Year: 1871

was natural mathematician and was the most
profound and original arithmetcian in the
Southwest He frequently computed the astron-
omical tables for the almanacs of New Orleans,
Pensacola and Mobile, and calculated eclipse,
transit and observations with ease and perfect
accuracy. He was also deeply read in metaphys-
les, and wrote and published in the old Demo
cratic RerieV of 1916, article on the " Natural
Proof of the Existence of Deity" that for beau
ty of language, depth of reasoning, versatility of
illustration, and compactness of logic, has never
been equaled. The only other publication
which at that period he had made, was a book
that aStonished all of his friends both in title
and execution. IL was called "The Despera-
does of the West" and purported to give min
ute details of the lives of some of the most noted
duelists and blood-stained villains in the Wes-
tern States But the book belied its title. 1t is
full of splendid description and original thought
No volume in the language contains so many ell
oquent passages and such gorgeous imagery, in
the same space. His plea for immortality, on
beholding the execution of one of the most no.
ted culprits of Arkansas, has no parallel in any
living language for beauty of dicton and power
of thought. AS my sole object in this communi-
cation is to defend myself, some acquaintance
with the mental resources of Summerfeld is abb
solutely indispensable for his death was the
immediate consequence of his splendid attain
ments. Of chemistry he was complete master
ne ueSCIIutS ~ III MS dtlCle on uelIy aOONe
alluded to, as the I" Youngest Daughter of the
Sciences, born amid flames, and cradled in roll
ers of fire." 1t there were any one science to
which he was more specially devoted than to
any other it was chemistry. But he really seem
ed an adep: in all, and shone about everywhere
with equal luster.


Many of these characteristics were mentioned
by Judge Wheeler at the time of Summerfeld' $
visit to Galveston, but others subsequently, came
to my knowledge after his retreat to Brownsville,
on the banks of the Rio Grande. There be filled
the position of Judge Of the District Court, and
such was his position just previous to his arrival
In this city in the month of September of the
past year.


One day towards the close of last September,
an old man raped at my Office door, and on in
vtation, came in, and advancing, called me by
name. Perceiving that | did not at first recog-
nize him, he introduced himself as Gregory
Summerheld. After inviting him to seat
scrutinized his features more closely and quick
ly identified him as the same person whom had
met twenty-five years before He was greatly
altered in appearance, but the lofty forehead and
the gray eye were still there, unchanged and un-
changeable He not quite so stout, but
more ruddy in complexion, and exhibited some
symptoms, as | then thought of Incorporate
drinking. Still there was the old charm of in
tellectual superiority in his conversation and
welcomed him to California as an important ad-
dition to her mental wealth.


1t was not many minutes before he requested a
private interview. He followed me into my
back office, carefully closed the door after him
and locked it, We had scarcely seated ourselves
before he inquired of me " if had noticed any
recent articles in the newspapers respecting the
discovery of the art of decomposng water so as
to fit it for fuel for ordinary purposes 2''
| replied that | had observed nothing new
upon that subject since the experiments of Agas-
siz and Professor Henry, and added that in my
opinion, the expensive mode of reduction would
always prevent its use.


| In few words he then informed me that be
had made the discovery, that the art was ex
tremely simple, and the expense attending the
decomposition slight as to be insignificant.
| Presuming then that the object of his visit tC
me was to procure the necessary forms to get
out patent for the right, | congratulated him
| upon his good fortune, and was about to branch
forth with description of some of the great
benefits that must ensue to the community
when he suddenly and somewhat uncivlly re-
quested me to "be silent" and listen to what
he had to say


He began with some general remarks about the
inequality of fortune amongst mankind and in
stanced himself as striking example of the fate
of those men, who, according to all the rules of
right ought to be near the top, instead of at the
foot of the ladder of fortune "But," said he,
W MS iecb Win linpulSlNb cHcIBy, - l
have now the means at my command Of rising
superior to fate, or of nficting incalcuable ills
upon the whole human race"


Looking at him more closely, | thought |
could detect in his eye the CLEAN Of madness ;
but remained silent and awaited further devel-
opments. But my scrutiny, stolen it was,
had been detected, and he replied to the express
sion of my face "No, sir; am neither drunk
nor maniac ! am in deep earnest in all that
say and am fully prepared by actual expert
ment, to demonstrate beyond all doubt the truth
of all | cuim"


For the first time I noticed that he carried a
small portmanteau in his hand this he placed
upon the table, unlocked it, and took out two
or three small volumes, pamphlet or two, and
a small, square, wide-mouthed phial hermetically
sealed.


| watched him with profound curiosity, and
took note of his slightest movements. Having
arranged his books to suit him, and placed the
phial in conspicuous position, he drew up his
chair very closely to my own, and uttered in a
half Kissing tone " | demand one million dol
lars for the contents Of that bottle and you
must raise it for me in the city of San Francisco
within one mouth, or scenes too terrible even
tor the imagination to conceive will surely be
witnessed by every living human being on the
face of the globe"


The tone, the manner, and the absurd extrava-
gance of the demand, excited faint smile upon
my lips, which he observed, but disdaned to
notice.


My mind was fully made up that had ma
MAC to deal WITH and prepared to act accord
ingly. But | aseertained at once that my in
most thoughts were read by the remarkable man
before me, and seemed to be anticipated by him
in advance of their expression


"Perhaps," said l., "Mr. Summerfeld you
would oblige me by informing me fully of the
grounds of your claim, and the nature of your
discovery"


That is the object of my visit, he replied.
~ claim to have discovered the key which un-
locks the Constituent gases of water, and frees
each from the embrace of the other, at a single
touch"


You mean to assert" rejoined, "that you
can make water burn itself upY'


Nothing more nor less, he responded, tex
cept Mis--to insist upon the conseq uences Of the