The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-28
NAVIGATION IN BALLOONS.
PROFESSOR DONALDSONS AERIAL
VOYAGE TO EUROPE.

An Interview with an Ambitious Aero
nnut-A Complicated Apparatus for
Navigating tho Air-To Ireland in
Seventeen Hours-An About tho Pro-
fessor's Great Project.
Correspondence Of the New York SUM-.
READING, Pa, January %.
aeroDaut, Washington q. Donaldson. yester-
| day, to ascertain how far he had progressed
| In the construction OF his gigantic air ship,
| the "North America" which is to carry him
either across the ocean or to the bottom OF 1t
| during the coming summer. Before sending
my name to his quarters inquired OF several
prominent gentlemen of this city about The
character of this daring young aeronaut, and
| In every case was Informed that he was an
exemplary citizen of good character, sober
aud industrious. Reaching his apartments,
| the whole surroundings were indicative OF the
aeronaut. Scattered In proluslon around the
room were models and Instruments OF various
descriptions. Barometers, anchors, baskets,
bars, books, cords, canvas sails, miniature
| balloons, gas generators and all the various
| articles used In his varied experiments and
calculations.
"You see," eaid the aeronaut, "rm over my
ears in this affair; aud 1t will claim every mo-
ment OF nv attention from now Oil until July,
| in order to have things perfectly arranged.
have lust finished my plans, specifications and
sketches for my snip, and I am absolutely
certain that what | AIN now perlectlng Will
carry me TO Europe as sure as the sun shines
| tomorrow morning."
"WnaL is this ~ asked your correspondent,
pointing to miniature balloon filed with
gas.
'tThat," said Donaldson. sis model OF the
will o. the Wisp.' my Jew paper balloon,
which Is goinL to carry me to the clouds az
aoon as the W ather moderales sufficiently.
II is composed oil common brown paper, and
will cost mr just s6 SO when completed. In
tend trying an experiment With 1t when at
an altitude OF half mile. | have patent
parachute wish TO lest. and 10 do this shall
experiment with my paper balloon, oy ex.
pIodipg 1t when about three thousand feet
high, 10 see whether can safely descend.
shall first ascend, and then l shall open my
patent parachute (the model Of which looks
for all the world like three lamp shades strung
on slriug about TWO leet apart,) see that II
is perfectly filed, and part company with the
paper balloon, after u wing iXnited fuse,
which will explode in q few seconds alter
wards, 10 the delight OF the peop'e below.
With my parachute expect 10 descend to The
earth at the rate of q mile ON hour.
AN EXPLuRI BALLOON
halt q mile high will be novelty, and change
OF cars, as 1t were, at that altitude will also Or
something new lor the sensational people OF
thus fast age. Bnt this hus nothing 10 do with
crossing the ocean,"
Donaldson then produced q series OF dia-
grams and drawings of his proposed mammoth
air ship. He proposes 10 have one large bal.
loon which will have sufficient power 10 sue.
cessfulIy carry him through the trip. Bnt 10
be more than safe In the matter he will carry
with him TWO other supply or smaller balloons.
With these he Gays he can oil The larger bal
loon In case Of g lusi or escape by leakage or
condensing, and when they are empty he pro-
poses to pack them up, labe! them, and toss
Them Into the ocean, which will relieve the
shIp OF Two hundred aud fifty pounds weight
During the day The floating power OF the gas
diminishes at the rate OF about twenty-five
pounds per hour; but at night the ioss Is
greater, through condensation. This loss,
however, Is eqnalizsd by expansion when day
comes again. II IL should rain or be damp,
disagreeaole hight 1t would add weight TO the
balloon. Suspended under the large balloon
will be O metallic litebout, with oars, sails,
condensed food, water. instruments, baron.
eters, &C., ready Tor any emergency. Several
marked improvements will 6e made 10 the
construction OF his boat. In order TO tsst the
upper currents he proposes TO use pilot oal-
loon.
The following are the dimensions of the
great balloon. It Is to oe 80 feet In diameter,
with capacity Of 268 .000r-et OF gas. To con-
struct II, It will require 2300 square yards vi
cambric, and will be capable OF lltIlns to the
required altitude $3.50 pounds. The weight OF
the gas chamber Of this mons:rous air snip
will be 1882 pounds, while the nettlngs, DC,
will weigh 500 pounds. The two supply bal
looms Will be 80 leet In diameter, which will
require 374 yards Of material, with capacity
OF 28. 600 cubic feet, and iiillng power OF $50
pounds. The weight Of the two supply BAL
looms, netliug5, &C., will be 280 pounds. A
email balloon 10 cave gas as II expan1s Will
weigh lao pounds, making grand toal OF
lifting power of 10000 pounds; total weight In
tuIl about 1000 pounds, Including rope, llie-
boat, provisions, Instruments, DC DO, leav-
Ing for passengers and supplies 5000 pounds.
This outfit will be sufficient for
TRIP AROUND THE WORLD,
or for month ut least. After The above re-
capitulation, Donaldson tald:s
HJudging from my trips on land. travel
from twenty 10 one hundaed and h,y miles
per hour, 80 to Cross the Atlantic from New
York 10 the coast OF Ireland, which is The dl.
reclion of the current, distance two thousand
six hundred miles, 1t will require 10 make The
trip from seventeen hours 10 Two days and a
half. But 10 provide for all delays, Shall be
cautious and prepare ior much longer time,
say thirty days. l know Of two caaes where
O single balloon travelled half the above dis
tance without any previous preparation.
shall take two passengers with mr.; scientific
men, IL they can be induced TO accompany me.
There is much 10 be discovered 10 the clouds
and published to the world, and know OF nu-
thing 30 extremely undeveloped as the science
of aerial navigation. We shall al no late day
have regular balloon or aerial ship lines 10
Europe, carrying mails, passengers, &c. My
reason for taking such precaullon In the
preparation Of my ship ia u be absolute.
~ certain Of reaching the other side.
have provided for everything aeronaulS or
scientiGc men can suggest, inasmuch as can
not afford to fall. / sh Ill start from New u Ork
when the weather ls mild and We have moon
light nights, and when the lower current or
air blows from west 10 east. In that lower
current or strata will start, and remain 10 II
as long as it blows. II may carry my ship
across, but not in the same time ] can cross
In The upper current. Ii 1t changes can as.
cend 10 the upper current and pursue my
journev. / shall leave near sundowu or alter,
which will enable me To take In gas more In O
condensed state, which will vastly benefit me
by its expansion with The coming Of the next
days sun. To provide light at light / have
constr ucted vacuum tuba with plallna wire
at each end; this connected with an electric
battery will fill the tube with continuous
shower Oh electric sparks, which will throw
out sufficient light for reading books. writing
or noting the Indications of compass, direction
of wind, Indications OF barometer, DC.
shall note down q correct Minute In detail OF
everything, dividing the lime Into periods OF
ten minutes"
Yonr correspondent then asked Donaldson
| g..