BLUE PILL HOAX

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3969, 7 October 1930, Page 7

BLUE PILL HOAX

TO SET THE SEA ON FIRE Many years ago, in the ’sixties, considerable excitement was caused in the United States by a man who claimed to hare discovered a method of destroying the world. He asserted he had only to throw into the Atlantic Ocean a blue pill he had discovered, to set fire to the whole of the waters of the globe. The man was evidently no philanthropist, for he notified the Government that he was prepared to hold his hand provided he was well paid for his patent, which could then be destroyed. It was stated in the Press that the inventor gave a demonstration to some prominent citizens by throwing a blue pill into a glass of water, which immediately burst into Haines, and the contents were consumed. The story got plenty of publicity at the time, but it was asserted that the inventor was not paid to hold his hand, and it is certain the Atlantic Ocean still exists. Later a story was published that the Americans, being a commercial people, were not satisfied with a test in a glass of water. They wanted the miracle demonstrated on wholesale lines, so the inventor agreed to burn up a big lake, but as the party were going by train to the water, an accident occurred, and the inventor, with his blue pill, was never heard of again. Scientists can, of course, separate water into inflammable gases, but the process would require a large plant to handle the Atlantic Ocean. Still, for some months many people had a nervous feeling about that blue pill. It was a wonder the idea never occurred to those who jvere fearful that even if the thing could be done it would not be anv gain to the inventor to destroy himself with the world.