Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-01

[ MOCUL MAGNET.


where, for every year for twelve
years, the mill had exploded. causing
terrific loss and many deaths.
The president OF the company re-
quested that | should visit Pittsburg
in search of 4 magnet endowed with
sufficient power to attract an object of
friction at 4 distance of 80 feet.
Fortunately. while prospecting through
the North and in Alaska. | formed the
acquaintance of Captain Laurence. late
of the Pacific Steam Whaling COM
pany, who kindly informed me that
along the yukon delta there existed a
peculiar lodestone of wonderful nIaget-
ism. To me this information was in
valuable, AMI | accordingly accepted
his invitation TO join the whalers. who
were soon to leave on an expedition
from Point Barrow.
was little dubious of this adven.
ture. in spite of the promising report
OF the delta, for ten years previous my
brother Jim. my only surviving rela-
tive, sailed from Point Barrow with
Bob Laurence. brother Of our cap
tain. Wild fellows they were. too. and
the result was the wreck of the reyen-
ne cutter and four whaling vessels.
Nine hundred men became castaways.
and eventually persisted from hunger
and long exposure on the sterile coast
of Greenland.
Our voyage was replete with events.
thrilling and dangerous. and in my en-.
thusiasm for the whaling business
quite forgot my lodestone mission.
when twas brought to bear upon my
mind in q thoroughly disagreeable
way.
The captain ami were together on
deck, discussing the possibility of max
ing our return down the Yukon river.
thus passing through the gold fields
and lodestone ore. when the engineer
ing crew appeared before us and an
nounced that the machinery in the
power room refused to work None
of the engineers could explain the mys.
terry; 1t really seemed inesplicable
Soon the steam died away. but strange
the vessels speed increased. and be-
gan registering as high as 270 knots
an hour.
IL was indeed a ship at sea. What
direction We We're going it was impos-
sible to tell, for the compass didn't
show But with glass saw at a dis
lance a mountain OF dark color. and
the secret of Our speed was revealed.
We We're within the precincts OF the
great Lodestone Mountain, that both
fha NIL LN.,-NF-iir hn
lieved TO be near the Pole. surrounded
by waters presumably unnavigable.
I knew that when we arrived within
a certain distance. the attraction of
this Mogul Magnet would be so power
fui that the vessel would be crushed
20 pieces against it. a hasty examina-
zion was made OF the vessel; nothing
could be done to avoid a disastrous
landing, for the hull was OF heavy iron
of the ordinary build with faste1ings
of steel.
We therefore thought no more of the
vessels safety. but of how to avoid
the death shock which most assurcdly
would come TO us ali. Necessity was
the mother of invention in this case.
An avenue of escape was suggested
b. British Iailor. who. through fear.
had already suspended himself three
feet from the ftcor by catching TO Il
rubber strap that hung from the cell
ing. Within h2!f an hour We had a
strap each. and were dangling in mid
air when the crash came. II was a
crash indeed. for one side OF the YES
sci was firmly embedded in the ada.
7mant. With In. exception of Cool.
who sustained a slight shock. every
man alighted On che mountain bank
unhurt.
We succeeded in reaching the top
Of the mountain. where millions OF
grouse few gaily enough around. and
i. in advance OF the party. stopped and
rubbed my eyes. as well might
There. not twenty yards in front.
placed in a charming situation, under
a group of oyerhanging cliffs. was the
coy habitation of ciifT-dweller.
What the dickens," exclaimed l.
Can this be a mountain of cliff .lwell.
ers?"
Even as | said il. from an aperture
in the rock there limped out Rip Van
Wrinkle looking fellow. clothed in a
beautiful cloak Of duck breasts. and
with glorious crown OF white locks. I
thought must nave got touch Of the
sun. How did he ever get here? Be
sides, he was alone. for We could cas-.
lily see all over the mountain. stared
and stared and so did th.. ofhar mon
and just at that instant the captain
came up from the rear
Here. Cap" said ]. is that a white
man. or North Pole joss?"
Then all of a sudden the white
haired man gave cry and came nob-
bling toward me. When he got close.
he fell down in a sort of faint. With
"a spring / was by his side. Great
powers, II was my brother jim.
At the sound of the disturbance an.
other figure. also clad in sealskin.
emerged from the cliffs and came run,
ming toward us. On seeing the cap,
tain. he, too. gave a cry.
n Gap" he hallowed. don't ycu know
me. Bob. your brother? And he fell
It his kinsman's feet and rolled over
nd over. weeping with joy.
Meanwhile. Jim began
"Ten years ago. Laurence and were
1rled against this mountain. The
lin and the other shirfaon MOI, 1.on,