The herald., 1898-03-06
Copyright, 1898. by Garrett P. Serviss.l
SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS.
The Martians have attempted to con-
Quer the earth in order to relieve tneir
overpopulated planet. The invasion fails
through the breaking out of disease, and
not human effort. Fearing n second at
tack, Thomas A. Edison devises scheme
of resistance. He invents a practical
electrical air ship and an engine or de,
struction called the 'Disintegrator,
which will cause the constituent particles
of any object at which it may be direct
ed to so vibrate that the object Will be
Immediately and completely dispersed.
With these means at its command, the
proceed against Mars. At the end OF SIX
months a fleet of one hundred air ships,
with Mr.. Edison in command armed WIN
three thousand disintegrators, and
manned by two thousand men, among
whom are many famous scientists sets
out. Provision has been made for every
emergency that can be thought of: such
working and communicating i'll at
mospheres different from our own; sig
mailing, etc. After leaving the moon
where a short stay is made for eXplora-
tlon and repairs, the fleet is drawn into
the train of comet, and is only saved
from precipitation into the sun by com
ing within the earths attractive force:
Another start is made, and when sun
several million miles from Mars the ex-
pedition comes upon party Of Martianss
upon small heavenly body-one of
the asteroids The Martans are of giant
stature. human in form. but of somewhat
repulsive aspect They manage to de-
before their engine of war can be exter-
minated with "A disintegrator. The Mar
tians all killed except one who is
taken prisoner. Several of the ships land
on the little planet, which is found to be
of solid gold. TO get the precious metal
is doubtless the reason of the Martians
presence. Before the asteroid. which is
five miles in diameter, can be explored
one of the watching ships reports that
the MartianS are coming.
The alarm was spread instantly
among those upon the planet and
through the remainder of the fleet.
One of the men from the returning
electrical ship dropped down upon the
asterod and gave more detailed ac-
count of what they had seen.
His ship had been the one which had
gone to the greatest distance in the
direction of Mars. While cruising there,
with all eyes intent, they had suddenly
perceived n glittering object moving
from the direction of the ruddy planet,
and manifestly approaching them. A
little inspection with the telescope had
shown that it was one of the projectile
cars used by the Martians.
Our ship had ventured so far from
the asteroid that for moment it
seemed doubtful whether it would be
able to return in time to give warning,
because the electrical influence of the
asteroid was comparatively slight.
Fortunately after time they got
under way with sufficient velocity to
bring them back to us before the ap-
preaching Martians could overtake
them.
Indeed, looking out behind the cleo
trcal ship which had brought us the
warning, we Immediately saw the pro-
jectile of the Martians approaching.
The ships of the squadron whose
crews had not landed upon the planet
We're signaled to prepare for action,
while those who were upon the asteroid
made ready for battle there. A num-
Der of dlsintegrators We're trained
upon the approaching Martians. but
Mr.. Edison gave strict orders that no
attempt should be made to discharge
the vibratory force at random.
Having, as l am convinced no
means of producing or controlling cleo
trical attraction and repulsion. they
cannot stop themselves. but must come
down upon the asteroid. Having got !
here they could never get away again |
except as we know the survivors got
AWAY IToIu lIlt III, ny plODtlllilS
their projectle against gravitation
with the aid OF an e--olosive."
The Martians had apparently just |
caught sight of us. They evinced signs |
of astonishment, and seemed at loss
exactly what to do. We could see pro-
jecting from the fore part of their car
at least two of the polished knobs. |
whose fearful use and power we well
comprehended,
We stood at distance Of perhaps
three hundred feet from the point
where they touched the asteroid In
stantly dozen of the giants jumped
from the car and gazed about for a
moment with look of intense surprise.
AT first it was doubtful whether they
meant to attack us at all.
We stood on our guard, several car
rying disintegrators in our hands,
while a score more of those terrible en-
gines We're turned upon the Martians
from the electrical ships which hovered
near
Suddenly he who seemed to be the
leader of the Martians began to speak
to them in pantomime, using his fin
gers after the manner in which they
are used for conversation by deaf and
dumb people.
OF course. we did not know what he
was saying, but his meaning became
perfectly evident a moment later. In
stead of turning their destructive en-
gines upon us they advanced on
run. with the evident purpose of MAX
ing us prisoners or crushing us by
main force.
The soft whirr of the disintegrator
In the hands of Mr.. Edison standing
near me came to my ears through the
telephone wire. He quickly swept the
mirror a little up and
down. and instantly the foremost Mar
tian vanished! Part of some metallic
dress that he Wore fell upon the ground
where he had stood. its vibratory rate
not having been included in the range
impaired to the disintegrator
His followers paused for a moment, ,
amazed. stared about as if looking for
heir leader, and then hurried back
% their projectile ard disappeared
within it.
Now we've got business on our
lands," said Mr.. Edison. Look out
or yourselves" :
AS he spoke I saw the death h-dealing {