The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-25
FROM FICTION TO FACT.
Morgan Robertson, Author. Sells an
Idea for $4,000.

Adea Tor $4,000.
New York, Aug. 25.@.That is the
most improbable story I ever read" a
man exclaimed as he threw down Nor
gan Robertsons latest magazine story,
/ Inc submarine Destroyer
Ihe story did look a bit improbable,
put aust the same it is no idle fancy.
RoDeftson has been paid a fortune for
only one of the ideas embodied in his
little piece of fiction. He told of
queer craft that would revolutionize
warfare, that would sink twenty sub
the now dreaded ships of war no more
TO be feared than d common washtub.
That is the last story Robertson ever
Will write unless his mind is complete
submarine boat company that manu-
1actureS the Holland submarine tor
pedo boat. It is said he got $4,000 in
cash for the idea that first appealed
TO the Holland company's officials, an
idea he had developed to go in the
| magazine story, without any thought
| of practical application.
From now on the fiction writer will
devote all his energies to putting his
literary creations into the form of
practical inventions. He believes firm
| ~ 1t will not be long before he can
send every submarine in the world to
the bottom of the sea. That he is no
impractical visionary is proved by the
big price paid for his periscope which
is now controlled by the Holland COM
pany.
In his last story Robertson has equip
ped his submarine DESTROYER with
waters of the sea. So far scientists and
inventors have been baffled in all at
tempts at making a searchlight that
would light up the waters.
Il have invented an invisible search
light is all Robertson will say for pub
LEGATION. It is declared to be light
that will be as torch upon the sea for
two miles around and yet cannot be
seen, though it stands high above the
surface of the water.
Guards Secret Formula.
Robertson expects this light to be
transmitted through the waters SO sub
marines of the enemy may be discover
ed a mile away. He will not tell how
the light is constructed. In his story he
gives only 4 vague hint, calling it a
fluorescent light. 1t is known that the
Illuminating agent will be electricity
Robertson is careful in guarding the
secret formula by which he wells the
rays of light so they may be unseen.
Robertson's debut as practical in
ventor is as surprising to the public as
If H. G. Wells were to build warship
of air, such as he used to such good
effect in the imaginary battles IN the
WAR of the Worlds
Just about ten years ago Morgan Rob-
ertson began to write tales of the sea.
Robertson knew no to write stories OF
the sea, for he has been sailor He
sailed before the mast for years and
had positions on nearly every sort of
vessel af1oat Before he went to sea he
was a cowboy, hotel clerk, miner, pros
pector. railroad man, and nearly every
thing else that the world of experience
could give him. He has worked all over
the world and knows it like a book.
Results from "The Mistake
The development of submarines and
the wonderful possibilities of the little
war vessels appealed to Robertson
stories of submarines. Not long ago
he wrote a story of japanese sub
marine that was equipped with Won
derful periscope. This periscope en-
abled the submerged vessel to see the
horizon for miles in every direction
| at the same time. Intact, 1T gave a
complete picture of the surface of the
water and everything above 1t. The
story was called 1.-THE Mistake. This
fanciful periscope was laughed at, of
course.
Submarine boat people have want
| ed periscope that would show all the
horizon at the same time. One of the
officials of the Holland company read
story of the submarine. He got in
communication with the writer. To
his surprise, he learned that Robert
| son had not stopped at imagining
periScope, but mad gone dnead ana Ill
vented it. Robertson even had gone
SO far as to patent his invention.
Gets Cash and Royalty.
The Holland company wanted it and
bought it, The price is said to have
been $4,000 in cash. $500 for each
boat equipped with a periscope, and
$500 for each boat sold without the
| equipment. This, with other induce
ments, has persuaded Mr.. Robertson
to give up story writing for the more
| lucrative business of building sub
marine destroyers.
He has given only hint of his sub
marine destroyer, which he believes
will be able to destroy every sub
marine in the world, and do the job in
a few minutes. He says he did not
dare go beyond the vague hints in mis-
fiction story The submarine destroyer
| of his creation is curious craft, OF
circular form, like two salad bowls
with their edges together, convex above
and below and concave near the
edges. The edges extend sharply hori-
zontaIly for about twenty feet from the
termination of the convex curve, max
| ing a circular boat about eighty feet
| in diameter. The boat has no rudder.
no propeller, and no visible means OF
propulsion. 1t has combination en-
CINE for liquid air and oil. In general
as pect it is a big globe.
In the story this queer craft saves a
feet of American submarines from a