English
MyyoungerbrotherwasinLondonwhentheMartiansfellatWoking.
Hewasamedicalstudentworkingforanimminentexamination,andheheardnothingofthearrivaluntilSaturdaymorning.
ThemorningpapersonSaturdaycontained,inadditiontolengthyspecialarticlesontheplanetMars,onlifeintheplanets,andsoforth,abriefandvaguelywordedtelegram,allthemorestrikingforitsbrevity.
TheMartians,alarmedbytheapproachofacrowd,hadkilledanumberofpeoplewithaquick–firinggun,sothestoryran.
Thetelegramconcludedwiththewords:"Formidableastheyseemtobe,theMartianshavenotmovedfromthepitintowhichtheyhavefallen,and,indeed,seemincapableofdoingso.
Probablythisisduetotherelativestrengthoftheearth'sgravitationalenergy."
Onthatlasttexttheirleader–writerexpandedverycomfortingly.
Ofcourseallthestudentsinthecrammer'sbiologyclass,towhichmybrotherwentthatday,wereintenselyinterested,buttherewerenosignsofanyunusualexcitementinthestreets.
Theafternoonpaperspuffedscrapsofnewsunderbigheadlines.
Theyhadnothingtotellbeyondthemovementsoftroopsaboutthecommon,andtheburningofthepinewoodsbetweenWokingandWeybridge,untileight.
ThentheSt.James'sGazette,inanextra–specialedition,announcedthebarefactoftheinterruptionoftelegraphiccommunication.
Thiswasthoughttobeduetothefallingofburningpinetreesacrosstheline.
Nothingmoreofthefightingwasknownthatnight,thenightofmydrivetoLeatherheadandback.
Mybrotherfeltnoanxietyaboutus,asheknewfromthedescriptioninthepapersthatthecylinderwasagoodtwomilesfrommyhouse.
Hemadeuphismindtorundownthatnighttome,inorder,ashesays,toseetheThingsbeforetheywerekilled.
Hedispatchedatelegram,whichneverreachedme,aboutfouro'clock,andspenttheeveningatamusichall.
InLondon,also,onSaturdaynighttherewasathunderstorm,andmybrotherreachedWaterlooinacab.
Ontheplatformfromwhichthemidnighttrainusuallystartshelearned,aftersomewaiting,thatanaccidentpreventedtrainsfromreachingWokingthatnight.
Thenatureoftheaccidenthecouldnotascertain;indeed,therailwayauthoritiesdidnotclearlyknowatthattime.
Therewasverylittleexcitementinthestation,astheofficials,failingtorealisethatanythingfurtherthanabreakdownbetweenByfleetandWokingjunctionhadoccurred,wererunningthetheatretrainswhichusuallypassedthroughWokingroundbyVirginiaWaterorGuildford.
TheywerebusymakingthenecessaryarrangementstoaltertherouteoftheSouthamptonandPortsmouthSundayLeagueexcursions.
Anocturnalnewspaperreporter,mistakingmybrotherforthetrafficmanager,towhomhebearsaslightresemblance,waylaidandtriedtointerviewhim.
Fewpeople,exceptingtherailwayofficials,connectedthebreakdownwiththeMartians.
Ihaveread,inanotheraccountoftheseevents,thatonSundaymorning"allLondonwaselectrifiedbythenewsfromWoking."
Asamatteroffact,therewasnothingtojustifythatveryextravagantphrase.
PlentyofLondonersdidnothearoftheMartiansuntilthepanicofMondaymorning.
ThosewhodidtooksometimetorealiseallthatthehastilywordedtelegramsintheSundaypapersconveyed.
ThemajorityofpeopleinLondondonotreadSundaypapers.
Thehabitofpersonalsecurity,moreover,issodeeplyfixedintheLondoner'smind,andstartlingintelligencesomuchamatterofcourseinthepapers,thattheycouldreadwithoutanypersonaltremors:"Aboutseveno'clocklastnighttheMartianscameoutofthecylinder,and,movingaboutunderanarmourofmetallicshields,havecompletelywreckedWokingstationwiththeadjacenthouses,andmassacredanentirebattalionoftheCardiganRegiment.
