The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-01-16
CaraclysIn.

inc slip OF lana WHICH was crowded, as
l have described, with refugees, while
other hundreds rapidly assembled about
us, evidently preparing for an attack.
We bad learned in our previous con-
tests with the airships of the Martians
that our electrical ships had great adj
vantage over them, not merely in rapid
ity ana facility OF movement but IN
the fact that our disintegrators could
sweep in every direction, while it was
only with much difficulty that the Mar
tian airships could discharge their cleo
trical strokes at an enemy poised direct
ly above their heads
Accordingly orders were instantly
flashed to all the squadron to rise verti-
cally to an elevation so great that the
rarity of the atmosphere would prevent
the airships from attaining the same
level
This maneuver was executed so quick
ly that the Martians were unable to
deal Us blow before we were poised
above them in such position that they
could not easily reach us. Still they did
not mean to give up the conflict
Presently we saw one of the largest
of their ships maneuvering in a very
peculiar manner, the purpose of which
we did not at first comprehend It's for
ward portion commenced slowly to rise,
until it pointed upward like the nose of
fish approaching tie surface of the
water The moment it was in this posi-
ton an electrical bolt was darted from
its Prov, and one of our ships received
a shock which, although it did not
prove fatal to the vessel itself, killed
two or three men aboard of it, disar-
ranged its apparatus and rendered it
for the time. being useless.
"Ah, that's their trick, is it?" said
Mr.. Edison. 1--WE must look out for
that. Whenever you see one of the air
ships beginning to stick it's nose up aft
er that fashion blaze away at it. :"
An order to this effect was transmit
ted throughout the squadron. At the
same time several Of the most powerful
disintegrators were directed upon the
ship which had executed the stratagem,
and, reduced to wreck, it dropped,
whirling like broken kite, until it fell
into the food beneath
Still the Martians' ships came flock
ing in ever greater numbers from all di-
rections. They made desperate attempts
to attain the level at which we hung
above them. This was impossible, but
many, getting an impetus by swift
run in the denser portion of the atmos-
phere beneath, succeeded in rising so
high that they could discharge their
electric artillery with considerable eff
fect, Others with more or less success
repeated the maneuver of the ship which
had first attacked us, and thus the bat
tie became gradually more general and
more fierce, until in the course of an
hour or two our squadron found itself en-
gagged with probably 1000 airships,
which blazed with incessant lightning
strokes and were able all too frequently
to do us serious damage.
But on our part the battle was waged
with cool determination and con-
seriousness Of insuperable advantage
which BODIED i'll for the enemy. Only
three or four of our 60 electrical ships
were seriously damaged, while the
work of the disintegrators upon the
crowded fleet that f1oated beneath us
was terrible to look upon.
Our strokes fell thick and fast on all
sides. 1t was like firing into a flock of
birds that could not get away. Not
withstanding all their efforts they were
practically at our mercy. Shattered into
unacceptable fragments, hundreds of
the airships continually dropped from
their great height to be- swallowed up in
the boiling waters
Yet they were game to the last. They
made every effort to get at u.s. and in
their frenzy they seemed to discharge
their bolts without much regard to
whether friends or foes were injured.
Our eyes were nedrly blinded by the
ceaseless glare beneath US, and the up
roar was Undesirable.
AT length, after this fearful contest
had lasted for at least three hours, it
became evident that the strength of the
enemy was rapidly weakening Nearly
the whole Of their immense fleet of air
ships had been destroyed or SO far DAM
aged that they were barely able to float
Just so long, however, as they showed
signs of resistance we continued to pour
our merciless fire upon them, and the
signal to cease was not given until the
airships which had escaped serious dam
age began to flee in every direction.
THANK God, the thing is overl' said
Mr.. Edison 1--WE have got the victory
at last, but how we shall make use Of it
is something that at present do not
see. "
But will they not renew the attack
asked some one.
II do not think they can, " was the
reply. 1--WE have destroyed the very
flower of their fleet. -
And better than that" said Colonel
Smith, 1--WE have destroyed their elan.
We have made them afraid Their dis
cipline is gone.
But this was only the beginning of
our victory. The floods below were
achieving still greater triumph, and
now that we had conquered the airships
we dropped within few hundred feet
of the surface of the water and then
turned our faces westward in order to
follow the advance Of the deluge and
see whether, as we had hoped, it would
overwhelm our enemies in the very GEN.
for of thar ,,oxyor