12 June 2008

A story that "went viral" before the internet

"In 1874... an inventor of considerable genius, was reported to have completely reversed the effect of the sun. In the scorching heat of the mid-summer Nevada desert, he was found frozen stiff by Indians - his beard covered in frost and an icicle over a foot in length hanging from his nose...

First printed in the Territorial Enterprise on July 2, 1874, the story soon appeared in other publications including Scientific American, The New York Times and The Daily Telegraph, which at the time had the largest circulation in the world...

Jonathon Newhouse was reported to have created “solar armor” – equipment, which would protect a subject from the heat of the sun when crossing deserts. The armor was described as an inch-thick, water-drenched “long, close-fitting jacket made of common sponge and a cap or hood of the same material.” The armor also had a sack filled with water, with a tube leading to the hood to rehydrate the suit. All the wearer had to do was occasionally press the sack..."

Go to the link to learn "the rest of the story." Some of the comments are entertaining, especially the one by "biff."

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