Doctor Wood. Modern Wizard of the Laboratory: The Story of an American Small Boy Who Became the Most Daring and Original Experimental Physicist of Our Day-but Never Grew Up

Clayton, Ga., July 21. — (Special) — A phenomenon unparalleled in the annals of astronomical science occurred here one day last week, which, from the light it throws upon the hitherto open question of the habitability of the other planets, will prove of great value to science. At 7:45 o’clock p.m. there fell near this town a spherical metal ball or aerolite on the surface of which appear graven characters which give conclusive evidence of its having been molded by intelligent hands. Dr. Seyers, in whose possession the wonder now is, said this evening: “I was returning from a patient’s house, situated some seven miles from the town, where I had spent the latter part of the afternoon. It was about 7: 45 o’clock, though still light enough to read by. I was ascending a long hill, over which it is necessary to drive before reaching home, when my horse suddenly pricked up his ears, and, on glancing ahead, my eyes were dazzled by a brilliant white flash, resembling a lightning stroke, and immediately following came a sharp hiss as of escaping steam. I knew that an aerolite had fallen, for had the flash been electrical there would have been a clap of thunder. Driving on up the hill I noticed that steam was issuing from the ground some few rods back from the road, and on hastening to the spot found a hole about four inches in diameter, from which arose considerable heated vapor. I drove home as rapidly as possible, and taking a pick and shovel returned to the spot. After half an hour’s hard digging I came upon the object of my search at a depth of about five feet. It was still too hot to handle, but I succeeded in getting it to my carriage by lifting it on the shovel. I noticed that it was remarkably heavy, but not until I reached my barn, and removed the adhering soil, did I realize what a prize I had. Instead of a rough mass of meteoric iron, there appeared a smooth, perfect sphere of steel-blue metal, with polished surface and engraved with pictures and writings. I could scarcely believe my eyes, but there was no mistaking facts. There upon the surface of the strange ball was a deeply-graven circle within which was a four-pointed star, a representation of a bird-reptile resembling in a measure our extinct archaeopteryx, and a great number of smaller figures, resembling those used in modem shorthand. The metal of which the ball was composed was unlike anything I had ever seen, being about as hard as copper and entirely infusible in my Bunsen blow-pipe. I filed off some small bits and sent them to a chemist, who made the following report:

“Sir: I have made a spectroscopic analysis of the filings you sent. The metal is fusible only in the electric arc. It is a new element. Examined by the spectroscope, its vapor gives three fine yellow lines to the left of the D. line of Sodium, a broad green one to the right of the line of Barium, and an innumerable number of fine purple ones.

H. Randolph Stevens,

Analytical Chemist!"

Whence came this strange messenger? By what infernal power was it hurled into space? Possibly by some monster gun on Mars or Venus. Possibly launched toward us by some lunarian gunner. Many there are who will say that the whole thing is a hoax and a fable, and that the ball was manufactured on this earth, but the fact that it is made of a metal not found upon this sphere proves beyond a doubt that it is an alien. Hurled with frightful velocity, it traversed the vast distance of space separating us from our nearest neighbor, and, plunging through our atmosphere, became heated to incandescence, and thus losing some of its fearful speed buried itself in the soil of our planet without suffering any injury. How shall we determine whence it came? Is it possible to reply, and can a sort of communication be established between planets? A gun 130 feet long and strong enough to hold a charge of thirty pounds of dynamite would hurl a platinum bullet of two inches in diameter with a velocity sufficient to cause it to pass beyond terrestrial attraction. The dream of Jules Verne has in a measure become realized, and we are, without doubt, standing a bombardment from space.

The ball is now in the possession of Dr. Seyers, but will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution in a short time, when an official report will be made.