Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01

had reached the utmost limit of our
flight, we seemed to come to rest for
moment and then began slowly, but
with accelerated velocity, to sink back
again to the planet 1t was not only n
, peculiar but delicious sensation, and
but for strict orders which were issued
that the electric ships should ~ immo-
diately prepared for departure our en-
tire company might have remained for
an indefinite period enjoying this new
kind of athletic exercise in world
where gravitation had become so hum
BILE that it could be trifled with.
While the final preparations for de-
parturo were being made Lord Kelvin
instituted other experiments that were
no less unique in their results. The ex-
perience of those who had taken unpre-
meditated flights in elliptical orbits
when they had run from the vicinity Of
the Martians suggested the throwing of
solid objects in various directions from
the surface Of the planet i'll order to de-
termine the distance that they would 90
and the curves they would describe i'll
returning.
For these experiments there was moth
ing more convenient or abundant than
chunks of gold from the Martians' mine
These, accordingly, were hurled in
various directions and with every de-
gree Of velocity. y little calculation
| had shown that an initial velocity of 30
| feet per second impaired to one of these
chunks moving at right angles to the
radius of the asteroid, would, if the re-
| sistance of an almost inappreciablo at
| mosphere were neglected, suffice to
| turn the piece Of gold into little satel-
lite that would describe an orbit around
| the asteroid aud continue to do so for
ever, or ut least until the slight atmcs-
| pheric resistance should eventually
| bring it down to the surface.
| But less velocity than so feet per
| second would cause the golden missile
| to fly only Part way around, while n
! greater velocity would give it an clip
teal instead of circular orbit. and in
.his ellirsc il would continue to revolve
AROUND the asteroid in the character Of
4 satellite.
If the direction Of the original I'M
pulse were at more than q right angle
/ to the radius of the asteroid, then the
flying body would pass out to Il greater
| or less distance i'll space in IN clliptical
! orbit eventually coming back again and
/ falling upon the asteroid, but not ut tho
same spot from which it had departed.
So many took part in these singular
experiments, which assumed rather the
appearance of outdoor sports than Of
coli. Z ti,,I do no in, Oh
time we had provided the asteroid with
very large number of little moons or
satellites of gold, which revolved around
it in orbits of various degrees of clip
ITCHY, taking on the average about
three quarters Of an hour to complete u
circuit. Since, on completing "A revolu-
ton, they must necessarily pass through
| the point from which they started, they
kept us constantly on the qui vive to
avoid being knocked over by them as
they swept around in their orbits,
Finally the signal WAS given for all
to embark, and with great regret the
savants quilted their scientific games
and prepared to return to the electric
ships.
Just on the moment of departure the
fact was announced by one who had
been making little calculation on a
bit of paper that the velocity with
which body must be thrown III order
to escape forever from the attraction Of
the asteroid and to pass ON to an inf
mite distance in any direction was only
about ~ feet in second.
Manifestly il would be quite easy to
impart such speed as that to the
chunks of gold that we held in our
hands.
"Hurrahw exclaimed one. Lets
send some Of this back to the earth. "
"Wherc is the earth:" asked another.
Being appealed TO, several astrono.
mers turned their eyes in the direction
of the sun, where the black armament
was ablaze with stars, and in a moment
recognized the earth star shining there
with the moon attending close at hand.
There, said one, sis the earth.
Can you throw straight enough to hit
it,"
''We'll try" was the reply, and i'm
mediatcly several threw huge golden
nuggets in the direction of our far away
world, endeavoring to impart to them
at least the required velocity of ~ feet
in Il second which would insure their
passing beyond the attraction of the
asteroid and, if there should be no dis
turbance on the way and if the aim
were accurate, their eventual arrival
upon the earth.
"IIeres for you, old earth, " said one
of the throwerS. GOOD luck and moro
gold to youn
If these precious missiles ever reach
ed the earth, we knew that they would
plunge into the atmosphere like moteCrs
and that probably the heat developed 10y
their passage would melt and dissipatC
them in golden vapors before they could
touch the ground.
Yet there was chance that some Of
them-if the aim were true-might sur
vive the fiery passage through the at
mosphere and fall upon the surface Of
our planet, where perhaps they would
aftorward be picked up by prospoctol
, and lead him to believe that he had
struck new bonanza.
But until we returned to the earth il
would he impossible for us to tell wha
3 had become of the golden gifts which
we had launched into space for oul
mother planet.
"All aboardv' was tho signal, and
the squadron having assembled undel