Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-07

curtains. There will be four windows
cut in the canvass siding, to look from
in case in will be necessary to fasten the
curtains down. There will also be an
openingthrough the top, out of which one
may climb on the rope ladder into the
ropes above. A man-hole will also be
cut in the floor to allow access TO the
cellar" where the ballast, ETC., is
stored. From ring to lower floor the
car VIII be about sixteen feet. The ring
will be huge affair, consisting of three
different pieces of metal, and designed
TO stand all tests, either of tension or
jar. As an appropriate adornment. flags
of various nations will be displayed from
the upper part of the car.
Still more interesting perhaps, than a
description of the car, is list of the
things to be placed in it. The most
prominent object in the lower apartment
represented in the sketch, is a basket Ca
pable of holding a number of men, and
designed TO be attached to the ring
above, should it be found necessary to
cut the large car away piecemeal to
tighten the air ship, or in case it should
be deemed desirable through distrust of
the large balloon from injury, it may be
attached to the small balloon, the tender,
and the party have new lease of life
1t will also enable them to separate,
leaving portion of them only to con-
time the voyage, the main balloon be-
ing thus relieved of a portion of its fix
ed weight. In this department also will
be placed the ballast, consisting of sand
in twenty -tiye pound bags, and in great
part also in casks of water.
The water ballast will be especially
valuable, because a small stream may
be set flowing at night, hanged to COM
pensate the loss of boyant power of the
balloon. Here, too, will be placed in
abundance various kinds of provisions
consisting largely of canned food.
Axes, hatchets, graphing irons, ropes
in coils, and other necessary things will
be slowed away. Torpedoes, with par
achute attachments, will also be prOvid-
ed, to be let fall in the night These
will be set so as to explode when they
strike the water. The direction of the
flash will indicate the direction the bal
loon is drifting. AS to the furniture of
the upper department, the main feature
is the windlass, which may be put to
several uses, the principal of which will
be the management of of the small bal
loon and the raising and lowering of the
trail rope. 1t should be remembered
that the ballOonists will be prepared with
rope to send the small balloon up two
thousand feet above them, for the pur-
pose of testing the currents without
wasting ballast. The windlass viii also
be used for raising or lowering the boat
A cage of carrier pigeons, for half daily
or even hourly communication with
the shore they are to leave, will be sus-
pended overhead.
The scientific outfit will be of the
completest kind, consisting of all the
latest improvements, both for observa-
ton and for safety in managing the bal
loon. Among those for the latter pur-
pose is an electric alarm apparatus, in
vented by Prof Donaldson, to be at
tacbed TO both the mercurial and the
aneroid barometer. Thus, if the mercu-
~ in the former should rise to certain
hight, by an increased air pressure,
showing descent during the night to a
dangerous nearness to the surface of
the earth, alarm bells will ring, and the
watching aeronauts will be warned to
throw out more ballast. Wet and dry
bulb thermometers, hydrometers, hygrom-
eters, marine glasses, telescopes, com
passes, instruments for calculating the
position of the balloon automatically,
mathematical tables, and everything
that science can suggest, will be fur
nished of the most approved style and
manufacture. The occupants of the car
will be supplied with air mattresses,
camp stools, a small writing table,
lime stove for making coffee and boiling
eggs, and such toilet articles as they may
desire = Duly Gr0pAic