The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-12-12

apparatus, modelled after that which
was the governing force of the electrical
ships themselves, and which, being in
closed in the alright suits, enabled
their wearers to manipulate the cleo
trical charge upon them in such way
that they could make excursions from
the cars into open space like steam
launches from ship, going and return
ing at their will.
These little machines being rapidly
manufactured, for Mr.. Edison had a
miniature laboratory aboard, were dis
tributed about the squadron, and hence
forth we had the pleasure Of paying and
receiving visits among the various
members of the feet.
But to return from this depression to
our experience on the asteroid. The lat
ter being body of some mass was, of
course, able to impart to us measur-
able degree of weight. Being five miles
in diameter, ON the assumption that it's
mean density was the same as that of
the earth, the weight of bodies on it's
surface should have borne the same ratio
to their weight upon the earth that the
radius of the asteroid bore to the radius
of the earth; in other words, as to
1,600.
Having made this mental oaloula-
ton, | knew that my weight, being 100
pounds on the earth, should on this
asteroid be an ounce and half.
Curious to see whether fact would
bear out theory, had myself weighed
with a spring balance. Mr.. Edison,
Lord Kelvin and the other distinguished
scientists stood by watching the opera
ton with great interest.
To our complete surprise my weight
instead of coming out an ounce and "a
half, as it should have done, on the sup
position that the mean density of the
asteroid resembled that Of the earth-a
very liberal supposition on the side of
the asteroid, by the way-actually came
out 5 d ouncesl
heavy?" asked.
Eyes, indeed What an elephant you
have become!' said Mr. Edison.
Lord Kelvin screwed his eyeglass in
his eye and carefully inspected the bal
ance.
cts quite right, he said. "You do
indeed weigh ~ ounces Too much,
altogether too much, " he added. "You
shouldn't do it, you know"
Perhaps the fault is in the asteroid,"
suggested Professor Sylvanus P. Thomp-
son.
"Quite 80, exclaimed Lord Kelvin,
look of sudden comprehension over
spreading his features. "No doubt it is
the internal constitution of the asteroid
that is the cause of the anomaly. We
must look into that. Let me see This
gentleman's weight is 81 times as
great as it ought to be. What element
is there whose density exceeds the mean
density of the earth in about that pro-
portion?'
Gold" exclaimed one of the party.
For moment we were startled be.
yond expression. The truth had flashed
upon us.
This must be golden planet-this
little asterOid. II it were not composed
internally of gold, it could never have
made me weigh three times more than
ought to weigh.
"But where is the gold?" cried one.
Covered up, of course" said Lord
Kelvin. Buried in star dust This as
teroid could not have continued to
travel for millions of years through re-
gions of space strewn with meteoric
particles without becoming covered with
the inevitable. dust and CRIME Of such
journey. We must dig down, and
then doubtless we shall find the metal. F"
This hint was instantly acted upon.
Something that would serve for a spade
was seized by one of the men, and in
few minutes hole had been dug in the
comparatively light soil of the asteroid.
| shall never forget the sight or the
EXPLANATIONS of wonder that broke forth
from all of us standing around when
the yellow CLEAN of the precious metal
appeared under the "star DUST Col
lected in huge masses, it reflected the
light of the sun from its hiding place.
Evidently the planet was not solid
ball of gold, formed like bullet run
in mold, but was composed of nuggets
of various sizes, which had come to-
gether here under the influence of their
mutual gravitation and formed little
metallic planet.
Judging by the test of weight which
we had already tried, and which had
led to the discovery of the gold, the
composition of the asteroid must be the
same to its very center.
CHAPTER XII.
In an emblage of famous scientific
men such as this the discovery of course
immedia te1v led to ouectionc 40 70 tha