Nodetailsareknown.
Maximshavebeenabsolutelyuselessagainsttheirarmour;thefieldgunshavebeendisabledbythem.
FlyinghussarshavebeengallopingintoChertsey.
TheMartiansappeartobemovingslowlytowardsChertseyorWindsor.
GreatanxietyprevailsinWestSurrey,andearthworksarebeingthrownuptochecktheadvanceLondonward."
ThatwashowtheSundaySunputit,andacleverandremarkablyprompt"handbook"articleintheRefereecomparedtheaffairtoamenageriesuddenlyletlooseinavillage.
NooneinLondonknewpositivelyofthenatureofthearmouredMartians,andtherewasstillafixedideathatthesemonstersmustbesluggish:"crawling,""creepingpainfully"—suchexpressionsoccurredinalmostalltheearlierreports.
Noneofthetelegramscouldhavebeenwrittenbyaneyewitnessoftheiradvance.
TheSundaypapersprintedseparateeditionsasfurthernewscametohand,someevenindefaultofit.
Buttherewaspracticallynothingmoretotellpeopleuntillateintheafternoon,whentheauthoritiesgavethepressagenciesthenewsintheirpossession.
ItwasstatedthatthepeopleofWaltonandWeybridge,andallthedistrictwerepouringalongtheroadsLondonward,andthatwasall.
MybrotherwenttochurchattheFoundlingHospitalinthemorning,stillinignoranceofwhathadhappenedonthepreviousnight.
Thereheheardallusionsmadetotheinvasion,andaspecialprayerforpeace.Comingout,heboughtaReferee.
Hebecamealarmedatthenewsinthis,andwentagaintoWaterloostationtofindoutifcommunicationwererestored.
Theomnibuses,carriages,cyclists,andinnumerablepeoplewalkingintheirbestclothesseemedscarcelyaffectedbythestrangeintelligencethatthenewsvendersweredisseminating.
Peoplewereinterested,or,ifalarmed,alarmedonlyonaccountofthelocalresidents.
AtthestationheheardforthefirsttimethattheWindsorandChertseylineswerenowinterrupted.
TheporterstoldhimthatseveralremarkabletelegramshadbeenreceivedinthemorningfromByfleetandChertseystations,butthatthesehadabruptlyceased.
Mybrothercouldgetverylittleprecisedetailoutofthem.
"There'sfightinggoingonaboutWeybridge"wastheextentoftheirinformation.
Thetrainservicewasnowverymuchdisorganised.
QuiteanumberofpeoplewhohadbeenexpectingfriendsfromplacesontheSouth–Westernnetworkwerestandingaboutthestation.
Onegrey–headedoldgentlemancameandabusedtheSouth–WesternCompanybitterlytomybrother."Itwantsshowingup,"hesaid.
OneortwotrainscameinfromRichmond,Putney,andKingston,containingpeoplewhohadgoneoutforaday'sboatingandfoundthelocksclosedandafeelingofpanicintheair.
Amaninablueandwhiteblazeraddressedmybrother,fullofstrangetidings.
"There'shostsofpeopledrivingintoKingstonintrapsandcartsandthings,withboxesofvaluablesandallthat,"hesaid.
"TheycomefromMoleseyandWeybridgeandWalton,andtheysaythere'sbeengunsheardatChertsey,heavyfiring,andthatmountedsoldiershavetoldthemtogetoffatoncebecausetheMartiansarecoming.
WeheardgunsfiringatHamptonCourtstation,butwethoughtitwasthunder.Whatthedickensdoesitallmean?
TheMartianscan'tgetoutoftheirpit,canthey?"
Mybrothercouldnottellhim.
