Gilpin observer., 1907-02-21

him.
don't know what happened Every
thing was red before my eyes. l was
conscious only that something fell
with thud to the ground-something
that the crowd trampled under foot,
and that the firemen were attaching
the hose-and that had done it.
Blood. Blood!" I cried in
wild frenzy, breaking away from the
crowd and running up the street,
Blood"
AS | ran a great number of police
ofhcers passed me, on their way to
the riot. Their eyes were wild and
bloodshot
L staggered on until 1 reached Won
Minden's house. He had got there
before me.
Won Mjnden!" I cried, beating
the door frantically
He came out, and l started back in
surprise. Won Minden it was, but he
was completely encased. from the
waist up, in metal cylinder that
surrounded his body. 1t was full of
holes and emitted a white vapor that
almost completely enveloped him.
He laughed. "Steam!" he cried.
It's the only thing-the only anti
1ote for the madness. Watt" He
opened a small valve, and out came
flood of steam. Instantly the blood
left my brain. For the first time
in hours l felt like a rational being.
Then he produced another portable
generator and attached it to my per-
son.
I'VE must go, Anson," he explained,
in the cause of humanity
We then proceeded to the two
leading newspaper Offices and dictated
notices for their bulletins, directing
everybody to keep their windows
shut, to keep indoors, and to keep
their kettles steaming Won Minden
and myself as we went through the
streets, cried: Steam! Steam!" to
all whom we met.
The sun rose the next mornings
red a sun as last nights moon had
been-and wherever shone the sun
that day. it shone down upon ruin and
disaster. The whole world woke to
find itself gone mad.
The next day every state in the
union was clamoring for one man
Won Minden-the federal government
most of all. A special session of
congress was called. Committees had
experimental with Won Minden's
steam generators. They sent for me-
chanics and engineers from every
state, and called Won Minden in. In
side of As hours Won Minden's ap-
narQtnG was haipU 70 opA
distributed all over the country.
In a week, however, the officials
and Won Minden with them-began to
wake up to the fact that, while steam
was the great remedy, it was a REM
edy that the masses didn't want To
them madness was intoxication-
they preferred it to sanity
1t was Independence day, July 4th.
that the crisis came. On that day.
from every town and city in the
United States, by prearrangement.
men by thousands and tens of thou
sands. started out, mad as they were,
yet with semblance of order. bound
for one common destination.
They were bound for Washington
They had become anarchists. They
had determined to wipe out the
United States government-the presi-
dent, congress. and every depart
ment.
On July Is, that fateful day, I
stood with Won Minden on top Of the
Washington monument.
The mob had surrounded the city.
The entire government had left it.
1,xy 70
routes.
At preconcerted signal the mob
entered. Nothing could have kept
them out, and no attempt was made
to do so. Won Minden sat at my
side with his finger on a button. He
was ready at an instant's notice to
loose upon the mass of humanity pow
erful jets Of steam that would either
kill or cure. For awhile there was
no disorder. The great army entered.
rank upon rank, and filed every
street and every park. They were
there to destroy. but to destroy when
the time came. Suddenly we heard
Misunderstanding was wrong.
Then wild yell of rage. growing
stronger as the time went on, burst
from the throats. of a million men.
They had been thwarted.
At that moment Won Minden pressed
the button. l looked out. Nothing
happened. Something was wrong.
Won Minden became himself almost
a raving lunatic.
What the devil is the matter?"
he yelled. Again and again he tried
the apparatus. 1t would not work.
The crowd had evidently cut his
wires. He was about to descend to
investigate himself. but l held him
back.
Look. look!" I cried. "Below!" ,
1t is quite unnecessary for me to
Il