The Washington times., 1912-03-13

wv HEN Prof. Abiel Pludder in
N/ dited his savage response to
" Cosmo Versals invitation to
become one OF the regener-
ators Of mankind by embarking in the
Ark he was expressing his professional
prejudice rather than his intellectual
conviction. AS Cosmo had remarked
Pludder had good brain and great SCI
entlhC acuteness, and, although he did
not believe in the nebular theory of a
flood, and was obstinately opposed to
everything that was not altogether reg
Glar and according &c recognized au-
thority in science, yet he could not shut
his eyes to the fact that something was
going wrong In the machinery OF the
heavens. But II annoyed him to find
that his own explanations were always
taisihed by the event, while Cosmo Yer
sal seemed to have superhuman fore
glimpse OF whatever happened.
His pride would not allow him to re-
cede from the position that he had
taken, but he could not free himself
from certain anxiety about the future
After he had refused Cosmo VersaIs in
Vtahon the course of events strength
ened this anxiety He found that the
official meteorologists were totally un-
able to account for the marvellous va
garies of the weather.
FINALLY, when the news came Of tre-
mendous Hoods in the north, and of the
oVerfiowing of Hudson bay. he secretly
determined to make some preparations
of his own. He still rejected the idea
Of a watcry nebula, but he began to
think 1t possible that all the lowlands
OF the earth might be overfiowed by the
sea, and by the melting of mountain
SHOWS and glaciers. together with delug-
Ing rainfalls. After what had passed he
could not think of making any public
confession of his change OF heart, but
his sense of humanity compelled him to
give confidential warning 10 his friends
that II would be we'll to be prepared to
get on high ground at a moments no.
tiCa.
He was on the point OF issuing, but
without his signature, an official state
ment cautioning the public against un-
precedented foundations, when the first
tidal wave arrived on the Atlantic coast
and rendered any utterance of that kind
unnecessary. Peoples eyes were opened
and now they would look out for them
selves.
Pludder's private preparations amount
ed to no more than the securing of a
large express aero. in which, If the
necessity for suddenly leaving Wash
ington should arse, he intended to take
flight, together with President Samson,
who was his personal friend, and a
number of other close friends, with
their families. He did not think that
1t would be necessary. in any event, to
go farther than the mountains of Viz
ginia.
Tho rising Of the sea, mounting high
er at each return, at length convinced
him that the time had come to get
away. Hundreds Of air craft had al
ready departed westward, not only from
Washington. but from New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and
other seabord cities, before Prof. Plud-
der assembled his friends by telephone
on the Capitol grounds, where his aero
was waiting.
nf
under water from the overflow of the
Potomac, which was backed up by the
influx OF the Atlantic into Chesapeake
bay, and the most distressing scenes
were enacted there, people fleeing in
the utmost disorder toward higher
ground. carrying their children and
some OF their household goods and
uttering dolefuI cries Many, thinking
that the. best way to escape, embarked
in frail boats on the river, which was