Afterwardshefoundthatthevaguefeelingofalarmhadspreadtotheclientsoftheundergroundrailway,andthattheSundayexcursionistsbegantoreturnfromallovertheSouth–Western"lung"—Barnes,Wimbledon,RichmondPark,Kew,andsoforth—atunnaturallyearlyhours;butnotasoulhadanythingmorethanvaguehearsaytotellof.
Everyoneconnectedwiththeterminusseemedill–tempered.
Aboutfiveo'clockthegatheringcrowdinthestationwasimmenselyexcitedbytheopeningofthelineofcommunication,whichisalmostinvariablyclosed,betweentheSouth–EasternandtheSouth–Westernstations,andthepassageofcarriagetrucksbearinghugegunsandcarriagescrammedwithsoldiers.
ThesewerethegunsthatwerebroughtupfromWoolwichandChathamtocoverKingston.
Therewasanexchangeofpleasantries:"You'llgeteaten!""We'rethebeast–tamers!"andsoforth.
Alittlewhileafterthatasquadofpolicecameintothestationandbegantoclearthepublicofftheplatforms,andmybrotherwentoutintothestreetagain.
Thechurchbellswereringingforevensong,andasquadofSalvationArmylassiescamesingingdownWaterlooRoad.
Onthebridgeanumberofloaferswerewatchingacuriousbrownscumthatcamedriftingdownthestreaminpatches.
Thesunwasjustsetting,andtheClockTowerandtheHousesofParliamentroseagainstoneofthemostpeacefulskiesitispossibletoimagine,askyofgold,barredwithlongtransversestripesofreddish–purplecloud.Therewastalkofafloatingbody.
Oneofthementhere,areservisthesaidhewas,toldmybrotherhehadseentheheliographflickeringinthewest.
InWellingtonStreetmybrothermetacoupleofsturdyroughswhohadjustbeenrushedoutofFleetStreetwithstill–wetnewspapersandstaringplacards."Dreadfulcatastrophe!"
theybawledonetotheotherdownWellingtonStreet."FightingatWeybridge!Fulldescription!RepulseoftheMartians!LondoninDanger!"
Hehadtogivethreepenceforacopyofthatpaper.
Thenitwas,andthenonly,thatherealisedsomethingofthefullpowerandterrorofthesemonsters.
Helearnedthattheywerenotmerelyahandfulofsmallsluggishcreatures,butthattheyweremindsswayingvastmechanicalbodies;andthattheycouldmoveswiftlyandsmitewithsuchpowerthateventhemightiestgunscouldnotstandagainstthem.
Theyweredescribedas"vastspiderlikemachines,nearlyahundredfeethigh,capableofthespeedofanexpresstrain,andabletoshootoutabeamofintenseheat."
Maskedbatteries,chieflyoffieldguns,hadbeenplantedinthecountryaboutHorsellCommon,andespeciallybetweentheWokingdistrictandLondon.
FiveofthemachineshadbeenseenmovingtowardstheThames,andone,byahappychance,hadbeendestroyed.
Intheothercasestheshellshadmissed,andthebatterieshadbeenatonceannihilatedbytheHeat–Rays.
Heavylossesofsoldierswerementioned,butthetoneofthedispatchwasoptimistic.
TheMartianshadbeenrepulsed;theywerenotinvulnerable.
Theyhadretreatedtotheirtriangleofcylindersagain,inthecircleaboutWoking.
Signallerswithheliographswerepushingforwarduponthemfromallsides.
GunswereinrapidtransitfromWindsor,Portsmouth,Aldershot,Woolwich—evenfromthenorth;amongothers,longwire–gunsofninety–fivetonsfromWoolwich.
Altogetheronehundredandsixteenwereinpositionorbeinghastilyplaced,chieflycoveringLondon.
NeverbeforeinEnglandhadtherebeensuchavastorrapidconcentrationofmilitarymaterial.
Anyfurthercylindersthatfell,itwashoped,couldbedestroyedatoncebyhighexplosives,whichwerebeingrapidlymanufacturedanddistributed.
