davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12

wv HERE there is no atmosphere
NJ there is a vacuum-as far as air
w is concerned, but not in so far as
ether is concerned But wh4e there is
a vacuum gravity at such distance
from earth loses its place. But grav-
ity is one thing and gravitation is an
other. Gravitation is universal 1t is
a mysterious, unknown force that
steers the stars in space in their
courses. moving them through the am
bient ether at the slow rate of 20 knots
a second.
The projectile once beyond earth S
gravity, how would it act? What
analogy in nature have we for suppos-
ing that such body so intruded would
conduct itself in an orderly manner in
its course? Will the projectile sink or
move through this ethereal jelly ocean
without obstruction, while the earth,
moon and stars are rushing through
the ether at loo. 900 feet per second?
Gravitation is thing not of earth,
but really of ether itself Gravitation
depends on mass and motion, which
would render the projectile actually
under control by the laws of nature.
The movement of the projectile is sim
ply analogous to one of these falling or
erratic stars that result from dfsrup-
tive explosion and which become visible
only when being set on fire as they
strike the friction element OF the
atmosphere of earth in falling
Ether's movement is directed in
straight lines toward the spheres, so
anything projected into il would swing
into such lines Of direction and would
scour out its courses in such paths un-
less controlled by inward energy,
With propulsive regenerative en-
ergy impaired TO the projectile ii can
wend its way through the thinner ether
for an indefinite space, the resistances
being ightened. 1t will proceed under
electrical control until it approaches the
realm of the moon, where gravity is
much less than the earth, its gravity
weight or mass being one-sixth less.
Reaching the moon. its energy exhaust
ed. Ii would fall gently on peak or vale
without creating much of jar or jolt
1t is assumed in relation to the move
ment of the projectile that outside of
the sphere of earth's gravity 1t would
rudder and screw, which would be pro-
PEELED by the electric energy of its dy-
namos. This involves new problem
in electrical transmission, a problem
already in the way of solution Expert
ments are in progress which suggest
the probability of creating enormous
electrical waves, generated by the force
of Niagara. 1t is the dream of the in
yentor to employ these wireless waves
in supplying electric current at vast
distances by merely tapping the wave
currents. BY means OF huge Marconi
transmuter installed at Niagara, cleo
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12

trical energy from which is already
carried 5000 miles with success in
telegraphy, the projectile cars dynamos
could easily draw the necessary current
or propulsive power to direct it's course
through the ether, which of itself is a
nonresistant to electrical energy.
When the truth, accidentally re-
vealed and experimentally confirmed"
says Nikola Tesla, in referring to the
wireless telephone. which involves the
principle of electric waves, is finally
realized that this planet, with all its
appalling immensity as to electric cur
rents, is virtually no more than a small
metal ball. there will be no such thing
as distance to disturb our peace of
mind
The actual time required for passage
of the projectile from the earth to the
moon is conjectured. but it would surely
be less than 10 days, which Is the
time asserted by Professor Dodge in
which an uncontrolled body. released
from the earth's gravity. would be able
to cover the distance.
- o reach the moon, then, on the ba-
sis of lunar ballistics, is merely a
question for the mathematician,
the electrician and the mechanical en-
gineer. 1t is a matter of figures that
will mark their cabaIistic calculations
on the tablets of time as the old EEL
low proceeds to greater marvels and
more wisdom which entities us to spec
ulate in detail according to the kncwl-
edge we already have, at last. The
powers of electricity mediumized by ra-
diumating force will make the propul-
sion of the huge 27O ton prejectiIe
silent, vibrationless, straightway to The
moon.
What would the exact size of this
projectile be?
To facilitate to the best advantage
service of this trip to the moon the
iprojectile would be equipped like the
submarine boat Octopus. Its length
would be 100 feet and its beam -
feet
The cost of the projeStile would be
a trifie less than s1.000.000. The weight
of the projectile would be go tons and
IL would have the complete mechan
ical equipment of a submarine The
tanks which are used In a submarine
to govern it's buoyancy would serve the
same purpose in the aerial pro5ectile.
being filled with air. which would be
released, according to the resistance en-
countered in the projectile's Initial
flight of $50 miles. Once hurled be-
yond the gravity zone of the earth 1T
would encounter no gravitation to dis
,5lace its weight. A mountain or a
gnat become of equal weight moving
in ether at the same speed as the
earths atmosphere, a speed of seven
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12

