head" Since her arrest she has
not discussed her case with anyone ex-
cept the chief Of police here.
The accused woman went to bed
early and according to the statement OF
the matron Of the city prison, spent the
night in restful sleep. She arose about
10 o'clock and almost Immediately ask
ed for newspapers These were given
to her and she spent several hours in
their perusal. Mrs. Bothn is not as
unconcerned as appears on the surface
Her face is already assuming q gray
color, and lines Of care about her deep
set eyes tell in unmistakable languag.
the story Of a heart oppressed by fear
of the future and the resurrection Of a
mis-spent past
Chief Of Police Lees and the detec-
tive department are very active in the
murder case. Almost hourly people come
TO the Offices Of the chief and after
protracted conferences. hurriedly make
their departure. The chain Of evidence
that It is hoped will connect Mrs. Bot
kin with the poisoning Is gradually be-
ing forged. Il cannot be denied that
the facts are presenting themselves
which impiicate Mrs. Botkin seriously
despite her assurances Of innocence. Il
admit that in pursuit Of pleasure and
qualification Of my desires I would not
ordinarily stop at anything" she is
quoted as having said 10 Chief Lees
'but to gain my end bv murder would
be impossible. l am not guilty Of this
crime"
II Mrs. Botkin was in Stockton on
July 2S. 20 and 80, as the police say she
was, che will have some difficulty in
disproving the statements Of John Cat
rell. an employe Of w. II. Kuhn, pro-
prietor Of a candy store in that city
who was reported in these dispatches
Evening journal., 1898-08-26
THE NEWS OF SMYRNA

Special Correspondence Evening Journal
Smyrna, August 26.-The notorious
Peck Stevens, who was arrested here
for obtaining sl2 and a gold watcn
from a man from Maryland, escaped
from the town lookup by breaking an
iron door. He was afterwards caught
near the cemetery, and taken to Dover
Jail. 1t is not the first time Peck has
been there. He stole $50 from Charles
Lord, of Camden, and was put there
but few weeks ago, but Mr. Lord
bailed him out Peck married The
daughter of Thomas Carty, formerly OF
Smyrna, but now living in Dover.
J. B. Counselman left yesterday fol
Shippenburg. Pa, to take charge OF 4
cannery there.
Rev. Henry G. Budd, of Berlin, Nd
paid his father a visit Wednesday
Charles Patterson, Jr., of Newark, N
j., is visiting friends here.
William Maybury and sister, Mary
have been the guests Of friends here.
Charles Patterson, of Newark, n j.
is visiting relatives here.
Edward Budd is the guest OF his ia
ther
James Wyatt, of Pennsgrove, n. j., Il
visiting friends here.
Mrs. Price and children, Of Elkton
left yesterday for Watkins They will
be the guest of Mrs. James Price.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. E. Carter leave TO
Philadelphia to-day and will return OF
Saturday
Mrs. Wheaton, Of Chester, Pa, i
visiting Misses Nan and Pauline Start
Mr.. English, Of Macon, Georgia,
visiting his sisters, Mrs. John VanGas
kin and Miss English, on South street
a party of young folk went to Dove
Wednesday to visit Miss Dora Hirons
They are Miss Clara Linberger, tn
Misses johnson, Miss Toscum, Nan an
Pauline Start.
John Barnes, Of Holmsburg, Pa. ar
rived here Tuesday night and joine
his mother at Woodland Beach We'd
nesday
Mr.. and Mrs Robert Gass, Of Phiia
delphia are visiting friends here.
VIII and Alfred Taylor, Of Holms
burg, Pa, are visiting relatives here.
Gilbert Taylor, from near Millingtor
was in town Wednesday.
Thomas Start left for his home 4
New York city Wednesday.
Evening journal., 1898-08-26
SOCIAL Ard PERSORsL GOTES

Miss Estelle Deakyne has returned
home from Rehoboth.
Mrs. Steel. who has been visiting the
Misses Kuntz, returned to her home, at
Chesapeake City, to-day.
Miss Bessie Wilson is visiting friends
at Bridgeville and Dover.
The Misses Young left yesterday for
a two weeks stay at Atlantic City.
Mrs. Joseph Hesketh, Of Whining
ton, is visiting her mother, Mrs. James
Barr.
Mrs. Joseph Callahan, Of Whining
ton, visited friends here yesterday.
Miss Ethel Bach, Miss Meta Robin.
son and Charles Warner, of Whining
ton, visited Miss Edna Finn last night
Miss Mary Mcguire is visiting friends
at Sudlsrsville, Md.
William Tourson, of Salem. n. j.. /!
visiting his uncle, Alfred Pedrick.
Merritt Hunter, who has been visit
ing his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Mer
ritt, returned to Warren, Pa, las
night.
Arthur Gamble. Of Wilmington. Il
visiting Ralph Finn.
John Moore, of Chicago, who hal
been a guest of his sister, Mrs. e. L
Wilson, has returned home.
Miss Minnie Steel, of Delaware City
is visiting her sister, Mrs. Marion
Truss.
Mrs. Joseph Dillon, of Ardmore, Pa.
is the guest Of Mrs. Harry White, nea
town.
Mrs. Lewis Cummings, who has beel
visiting friends at Havre de Grace, ha
returned home.
Mrs. William Barr and daughter. VIII
have been visiting here, have returnel
s to Philadelphia.
Mrs. John Hamilton is visiting he
4 brother, at Trenton, N. ].
Mrs. Mary Dyer is visiting her sister
! at Philadelphia.
Miss Bertha Satterthwaite, Of Stan
4 ton, Del, is visiting Miss Edna Finn.
Evening journal., 1898-08-26
PRoPosALs.