Nodoubt,ranthereport,thesituationwasofthestrangestandgravestdescription,butthepublicwasexhortedtoavoidanddiscouragepanic.
NodoubttheMartianswerestrangeandterribleintheextreme,butattheoutsidetherecouldnotbemorethantwentyofthemagainstourmillions.
Theauthoritieshadreasontosuppose,fromthesizeofthecylinders,thatattheoutsidetherecouldnotbemorethanfiveineachcylinder—fifteenaltogether.
Andoneatleastwasdisposedof—perhapsmore.
Thepublicwouldbefairlywarnedoftheapproachofdanger,andelaboratemeasureswerebeingtakenfortheprotectionofthepeopleinthethreatenedsouthwesternsuburbs.
Andso,withreiteratedassurancesofthesafetyofLondonandtheabilityoftheauthoritiestocopewiththedifficulty,thisquasi–proclamationclosed.
Thiswasprintedinenormoustypeonpapersofreshthatitwasstillwet,andtherehadbeennotimetoaddawordofcomment.
Itwascurious,mybrothersaid,toseehowruthlesslytheusualcontentsofthepaperhadbeenhackedandtakenouttogivethisplace.
AlldownWellingtonStreetpeoplecouldbeseenflutteringoutthepinksheetsandreading,andtheStrandwassuddenlynoisywiththevoicesofanarmyofhawkersfollowingthesepioneers.
Mencamescramblingoffbusestosecurecopies.
Certainlythisnewsexcitedpeopleintensely,whatevertheirpreviousapathy.
TheshuttersofamapshopintheStrandwerebeingtakendown,mybrothersaid,andamaninhisSundayraiment,lemon–yellowgloveseven,wasvisibleinsidethewindowhastilyfasteningmapsofSurreytotheglass.
GoingonalongtheStrandtoTrafalgarSquare,thepaperinhishand,mybrothersawsomeofthefugitivesfromWestSurrey.
Therewasamanwithhiswifeandtwoboysandsomearticlesoffurnitureinacartsuchasgreengrocersuse.
HewasdrivingfromthedirectionofWestminsterBridge;andclosebehindhimcameahaywaggonwithfiveorsixrespectable–lookingpeopleinit,andsomeboxesandbundles.
Thefacesofthesepeoplewerehaggard,andtheirentireappearancecontrastedconspicuouslywiththeSabbath–bestappearanceofthepeopleontheomnibuses.
Peopleinfashionableclothingpeepedatthemoutofcabs.
TheystoppedattheSquareasifundecidedwhichwaytotake,andfinallyturnedeastwardalongtheStrand.
Somewaybehindthesecameamaninworkdayclothes,ridingoneofthoseold–fashionedtricycleswithasmallfrontwheel.Hewasdirtyandwhiteintheface.
MybrotherturneddowntowardsVictoria,andmetanumberofsuchpeople.
Hehadavagueideathathemightseesomethingofme.
Henoticedanunusualnumberofpoliceregulatingthetraffic.
Someoftherefugeeswereexchangingnewswiththepeopleontheomnibuses.
OnewasprofessingtohaveseentheMartians.
"Boilersonstilts,Itellyou,stridingalonglikemen."
Mostofthemwereexcitedandanimatedbytheirstrangeexperience.
BeyondVictoriathepublic–housesweredoingalivelytradewiththesearrivals.
Atallthestreetcornersgroupsofpeoplewerereadingpapers,talkingexcitedly,orstaringattheseunusualSundayvisitors.
Theyseemedtoincreaseasnightdrewon,untilatlasttheroads,mybrothersaid,werelikeEpsomHighStreetonaDerbyDay.
Mybrotheraddressedseveralofthesefugitivesandgotunsatisfactoryanswersfrommost.
NoneofthemcouldtellhimanynewsofWokingexceptoneman,whoassuredhimthatWokinghadbeenentirelydestroyedonthepreviousnight.