beyond the zone OF the earth's gravity.
and air currents the projectile, which
in its lunar course would be controlled
by progressive power, would be an air
tight chamber of the nature suggested
by Jules Verne. The novelist had no
actual parallel for his invention. To-
marine boat, and in such a car,
equipped with every modern device of
science for maintaining life, at least
five scientists could make the trip in
comfort and safety. The possibility
that the force of the moons gravity
would be such that the scientists might
never return to earth would not daunt
intrepid men, who have undertaken
most hazardous experiments in polar
and volcanic regions in the interest of
the worlds knowledge
Calculating by known ordnance and
speculating by existent forces, the
manufacture and the discharge of a
lunar gun are not beyond the realm Of
reason. We have for a basis the T.
inch gun, the accepted limit of an ef-
fective naval rife. The 12-inch gun will
carry a projectile weighing $40 pounds
a distance of six miles. The cost of
this gun is $4,000. To fire it requires
ESQ pounds of smokeless powder at so
cents a pound, or $500. the projectile
itself costing $500.
A lunar gun of the Simpson type,
large enough to hurI a projectile
through the zone of gravity, would
need TO be thousands of times more
powerful than the naval rife. The
amount OF steel required in its manu-
facture would be greater than that used
in the largest battleship in the world,
and would be equal to that used in the
Metropolitan Life building in Madison
square, New YORK. In fact, the lunar
gun required would be about the size
Of the Metropolitan building. which is
more than 200 feet square and 700 feet
high. The gun would cost $4,000. 900. a
paltry sum in these days to devote to
such an experiment. The cost OF firing
the lunar gun would not be great, in
consideration Of the results OF such an
exploit The expenditure. II smokeless
powder were used. would not exceed
the cost OF eight volley brOadsides of
the entire ordnance OF 1,o11 guns OF
Admiral Evans fleet. a single broad
side being estimated at s5O,eoo, making
the expenditure for the single charge Of
the lunar gun 100000 IL smokeless
powder were used. which, however. is
not anticipated. as will be seen later.
The recoiI of so ton gun would lift
the Lusitania out of the water, which
would render the discharge by explo-
sion OF the lunar cannon Of the size de-
scribed almost impossible. but, assum-
ing the correctness of the electrical ex-
plosive power suggested by the Simp-
son gun. thst knotty feature OF the
problem is eliminated. The explosive
principle involved is one that has been
inquired out, and the recoil is so dis
tributed and confined that it imparts
the full force of its carrying power to
the projectile. and therein must lie the
secret of the possibility of a lunar gun
that will hurl a huge projectile car of
wrought steel beyond the $50 mile limit
of the earth's gravity.
The direction of the projectile once
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12
By Robert c. Aud, F. Z. S.

Revising editor Of the American Supplement Of
me encyclopedia Britannica Special con
tributor 20 Encyclopaedia Americana. etc
IS another OF Jules verne's fantastic
dreams to come true7 Is a message
70 the moon, once the visionary fan
tasy OF the author of a Trip TO the
Noon" TO come within the realm of
science2 For centuries the moon has
furnished an endless subject Of astro-
nomical conjecture. Only in recent
wears has it become q certain field of
scientific exploration. Its volcanic
cones and craters, its dead river beds
and verdureless mountains have all
come within accurate geodetic survey.
II is only the intervening $4,000 miles
OF ether that separates it from the
world that staggers the Imagination OF
the scientist and layman alike, but II
the claims Of q London inventor, A. S.
simpson. are true. even that vast space
NAV be traversed with assurance and
safety Mr.. Simpson has invented an
electrical gun which he asserts Will
carry a projectile Of 1000 pounds at
the rate OF 10000 feet a second foc
900 miles The actual test has not
been made. but military authorities
have Endorsed the plans, and scien-
lists may rejoice.
gun with the propulsive power of
the Simpson invention. having the
rnuzzle velocity claimed for it, over
comes the chief hindrance 10 mortal in
vasion OF the moon.
Hitherto the problem that has per-
plexed ecientists has been to penetrate
the zone Of gravity that encompasses
the earth for distance OF some 80
miles. Once outside this atmospheric
realm OF gravity and air pressure the
problem OF reaching the moon, accord
ing 70 scientists, becomes less specu-
lative than in Jules verne's time It is
well known that the celebrated ro-
nancer Of science founded his stories
on actual knowledge Of the period in
which he lived. Scientific progress IN
the last 50 years has been great. but
II sustsins the French authors idea
that the only feasible way Of sending
& message to the moon is by firing a
proiectile from huge gun.
Jules Verne used 100000 pounds Of
nitroglycerin TO explode his charge. the
coucussion being so great that 100000
people who saw it fred were hurled 10
the ground. Electricity has altered the
face and the character OF the earth
since then. so that the dangers OF con-
-.-eesr-, may he effnfna ted
Jules verne's gun was mythical;
there was no pr0Dulsive power known
a that time TO science that would pro-
ject a missile beyond the zone Of the
earth's gravity. Only recently Pro-
fessor Ernest Crane Dodge. A NJ. has
stated that a body relieved OF gravity
would reach the moon in 10 days"
OW much faster would projectile
from a. salarged Simpson gun, a
veritsble iuzar cannon, accom-
sish the trip from the earth in the
direction of the moon.
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12

