Bly followed the mysterious man into the eerie entryway and up the first flight of rickety stairs. The man was Nikola Tesla, the famous Croatian inventor and engineer. She was fascinated by his reputation as one of the great “mad scientists” of the day, with his particular talent for manipulating the mysterious forces of electricity. Like dozens of other reporters competing in New York City, she had been angling for an interview with him for months. She must see his latest experiments first hand for her story.
As they climbed to the second floor, Bly wondered about the juicy argument that supposedly happened between him and Thomas Edison who publicly criticized Tesla because of his outrageous experiments. Tesla called Edison close-minded, insisting that a true genius does not limit the muse of invention. Bly loved controversy. She could feel in her bones that this would be one of her best stories to date.They reached the second floor. Tesla held the door for her. Flushed with excitement, Bly entered the bizarre studio-laboratory. She was careful to keep her face as far from the light as possible. Despite her disguise, she feared that a closer look would tell him that she was not Mrs. Brown, the wealthy matron she claimed to be. She knew Tesla would never reveal his work to a woman without a scientific education.Tesla suddenly turned to her. “Your messenger said that your husband would be coming tonight. I don’t like surprises.”“I’m so sorry,” she said in a voice suited to the elderly Mrs. Brown, “but my husband has suddenly taken ill. As he mentioned in his letter, he’s quite interested in funding your experiments as soon as possible. he didn’t want to lose the opportunity to have this meeting with you.”“I’m sorry you came all this way. I don’t want to discuss my work with anyone but Mr. Brown,” Tesla insisted. “I think it’s best if we reschedule.”“His doctor says he won’t be up and about any time in the near future.”“Then we’ll wait until he recovers.”Bly had worked hard to get this meeting and she wasn’t about to have it end before it started. She had to buy time so she could get a look around Tesla’s lab and hopefully persuade him to show her his experiments. She pretended to shiver, then coughed uncontrollably. “It’s such a cold night. I’m afraid I’ll catch my death. Do you perhaps have some hot tea?”Clearly, Tesla was irritated. “I don’t generally entertain, but I happen to have some steeping for a friend who should arrive shortly.”Bly pretended to shiver again. “I would so appreciate it.”The instant Tesla exited the oom, Bly quickly scanned the laboratory, memorizing every detail. In the center of the room a mountain of equipment was partially concealed by a floor-to-ceiling curtain, much like that on a stage. It was operated with a rope. Bly guessed that the lightning bolts she saw from the street were generated by whatever stood behind this very curtain.On the far side of the room, she noted a large wooden desk. It was covered with meticulously stacked books and papers. Perfectly sharpened pencils were arranged by size, from the smallest to the largest, and lined in a perfect row. A number of shiny metal gadgets sat on the shelves of the desk, each on a crisp sheet of white paper. Clearly, Tesla was obsessed with order, just a she had heard.Bly saw a small cot with a neatly folded stack of quilts piled on top. Beside it stood a table with a light and a notebook. She took this as confirmation of the rumors that Tesla led a solitary life, dedicated to his work.
Tesla returned, carrying a single cup of tea. She could tell he wanted to be rid of her as quickly as possible. “Thank you so much Mr. Tesla,” she said as she accepted the cup. He said nothing. Bly nodded toward the curtain. “Your experiments, I assume?” Tesla merely nodded. She knew she must keep the conversation going if she was going to get enough information for her story. “My husband and I have heard many wonderful things about your work from mutual friends.”Tesla merely nodded again as he impatiently watched her sip her tea. Bly realized this wasn’t going to be easy, but she had done her homework. She had studied Tesla’s papers and articles and had memorized everything she could about his inventions and patents. She had come prepared.“My husband is particularly interested in your new system of Alternate-Current Motors and Transformers.”Tesla’s eyes brightened. “It’s not often that I find anyone, particularly a woman, who knows about my work,” he said.“I don’t pretend to know much, but enough to relay information back to my husband. I assure you Mister Tesla, he’s prepared to fund your research.”‘I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to discuss the basics,” he said.“That’s all I ask, sir. My husband and I agree that your brilliant vision is not the future of America – it’s the future of the world—of history.” Judging from the glow in his eyes, Bly could see she was winning him over. “What can I tell my husband about your work?”“Yes, well, all you need to remember is that I’ve adapted the principle of rotating magnetic fields…”“ Ah yes,” Bly added. “For the construction of alternating current induction motor and the polyphase system for the generation, transmission, distribution and use of electrical power?”Tesla was astonished. “Why — yes. To work with high frequency apparatus, wireless transmission and theories of the relationship between electromagnetic radiation…”“And light?” Bly asked.“Yes,” he said in total amazement. “And light. Few people follow this,” he said.At all costs, Bly had to see the experiment with her own eyes, or she had no article. “Is there any way you could demonstrate? It would mean the world to me and I could convince my husband to send you funds immediately.”Surprised by Bly’s apparent ability to comprehend the basic scientific principles underlying his work, Tesla moved to the curtain and worked the rope, slowly raising it. Bly’s heart raced. She had done it! She alone had made it into Tesla’s inner sanctum. The curtain was now two feet from the floor and rising fast. Less than a minute more and she would see one of the great mysteries of the day! Tesla had nearly raised the curtain when a sharp rap on the door startled both of them.“That must be my guest,” Tesla said. He let the curtain drop back to the floor. Bly wanted to cry out for him to ignore whoever was at his door, but she didn’t dare.Tesla opened the door, revealing a man with a messy shock of white hair and a matching mustache. Bly couldn’t believe her eyes. The man was one of her favorite authors – Samuel Clemens who wrote under the pen name of Mark Twain. Bly had heard rumors that Tesla and Twain were friends.
She tingled with excitement, knowing in her gut this would be her best story to date, when suddenly, Twain nudged someone into the room. It was not a woman – it was Elizabeth Bisland! Bly’s blood boiled and her face burned red. “I caught this pretty little thing sniffing around your door like an alley cat,” Twain said with a smile. “Do you know her?”Bisland looked like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She suddenly turned to Bly. “Mother!” she blurted out. “I was so worried about you!”All eyes turned to Bly. Normally, she was an expert at disguising her emotions, but this was more than she could handle. She stammered, “I am not…”Tesla and Twain exchanged a suspicious look. In a nanosecond, Tesla reached over and plucked Bly’s hat and white wig from her head.Bly turned to Twain. “I was merely following some investment advice…”“You want investment advice?” Twain asked. “Buy dirt. They’re not making it any more.”
An instant later, Bly landed in the alley so quickly, she wondered if she had taken a ride on Tesla’s rumored time machine. Just behind her, Bisland stumbled onto the cobblestone street. “Well, I never…” she sniffed indignantly as she straightened her hat. “They certainly have no idea how to treat a lady.”Bly shot Bisland a look that turned the cold air into a puff of hot steam. “You were spying on me!”“I most certainly was not. I just happened to be on this street when…”“Liar!”“How dare you call anyone a liar in that ridiculous disguise. Besides, I’m far too busy to take my valuable time to follow the likes of you.”Bly moved inches from her face. “You just cost me a great story. Mark my words, you just made the biggest mistake of your life,” she hissed. She pivoted sharply on her heels and marched down the alley toward the main street.Bisland stood in quiet indignation for a moment. Suddenly realizing she was alone in the dreadful dark alley, she followed Bly back to the main street, darting from shadow to shadow.
PENNSYLVANIA COUNTRYSIDE – 1887
ACING NELLIE BLY-FAMOUS WOMEN IN HISTORY
