The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-03
PROF, SMITH IS NOW 4 CITIZEN OF MARS Reaches the Planet in Meteorio
 Alrshlp
 SENDS A MESSAGE BACK Says Martlans VIII Exclude imml. grants from the Earth, Fearing Social and Political Contain.
 lnatlon--ldeal oov'ment,
SENDS A MESSAGE BACK
BY WALTER HARPER.

When Prof. John Ransom Smith went up in a crazy looking balloon of his own devising in the spring of 1se2 did not expect to hear from him again.
 He told me that he was going to the planet Mars, and assured mo that I would hear from him, but when I saw his ma chine dart around a corner fin the early morning fog that hung over Lookout mountain dismissed him and his scheme from my mind.
 But true to his promise and greatly to my surprise I have heard from him, and In a most remarkable manner.
 A small canister was picked up by Spanish merchantnlan in the South Pa cific ocean few weeks ago. Instructions were engraved on the neck directing the finder to forward without molestation to my address at once. The canister has just arrived, with a full explanation of the manner of it's finding from the captain of the vessel.
 Before relating the contents of the mes sage received from Professor Smith from our neishbor planet I will tell something of the man and the manner of his jour- ney to that far-away world.
 Had a Hobby.
 We were college mates and were close friends. He seemed to like me in spite of the severity with which I often ridi- culed his freak ideas and ambitions. l liked him because of his excentricities. Mars was his hobby. He believed the planet was inhabited and also that some day we would be able to communicate with it's people.
 After our graduation we drifted apart, and did not hear from him for 10 years. One night early in the spring of 1892 I was just finishing my work for the night when he burst into my den unannounced and exclaimed. without the least cere- mony "Old boy, she's coming and I am going to meet her next week. Come along and see me off
 Who's coming and what do you mean?" Then I recognized Smith and reached for his hand.
 He paid no attention to my movement but rattled on, Why Mars. of course Don't you know that she reaches opposi- tion in August and will be only 36,OOO,0O0 miles from the earth? That is as close as she will be again for 15 years, and now is my time. l am going to meet her on the low swing. Come, I have prepared everything and will start next Wednes- day. We will catch the o'clock train for Chattanooga. An overland drive of a few miles then will bring us to my work shop" I thought poor Smith had gone crazy, but resolved to humor him. The Journey to Lookout mountain was made in almost absolute silence. His only reply to any question was, "She is com- ing" I tried to talk of our college days; it was useless. and I finally gave up, signing myself to a silent study of his face and actions.
 Reaches Workshp. Tho last part of the journey was over mountain passes and up steep ravines. About 2 o'clock in the morning after 1 many hours hard climbing Professor l Smith led the way into cavern near the top of the mountain. After he had lighted candle ] found that we were in a large subterranean workshop, strewn with all kinds of strange tools, rubbish chemical apparatus, charts and maps. Leading the way to connecting \ chamber Professor Smith touched but ton and l amazed to see hundred l electric lights blaze forth from the cell | ing and walls. In the center of this J chamber was an immense balloon or air. ship fashioned after a design peculiarly original
 In the presence of this product of his mind and hands Smith opened up and told me all about his plans and the manner by which he hoped to reach Mars.
 The Airship.
 My airship is built on strictly scien- tiflc principles and l am certain of suc- cess. It will either be success or death with me. The most serious problem l have had to solve in the building of my ship has been the securing and applica- ton of some power that will carry me beyond the gravitating power of the earth. l believe l have at last succeeded Once beyond the centripetal power of the earth my journey through space and to my desired destination will be easy and certain.
 In the base of the machine there is highly magnetic meteor that was thrown from Mars to the earth just d few years ago. When the stone was thrown from that planet it was with such force that it passed beyond the centripetal power of that planet before its force was overcome, and was left to-.wander in space or be drawn to any other magnetic body un- der whose influence it might come. It wandered or was originally thrown into the radius of the earth's influence and was forced to the ground.
 Self-Reproducing Gas.
 .,b'or years I have labored and studied with different clements and have at last succeeded in discovering a self-reproduc- ing gas of great power that will not only raise d body with great force through the atmosphere that surrounds the earth but also has power over the ether above The bag is now inflated with this wonder ful gas and Is ready for a dash to the stars.
 Properly directed in the start that