successfully launched is vital ele-
ment to control. In projecting mis-
sile to hit an objective point on earth
the parabolic curve must be calculated.
but in fixing the moon as a target the
missile would be fired altitudinously-
in direct diametrical line away from
the diametrical line of the earth.
The matter of direction will solve
itself mathematically, physically and
mechanically. The force of projection
being provided we have only to con-
slider the difficulties in the path of the
projectile while traversing the un-
known oceans of jellylike ether.
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12

miles an hour. The projectile its
hood once closed. would imprisoli the
operating crew and the scientists in
an alright compartment. They would
be thenceforth completely shut off
from the world.
Would 1t be safe?
According to the captain of a subma-
ness" There would be no defects
to fear in the machinery, no rigging to
strain. no sails to carry away no boiler
to burst, no fire to break out. no con-
cern about the weather. It's electrical
appliances would supply heat, light
and propuIsive power sufficient to keep
ii moving through space. A rs horse
power motor would be sufficient for
this purpose. Electric stoves would
cook a supply of food as well as any
restaurant could provide. A reserve
supply of compressed air would be car
ried in TASKS. Every 36 hours the foul
air could be exhausted and renewed
from the fresh air TASKS. In this way
there would be room enough in the
projectile to store enough compressed
air to live As days
There would be no startling sensa-
tions after the projectile had made it's
first dive into space from the muzzIe
of the lunar cannon. excepting the new
from the portfolios.
But the first leap from the lunar
cannon,
A projectile from u inch rife
shoots into the air at the rate of So
900 feet a second. 1t would not be
essential to the success of the lunar
projectile's flight to exceed the speed
of navy gun. for al that rate the
lunar car would penetrate tn" e~~+t,'s
zone of gravity In less than an hour.
problem of prime importance is I..e
safety of the cars passengers at the
moment of the discharge of the lunar
gun. In view of the nature and size
of the huge instrument the solution
is not so difficult as it would seem.
r HE construction OF the lunar gun
itself gives 1t a character unlike
any other piece of ordnance in
existence. OF such tremendous size.
the gun would necessarily be cast in
parts and built in a manner not dis
similar to the sections of great drain
age tubes or subway structures. Enor-
nous electrical cranes. such as are used
in Panama, could easily shift these
sections upon steel scaffolding, where
they would be riveted and Joined. much
as were the segments of the Manhattan
bridge over the East river, or the
stories" of the Singer building. which
was made a compact structure 400
feet in the air by the e.ectric welding
of its component parts. The shell or
case of the lunar gun once completed
1t would be reinforced by enormous
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12

OW much faster would a projectile
from a. salarged Simpson gun, a
! veritable lunar cannon, accom-
,lisb the trip from the earth in the
direction of the moon!
a lunar cannon based on the Simp-
son plan could easily hurl its projectile
The San Francisco call., 1908-07-12