"IcomefromByfleet,"hesaid;"manonabicyclecamethroughtheplaceintheearlymorning,andranfromdoortodoorwarningustocomeaway.Thencamesoldiers.
Wewentouttolook,andtherewerecloudsofsmoketothesouth—nothingbutsmoke,andnotasoulcomingthatway.
ThenweheardthegunsatChertsey,andfolkscomingfromWeybridge.
SoI'velockedupmyhouseandcomeon."
Atthetimetherewasastrongfeelinginthestreetsthattheauthoritiesweretoblamefortheirincapacitytodisposeoftheinvaderswithoutallthisinconvenience.
Abouteighto'clockanoiseofheavyfiringwasdistinctlyaudiblealloverthesouthofLondon.
Mybrothercouldnothearitforthetrafficinthemainthoroughfares,butbystrikingthroughthequietbackstreetstotheriverhewasabletodistinguishitquiteplainly.
HewalkedfromWestminstertohisapartmentsnearRegent'sPark,abouttwo.
Hewasnowveryanxiousonmyaccount,anddisturbedattheevidentmagnitudeofthetrouble.
Hismindwasinclinedtorun,evenasminehadrunonSaturday,onmilitarydetails.
Hethoughtofallthosesilent,expectantguns,ofthesuddenlynomadiccountryside;hetriedtoimagine"boilersonstilts"ahundredfeethigh.
TherewereoneortwocartloadsofrefugeespassingalongOxfordStreet,andseveralintheMaryleboneRoad,butsoslowlywasthenewsspreadingthatRegentStreetandPortlandPlacewerefulloftheirusualSunday–nightpromenaders,albeittheytalkedingroups,andalongtheedgeofRegent'sParktherewereasmanysilentcouples"walkingout"togetherunderthescatteredgaslampsasevertherehadbeen.
Thenightwaswarmandstill,andalittleoppressive;thesoundofgunscontinuedintermittently,andaftermidnightthereseemedtobesheetlightninginthesouth.
Hereadandre–readthepaper,fearingtheworsthadhappenedtome.
Hewasrestless,andaftersupperprowledoutagainaimlessly.
Hereturnedandtriedinvaintodiverthisattentiontohisexaminationnotes.
Hewenttobedalittleaftermidnight,andwasawakenedfromluriddreamsinthesmallhoursofMondaybythesoundofdoorknockers,feetrunninginthestreet,distantdrumming,andaclamourofbells.Redreflectionsdancedontheceiling.
Foramomenthelayastonished,wonderingwhetherdayhadcomeortheworldgonemad.
Thenhejumpedoutofbedandrantothewindow.
Hisroomwasanatticandashethrusthisheadout,upanddownthestreettherewereadozenechoestothenoiseofhiswindowsash,andheadsineverykindofnightdisarrayappeared.Enquirieswerebeingshouted."Theyarecoming!"
bawledapoliceman,hammeringatthedoor;"theMartiansarecoming!"andhurriedtothenextdoor.
ThesoundofdrummingandtrumpetingcamefromtheAlbanyStreetBarracks,andeverychurchwithinearshotwashardatworkkillingsleepwithavehementdisorderlytocsin.
Therewasanoiseofdoorsopening,andwindowafterwindowinthehousesoppositeflashedfromdarknessintoyellowillumination.
Upthestreetcamegallopingaclosedcarriage,burstingabruptlyintonoiseatthecorner,risingtoaclatteringclimaxunderthewindow,anddyingawayslowlyinthedistance.
Closeontherearofthiscameacoupleofcabs,theforerunnersofalongprocessionofflyingvehicles,goingforthemostparttoChalkFarmstation,wheretheNorth–Westernspecialtrainswereloadingup,insteadofcomingdownthegradientintoEuston.
Foralongtimemybrotherstaredoutofthewindowinblankastonishment,watchingthepolicemenhammeringatdoorafterdoor,anddeliveringtheirincomprehensiblemessage.
