Tesla's Lab Burning and Mental Collapse

We are glad to learn by special cablegram that the somewhat sensational Reuter's despatch, which came to hand last week, announcing not only the burning out of Mr. Nikola Tesla's laboratory, but his mental collapse, was inaccurate in several respects. A fire began, it seems, early on Wednesday morning, the 13th inst., in the office of a steam-fitting concern situated on the ground-floor of the building in which Mr. Tesla carries on his work. The watchman reports that the mischief was started by a gas flame. Mr. Tesla's laboratory, on the fourth floor, was almost entirely destroyed. The contents included the whole of his polyphase models, most of his papers, the records of his experiments, the apparatus exhibited at Chicago, his original and latest form of oscillator, and all the apparatus with which he performed so many striking experiments when in London. None of the property was insured. Mr. Tesla, instead of being in a state of collapse as alleged, actively recommenced, on the very day of the fire, the building of a new oscillator, It is unnecessary to add that great sympathy has been expressed for this enthusiastic experimenter in the land of his adoption; an expression of feeling which we feel sure will find an echo in this country where he has made so many friends.