South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-09

were speeding earthward. IS our
unconoern. The skies were peopIed
with incredible evil. with unimag-
inably repulsive monsters armed
with superhuman weapons The
catastrophe Things were HURTING
on. covetous OF our Ereener and
warmer planet and lovers wander
ed through English lanes. with no
thought OF the swift and scorchinr
death above their heads
Through a telescope. ] had watch
ed one Of the colossal squirts Of
flame on the rim OF the tiny. red
planet II did not occur 20 me that
these gaseous jets accompanied the
firing OF a mighty gun that had
launched 10 huge cylinders into
space Learning 20 ride "a bicycle
interested me more than eruptions
on Mars The planet seemed so re-
mote Forty million miles away,
Ogilvy. the astronomer. found
the first messenger. He had seen it
falling and supposed 10 a wander
inc meteorite. but its shape sur
prised him. Jt was cylindrical.
fully 30 yards across the exposed
face II was so hot that ne could
not get near it. Then. 20 his ut
ter amazement the top began 10
unscrew There was something in
IL, something alivei Not until then
did ne link il with the flashes on
Mars.
Late that afternoon I saw the
Marian. was one Of curious
crowd in front OF the cylinder when
the lid fell of. 7 peered into the
black interior and fancied / saw
shadows stirring Then something
like a snake wriggled into sight.
stood stricken with terror. A round
body. about four feet across. pulled
itself painfully 10 the opening.
I had expected TO see something
like a man. fantastic perhaps but
two-legged. This thing was just an
oily, leathery body. legIess and arm
less. with a chinless and noseless
face. About the quivering mouth
wavered Is long tentaCles. Two
great eyes. dark and luminous. were
mirrors for an extraordinary brain.
The creature painted and heaved
weighed down by the greater pull
OF gravity on earth. An intense
loathing came over me. Suddenly.
the monster toppled over. into the
pit. Then I ran, madly
From a distance / watched the
Deputation that went out under a
white flag. saw three flashes Of
greenish light and darts OF fire
leaped from one 70 another OF the
little figures Even as l saw them
touched with death. did not real
lie what was happening Suddenly
I knew and again I ran.
People nearby slept uncOncerned-
" that night. although the Heat
RAYS had set half a dozen villas
afiame and pine trees were red
torches We were sure that these
dangerous invaders were fatally
sluggish A well-aimed shell would
finish them And while we slept.
the Martians were methOdicaIly
rearing those mighty machines that
were so soon 20 shatter our neat the
cries about their helplessness. That
eight more were driving on.
II was the next night that saw
the striding Aartians. Boilers on
stills I heard them called later. I
saw them by flashes OF lightning
and the glow Of countless fires.
clanking machines 100 feet high.
moving upon three gigantic legs
like an exaggerated tripodt driving
on with an express trains speed.
smashing everything in their path
At the tops. crOuched in metal
hoods. lay the Martians
Looking out from my windows at
dawn. ] beheld an abominable des-
olatiOn, a blackened world that had
been green and fair. I struck out
for London and for miles saw not
a living being I had reached the
Thames when 7 saw the Things
coming. FIVE OF them ran for the
water. Straight toward me sped
one. but / might have been an ant
in a mans path. IL strobe through
the river and lowered above Shep-
perton. Then six hidden guns
belched together One shell struck
the hood and there was a horrible
confusion OF flesh and blood and
metal Something drove the un-
controlled machine on. crashing
through the village topping over
the church-tOwer. COllapsinC in the
river. The others rushed to the
spot and the air was filled with hiss
ing OF Heat RAYS and cracking OF
fires. Sheppertou le8ped into flame.
l staggered 10 the shore and when
] looked up. the Things were bear
ing away the smashed machine
I stumbled on. panic-stricken.
dazed. The world was doomed
These monsters could slay with
Heat Rays beyond the range OF our
biggest guns Not again could we
kill one OF them hy surprise Ter
ror stalked through London. To
the horror OF Heat RAYS had been
added the Black Smoke. a cloud OF
poison that blighted an living
things SO London Streamed in
flight. 5000. coo people roaring out
along the highway until they were
like rivers In Hood
fell into a doze under hedge
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