Thenthedoorbehindhimopened,andthemanwholodgedacrossthelandingcamein,dressedonlyinshirt,trousers,andslippers,hisbraceslooseabouthiswaist,hishairdisorderedfromhispillow.
"Whatthedevilisit?"heasked."Afire?Whatadevilofarow!"
Theybothcranedtheirheadsoutofthewindow,strainingtohearwhatthepolicemenwereshouting.Peoplewerecomingoutofthesidestreets,andstandingingroupsatthecornerstalking.
"Whatthedevilisitallabout?"saidmybrother'sfellowlodger.
Mybrotheransweredhimvaguelyandbegantodress,runningwitheachgarmenttothewindowinordertomissnothingofthegrowingexcitement.
Andpresentlymensellingunnaturallyearlynewspaperscamebawlingintothestreet:
"Londonindangerofsuffocation!TheKingstonandRichmonddefencesforced!FearfulmassacresintheThamesValley!"
Andallabouthim—intheroomsbelow,inthehousesoneachsideandacrosstheroad,andbehindintheParkTerracesandinthehundredotherstreetsofthatpartofMarylebone,andtheWestbourneParkdistrictandSt.Pancras,andwestwardandnorthwardinKilburnandSt.John'sWoodandHampstead,andeastwardinShoreditchandHighburyandHaggerstonandHoxton,and,indeed,throughallthevastnessofLondonfromEalingtoEastHam—peoplewererubbingtheireyes,andopeningwindowstostareoutandaskaimlessquestions,dressinghastilyasthefirstbreathofthecomingstormofFearblewthroughthestreets.
Itwasthedawnofthegreatpanic.
London,whichhadgonetobedonSundaynightobliviousandinert,wasawakened,inthesmallhoursofMondaymorning,toavividsenseofdanger.
Unablefromhiswindowtolearnwhatwashappening,mybrotherwentdownandoutintothestreet,justastheskybetweentheparapetsofthehousesgrewpinkwiththeearlydawn.
Theflyingpeopleonfootandinvehiclesgrewmorenumerouseverymoment."BlackSmoke!"
heheardpeoplecrying,andagain"BlackSmoke!"
Thecontagionofsuchaunanimousfearwasinevitable.
Asmybrotherhesitatedonthedoor–step,hesawanothernewsvenderapproaching,andgotapaperforthwith.
Themanwasrunningawaywiththerest,andsellinghispapersforashillingeachasheran—agrotesqueminglingofprofitandpanic.
AndfromthispapermybrotherreadthatcatastrophicdispatchoftheCommander–in–Chief:
"TheMartiansareabletodischargeenormouscloudsofablackandpoisonousvapourbymeansofrockets.
Theyhavesmotheredourbatteries,destroyedRichmond,Kingston,andWimbledon,andareadvancingslowlytowardsLondon,destroyingeverythingontheway.Itisimpossibletostopthem.
ThereisnosafetyfromtheBlackSmokebutininstantflight."
Thatwasall,butitwasenough.Thewholepopulationofthegreatsix–millioncitywasstirring,slipping,running;presentlyitwouldbepouringenmassenorthward.
"BlackSmoke!"thevoicescried."Fire!"
Thebellsoftheneighbouringchurchmadeajanglingtumult,acartcarelesslydrivensmashed,amidshrieksandcurses,againstthewatertroughupthestreet.
Sicklyyellowlightswenttoandfrointhehouses,andsomeofthepassingcabsflauntedunextinguishedlamps.
Andoverheadthedawnwasgrowingbrighter,clearandsteadyandcalm.
Heheardfootstepsrunningtoandfrointherooms,andupanddownstairsbehindhim.Hislandladycametothedoor,looselywrappedindressinggownandshawl;herhusbandfollowedejaculating.
Asmybrotherbegantorealisetheimportofallthesethings,heturnedhastilytohisownroom,putallhisavailablemoney—sometenpoundsaltogether—intohispockets,andwentoutagainintothestreets.
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