In q recent number of the Confen.
porary Review there appeared an article
by Col F: n. Haude, of the British Army,
disclosing the fact that there has been
built in England a SfupendouS gun or
Orojecfile machine, invented by a MIR.
Simpson, which by the utilization of
certain electrical forces can throw a pro-
jectiIe an initial distance of 800 miles.
With this startling fact in mind Mr..
Robert c. Aud, F. Z. s., revising editor
of the American Supplement of the En-
cycIoDedia Britannica, and contributor
10 the Encyclopedia Americana, etc, has
prepared for the Herald the following
article TO show that the time may be
comparatively near at hand when, with
such an apparatus, ii will be possible TO
throw passenger carrying body similar
in form to q naval torpedo so far beyond
the influence of the earf1'S gravity that
il must inevitably reach the nearest body
in planetary space, viz, the moon
- r--- l
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
No Rubber Balls

Despite the fact that a seal Of dis
approval has been placed upon the
use Of the rubber balls by all those
who have any connection with the
Regatta, nevertheless one Of the street
merchants yesterday was offering
them for sale. 1t seems to be the
opinion Of nearly everyone that the
rubber balls are merely trouble
makers. a pesky and ornery form Of
amusement that is about as sure to
cause trouble as anything can. Roughs
strike women in the face with them,
or some half drunken and half baked
fellow hits man in the face while
his wife is at his side. Then there is
a mix-up. Again others seem to think
it is a frisky and pleasant thing to
grab up handful of the paper con-
fetti from the ground-half of the
handful being street dirt-and throw
ing it in someone's face.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
The Change Is Manifest

The fishing season has closed, and
the hour Of relaxation and pleasure, as
exempli6ed by the Regatta, is at hand
in Astoria; the men, and boats and
gear, and animals are finding their
way in from the industrial outposts
Of the fisheries; the canneries are shut
ting down, one after the other; and the
call Of pleasure and fun is heard on
all sides; the booth and tent and
stand of the itinerant Snowman and
merchant, and perhaps, the fakir,
jostle each other everywhere, and the
sounds Of music and laughter and
Joke run riot through the city's thor
The Regatta is on, and if
you doubt it, watch the signs, and win
dows and crowds, and mark its sure
and happy approach; and keep your
eye on the boats and trains and rigs
that are landing hundreds here hourly.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Fire Sal: Amenities

Yesterday morning, long before the
doors Of the A. Dunbar Company, on
Commercial street, were thrown open
for business, not less than $50 pros
pective bargain hunters were gathered
at and about the establishment. When
the doors we're opened, il was to adj
init but rs at a time, and when these
had gone through the stock and made
their purchases, another group was adj
mittcd, and SO on, through the entire
day. During one OF the invasions one
woman tried 10 force her way in
ahead OF another woman III line, when
the latter, with swift uppercut and
q remark quite as singing, compelled
the intruder to recede. II was inter
esting to watch the eager spirit OF
most OF the women (for there were
scarcely any men at all infected) since
il is peculiarly characteristic OF that
sex, and one they practice quite as
much for the good of the mans
pocketbook, as for their own grim
pleasure in capturing genuine, or
near-genuine, bargain.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Died At John Day

The sad news reached this city
yesterday OF the death, after brief
illness OF an organic character, OF
Mrs. Anna Parker, wife of Mr.. A. L.
Parker, at their John Day home, at
ll:lO o'clock yesterday morning. Mrs.
Parker was born in Denmark in 1869
and was the mother Of an interesting
family of eight children, the eldest be.
ing son, Jennver, aged 22 years, the
Others being her sons Harry, Peary,
Wening, Dewey and Melvin, and her
daughters Mary and Alma, beside a
foster daughter, Edna Nelson, upon
all of whom, with the stricken hus-
band, the death of wife and mother
falls with crushing force, for, as was
said yesterday by devoted friend of
the family, the most beautiful attri-
butte of Mrs. Parker's womanhood was
her perfect motherhood The deceas-
ed lady was but 80 years of age and
became the bride of Mr., Parker at the
age of l6 years, The funeral will take
place at the family home at John Day
tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, Rev.
w. Seymour Short, rector of Grace
church officiating, and interment will
be had at Ocean View, the grave-side
services being strictly private.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Tachers Are Named