pROPOSALS.-Dcla State Hospital
at Furnhurst. Sealed proposals viii be
received by the trustees for the following
supplies for the months of September, Oc.
tober. November and December. viz: Gro.
ceries, bread. beef. veal and mutton, dry
goods. mems clothing, shoes, crockery
and drugs.
Bids for beef will be on fore and hind
quarters out OF cattle well fatted, and
dressing not less than 500 pounds. The
kidney fat TO be excluded IN the bid on
hlnd-Quarters.
Bids for veal to be on the whole animal
the calves 10 be well fatted and dressing
not less than ninety pounds.
Bids for mutton TO be ON forc-quarteri
and on the whole animal the sheep 20 bt
well fatted and dressing not less than
thirty-hve pounds.
All supplies TO be delivered az the hos.
pital free OF charge and ln such quantities
AS may he ordered by the superintendent
Blank forms of proposals and envelopes
VIII be furnished 90 those who address
Dr. William II. Hanckcr Farnhurst
Delaware. No bids win be considered un-
less made on said blanks, and in the man
ner there designated.
The bids win be opened at the hospital
az 1890 o'clock, Thursday. September 1
1885, Contracts VIII be awarded TO the
best bidders.
The trustees reserve the right 10 reject
bids not deemed 90 thc interest of the in-
stituuon.
Samples can been seen by applying al
Tie hospital
WILLIAM ~. HANCKER, supt
Evening journal., 1898-08-26
niagara FALLS
EXCURSION VIA PENN
SYLVAN1A RAILROAD.

LOW-RAIE EXCURSION VIA PENN
sYLVAN1A RAILROAD.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has arranged for q popular ten-day ex-
cursion TO Niagara Falls from Philadel-
phla, Baltimore and washington, on
September /. An experienced tourist
agent and chaperon viii accompany the
party
Excursion tickets. good for return
passage on any regular train. exclusive
of limited express trains, within ten
days, viii be sold at $40 from Philadel-
nhla. Baltimore Washington, and all
points on lhe Delaware Division, $500
from Lancaster; $3.50 from Altoona
and Harrisburg; $3.50 from sunbury
and Wilkesbarre; S5.75 from Williams
port. and at proportionate rates from
other points. Excursionists will travel
by special train Of Pullman parlor cars
and day coaches. A stop-oyer will be
allowed at Buffalo, Rochester, Canaan
daigua and Watkins returning.
Tickets from Atlantic City and other
South Jersey points. and stations on
the Delaware Division, will be good foI
passage to Philadelphia on day preced-
ing date of excursion.
Tickets for a side trip to the Thou
sand Islands (Alexndria Bay) will be
sold from Rochester. good 10 return tC
Rochester or to Canandaigua via Syra.
cuse within five days. at rate of $3.50.
The Canadian Industrial Fair will b'
held at Toronto. August 30 to Septem
Der 10, 1898 On September 3 ticket
from Niagara Falls to Toronto and re
turn, good only on that day, viii b.
sold to holders Of Niagara Falls excur
sion tickets at rate Of sl.00 Ticket
good to return until September # vii
be sold from August 20 TO septembe
10, inclusive at rate OF Sl.i5.
For time OF connecting trains an
further information apply 90 neares
ticket agent. or address George W
3 Boyd, Assistant General Passenge
4 Agent, Broad Street Station, Philade
8 lphia.
Evening journal., 1898-08-26
oII1NG RAILRoAp TRAcKs.

Salisbury, Nd, August 26.-Eleven
miles of the road bed of the New York
Philadelphia and Norfolk railroad, be-
tween Cheriton and Birds Nest sta
tlons, were oiled by the Dustless Road
Bed Company, of Philadelphia. The
total expense Of oiling onemile Of track
is about SIS, and about 1000 gallons OF
crude oil are used to a mile, which will
last about three years without a reoll-
ing, and il keeps the dust from flying
while a train is passing Il also pre-
vents weeds from growing on the
track. A fiat car equipped with sprin-
klers and check valves is used to do the
work. Attached to the car Is big hose
connected with tank car of oil. The
train moves about four miles an hour
while sprinknng the track. The road
bed is saturated with oil distance ol
seven feet on slther side Of the track
and between the rails. Oil to lay The
dust has been successfully used fol
sometime N the Pennsylvania system
between Washington and New York.