Year: 1871

fully satisfied myself that Summerfield actually
held in his hands the fate of the whole world
with its millions of human beings, and by ex-
pertinent having tested the combustion of sea
water, with equal facility as fresh, next deemed
it my duty to call the attention of few of the
principal men in San Francisco to the extreme
importance of Summerfeds discovery.


leading banker, bishop, chemist, two
State University professors, physician, judge
and two Protestant divines were selected by me
to witness the experiment on large SCALE
This done at a small sandhil lake. near the
shore, but separated from it by ridge of
lofty mountains, distant not more than ten miles
from San Francisco. Every single drop of wa-
ter in the pool was burnt up in less than fifteen
minutes. We next did all that could to pac-
ify ummerfeld, and endeyored to induce him
to lower his price and bring 1t within the bounds
of a reasonable possibility. But without avail
He began to grow urgent in his demands, and
his brow would cloud like tempest-ridden sky
whenever we approached him on the subject
Finally, finding that no persuasion could soften
his heart or touch his feelings, subcommittee
was appointed to endeavor if possible to raise
the money by subscription. Before taking that
step, however, we ascertained beyond all ques-
tOn that Summertied was the sole custodian of
his dread secret, and that be kept no written
memorial of the formula of his prescription.
He even went so for to offer a penal bond
that his secret should perish with him in case
we complied with his demands.


The subcommittee soon commenced work
amongst the weathiest citizens of San Francis
co, and by appealing to the terrors of few and
the sympathies Of all, succeeded in raising one
half the amount within the prescribed period.
] shall never forget the woe-begone faces of CAL
ifornia street during the month of October. The
outside world and the newspapers spoke most
learnedly of a money panic-a pressure in busi-
ness, and the disturbances in the New York
gold room. But to the initiated there was
easier solution of the enigma. The pale spectre
Of death looked down upon them al, and pointed
with its bony finger to the fiery tomb of the
whole race, already looming up in the distance
before them. Day after day l could see the
dreadful ravages of this secret horror doubly
terrible, since they dared not diyu!ge it Still,
do all that we could, the money could not be OBJ
tanned. The day preceding the last one given,
Summerheld was summoned before the Commit
tee, and full information given him of the state
of affairs. Obdurate, hard and cruel be still
continued. Finally, proposition was started
that attempt should be made to raise the
other halt of the money in the city of New York
To this proposal Summerfeld ultimately yielded
but with extreme reluctance. 1t agreed in
committee that should accompany him thither
and take with me, in my own possession, evil
dences of the sums subscribed here that prop
appeal should be made to the leading capital
lists, scholars and clergymen of that metropolis,
and that, when the whole amount was raised it
should be paid over to Summerfeld and bond
taken from him never to divulge his awful secret
to any human being.


With this be seemed to be satisfied, and left us
to prepare for his going the next morning.


AS soon as he left the apartment, the Bishop
arose aud deprecated the action that had been
taken and characterized it as childish and
absurd. He declared that no man was safe whilst
% that diaboical wretch " still lived that the
only security for us all, was in his immediate
eXtirDatOn from the face of the earth and that
no amount of money could seal his lips, or
close his hands. 1t would be no crime, he said
TO deprive him of the means of assassinatng the
whole human family, and that as for himself
lie was for booming him to immediate death.


Wth.a unanimty that was extraordinary, the
entire committee cOincided.


great many plans were proposed, discussed
and rejected, having in view the determination
of Summerfeid. In them all there was the want
of that proper caution which would lul the ap-
prehensons of an enemy for should he for an
instant suspect treachery we knew his nature
well enough to be satisfied that he would waive
all ceremonies and carry his threats into imme-
date execution.


1t was finally resolved that the trip to New
York should not be abandoned apparently
But that we were to start out in accordance
with the original programme that during the
journey, some proper means should be resorted
to by me to carry out the final intentions of the
committee, and that whatever | did would be
sanctioned by them all, and full protection both
in law and conscience afforded me in any stage
Of the proceeding.


Nothing wanting but my own consent but
this was difficult to secure.


AT the first view, it seemed to be a most hor-
ribe and unwarrantable crime to deprive fel-
low being of life, under any circumstances but
especially so where, in meeting his fate, no op.
portnnity was to be afforded him for prepara-
tion or repentance. 1t was long time before
..sata
act and intent. My studies had long ago made
me perfectly familiar with the doctrine of the
civil law, that in order TO constitute guilt, there
must be a union of action and intention TAX
ing the property of another is not theft, unless
as the lawyers term it, there is the animus furGn-
d.. So in homicide, life may be lawfully taken
in some instances, whilst the deed may be ex-
cused in others. The sheriff hangs the felon,
and deprives him of existence yet nobody
thinks OF accusing that officer of murder. The
soldier Stays lis enemy, still the act is consid-
cred heroicalt 1t does not follow therefore that
human life is no sacred to be taken away under
was thus narrowed down into one grand inquiry
whether Summerfeld was properly to be re-
garded as hOrtis, humani generis the enemy of the
human race or got. If he should justly be SO
considered, them would not only be not
crime to kill him, but act worthy of the
highest commeudation. Who blamed Mckenzie
for hanging Spencer TO the yardarm2 Yet in
his case, the lives of only small ships crew
were in jeopardy. Who condemned Pompey foi
exterminating the pirates from the Adratic
Yet in his case, only small portion of the Ro-
man Republic was liable to devastation. Who
accuses Charlotte Corday of assassination for
stabbing Marat in his bath ? Still her arm only
saved the lives of few thousands of revolutions
airy Frenchmen. And to come down to our own
times, who heaps accusation upon the heads oil
Lincoln, Thomas or Sheridan, or even Grant,
though in marching to victory over a crushed
rebellion they deemed 1t necessary to wade
through of human gore2 If society has
the right to defend itself from the assaults of
criminals, who at best can only destroy few OF