A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 7, 14 November 1890, Page 15

A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT.

Little Hbnrt Altenbebg, who lives with Lis parents at the corner of West Madison street and Western Avenue, Chicago, nearly lost his life a 9 the result of a scientific experiment wbicu he bad carried beyond the bounds of personal safety. Since the new street car cable on Madison street has been running children have discovered that a strong current of air is continually working down through the slit in tbe load. Acting on this discovery many of them have amused themselves tying a piece of p*per at oae end of a string and an old tomato can or similar article at tbe other. Laying the piece of paper oa the slit, they soon had the satisfaction of seeing it disappear under ground, where the string became wound around the cable, and in a moment or two tbeir delight would be intensified by seeing tbe tomato can go rattling down the street. Little Henry Altenberg, however, is of a reflective turn, and he figured it out that if be tied a rope around his waist he would be able to stop the cable when tbe slack of the line would be hauled taut, as the lake mariners say. Other boys might fasten cans to the creeping cable, but such divertissement was too tame for him. Running up to his mother's rooms at BC3 West Madison street, h^ quietly ani without ostentation took the cord from the family bed. Fasieuing it about his middle he tied to the other end a piece of paper, ttunning down into tbe street he di*ngled the paper into the cable tunnel. His scientific ideas had been well conceived. The curren s of air tbat swished down tho dark passage whirled the paper about until the rope wound round and round the cable. Then his wild caieer began. Men, women and children, and the West End gentlemen who wear silk Lats and sack coats simultaneously, were soon awe-stricken at the figure the boy was cutting. He pranced down the track like a yearling colt around a blue grass pasture. His sailed shirt fluttered in the breeze and his hat flew off. But he did not stop to pick it up. He couldn't. He gripped the rope that so closely identified him with the cable system and Bped on and on. Then he lifted up his voice, swelled his lusty lunga and yelled wildly. People generally shouted " Hey I " at him, and several thoughtful ones asked him if it hurt much, but be only galloped on. He was devoting his whole thought to the scientific investigation be was conducting at such a rapid gait and with such flattering success. He had started up at Laavitt street at 2.10 p.m. At 2.12 he flashed by Hoyne avenue. At 2.13£ he had gathered speed and was cantering across Seeley avenue. Ac 2.14 two men, seeing the boy's predicament, rushed out to bear him oa his way. One of them tried to jerk the rope away, but could not. Then tbey began to call for kaives. There whs a dearth of knives along Madison street just then and none was forthcoming. More men joined in the exciting chase, but Hennie led them all by several laps. Soon the intense cxci ement of the situation was beginning to tell on him, when at 2.14^ he made Bobey street, and tie was p.tntiat? fur oreath. Sull men shouted and women screamed. The boy joined in and swelkd tbe bigb refrain. Bat he could not break away, and, though reluctantly, he madly sped on. The end came finally. A. E. Allen, an employee in a paint store, rushed into the street with a huge knife, the only one available along Hunnie's entire right of w^y, and trotting aloug by the boy's bide hacked the rope in twain. Hennie fell exhausted ia bis arms, and the thrilling scene was over. Several hundred people stood gaping at the boy who had made such a sensatioa and tend^ily inquired if he were hurt. But be disdainfully, answered" Naw !" Tben a big blue bicked prefect of police put the boy under arrest. He was released presently, and silently s oie aw ty to his home. — Cor. St. Louis Republic.