At 4 meeting Of the Teachers com.
mit,ee Of the board Of education the
following were chosen to be teachers
in the public schools for the ensuing
year: Miss Emma Knutson, Miss
Maret l.. Seiicm, Miss Helma Hukari,
Miss Anne Lewis, Miss Carrie Barnes.
and Miss Huldur Fridborg. The com
mittee can only recommend, and the
formal election mus, be by the board
OF education as a whole, but il Is a
virtual certainty that the recommends.
tons Of the committee will be adopt
cd The three members OF the com.
mittee are Dr. Bali. Judge Taylor and
Superintendent Clark,
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Sold At Auction

Property Of George BARLEY was
sold by the sheriff at public auction
from the court house steps Monday
morning to satisfy creditors. BARLEY
owed the Weinhard estate the sum Of
,S675, and TO satisfy this debt, for
which an execution had issued, lots
one and three in the northwest quar-
ter Of the southeast quarter Of section
!, township north range II, and also
lot one in section II, township 5 north,
range II, were sold and brought the
sum OF Soso.so, The property was
bought in by Louise Weinhard and
others. The property sold contained
iso.Ss acres.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Il Found Him. Alright--

Shakespeare himself once told man
Kind. in pursuit Of the myriad prob
lems that bcsct il "by indircctions
fnd directions out" and the following
short story Is delightfully."- in line
with the famous precept W. n.
Macbeth, of this city, known Of every
man and boy, on the peninsula, as the
author and sponsor Of the wild West
Parade that Is 70 mark this Regatta
season, had occasion, lately, to write
the I. 6. Wonder costume house, III
Portland, about certain matters in
connection with his projected enter
tainmcnt to which the Wonder people
responded promptly enough; but, hav-
ing mislaid Mr.. Macbctf's letter and
forgotten his name, directed their
reply to "Mr. Shakespeare, care Re-
gatta, Astoria, Ore" and the missivc,
on reaching headquarters rather puz-
zled Secretary Wallace and his col
leagues, as no man OF that name was
here, nor in correspondence with
them; and when "Mac" called for his
mail yesterday morning, this letter
was turned over to him as the only
Shakespearian character known in the
festival outfit II was his. alright, IL
it did find him "by indirection."
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
His Ear In Trouble

Duncan A. Mclean, the we'll known
Astoria Knight oi the grip, il In the
city on d trip in which business and
pleasure are blended, AZ usual, but he
brought with him a wholly unneces.
sary adjunct in the shape of a
troublous ear his right one, where.
upon, on Sunday last a vicious Port
land mosquito III and prodded il with
bill previously charged with some
thing that SET up blood poisoning, and
though il is now mending rapidly Il
has troubled him seriously ever since
II happened.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Prisoner Is Released--

NJ Clark. who was sentenced to a
term OF three months In the county
jail for immoral acts. was released
Sunday, his time having expired. He
was sen, UP by Justice Brallier Of Sea-
side, I'll Teryi, who was sentenced
for 90 days by Judge Goodman on a
charge OF assault, was released yester-
day, his term also having expired.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Al Fat Buck Creek

]. G. Kelley, the consulting engineer
from Portland who has been retained
by the water commission, went out to
Fat Buck Creek yesterday 10 look
over the work there for couple OF
days, He then will return TO Portland
10 prepare the plans for the 10000
600 0-gailon re.enforced concrete reser-
voir as requested by the commission
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Lecture AT Warrenton

The Ladies Society of the Presby-
terian Church at Warrenton has ar
ranged with Albert Holmes Cross, of
Cleveland, Ohio, to deliver his lecture
Breaking Bands" this evening, Mr..
Cross is spending few days in As
toria and supplied the pulpit of the
Methodist church here last Sunday,
In his work as a Sunday school secre-
tary, he has travelled over 27 states
delivering over 1900 addresses and
lectures, His popular lecture Break
ing Bands" has been given before
many Portland audiences, and is high
" spoken Of There is to be no ad-
mission price Everybody is cordial
ly invited to attend An offering will
be taken,
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-26
Company Drill

The First Company, Coast ARTILLERY,
drilled out in the open air last night
in section and platoon formation. The
company marched down by the Clat'
sop mills for this purpose and made
an excellent showing. They drilled
with full equipment. The company will
not hold drill this evening, and are
ordered TO meet at 1915 o'clock
Thursday at the armory for the pa
rade. 1t is anticipated that upwards
Of 20 men will appear in the parade
Several will be absent on leave.