Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-29

bloodshot
 staggered on until reached Won Minden's house. He had got there before me.
 Won Minden!' cried, beating the door frantically.
 He came out, and started back in surprise, Von Mindep it was, but he was completely encased, from the waist up. in metal cylinder that surrounded his body. It was full of holes and emitted white vapor that almost completely enveloped him.
 He laughed. "Steam!" he, cried. Its the only thing-the only anti dote for the madness Wait!" He opened small valve, and out came a flood of steam. Instantly the blood left my brain. For the first time in hours I felt like rational being.
 Then he produced another portable generator and attached it to my per son.
 We must go. Anson," he explained. rin 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 morning-as red 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 Von Minden-the federal government most of all. A special session of congress was called. Committees had experimented with Won Minden's steam generators They sent for me chanics and engineers from every state, and called Von Minden in. h. side of AS hours Won Minden's ap- paratus was being manufactured and distributed all over the country.
 In 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.
 It 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. l
 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 15, that Hateful day, I stood with Von Minden on top of the Washington monument.
 The mob had surrounded the city. The entire government had left it, and was speeding west by separate routes.
 At a 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 instants notice to loose upon the mas 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 filled every street and every park. They were there to destroy, but to destroy when the time came. Suddenly we heard murmurs-something was wrong.
 Then wild yell of rage, growing stronger as the time went on, burst from the throats of million men. They had been thwarted. At that moment Won Minden pressed the button. I looked out. Nothing happened. Something was wrong. Won Minden became himself almost a raying lunatic.
 What the devil is the matter?" he yelled. Again and again he tried the apparatus. It would not work. The crowd had evidently cut his wires. He was about to descend to investigate himself, but I held him back.
 Look, look!" I cried. "Below."
 It is quite unnecessary for me to describe 1t. The mass of citizens be- low. in its frenzy and disappointment, had become uncontrollable-they had become wild of rage. they threw themselves, not upon the city, not against the public buildings. but upon one another. All day long that fierce battle ragged within the streets of the city. It was not men against men it was man against man. |
 Won Minden covered his eyes with his hands. My God" he moaned. We threw ourselves upon the floor. nauseated at the sight-a sight of which the world had never seen the like. Then suddenly the madness seized on us. The end of the world" cried Won Minden. leaping to his feet.
 The blood surged into my head. "Hurrah," I exclaimed in a deIirium of frenzy. "The end of the world. Let us die nov,"
 We laughed again fin unison, and muttered incoherent things.
 Then with a wild fling os head and