Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-29
TO LONDON IN FIFTY HOURS.
AH Enthusiastic Baltimoreau 20 Make the
Quick Voyage CPerhaps) by a Combination
of Boat and Balloon.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
Mr.. w. T. Schroeder, an enthusiasts
tic young German, has just obtained
from the United States letters patent
for his invention of balloon, by
which, as is claimed by the sanguiue
inventor, a voyage can be accom-
plished in fifty hours. Mr.. Schroeder
has gained the valuable assistance of
a capitalist in the person of Mr.
George w. Gail, of the firm of Gail
Il AK who is to furnish the necessary
means for the construction of the
| floating air-vessei. 1t is stated that
Postmaster General jewell has ex-
pressed himself gratified at this new
invention, and that Baron Won
Schloezer, the German ambassador
has taken with him TO Europe draw
ings and plans Of tho balloon which
are to be submitted, as is stated, to
the German Government. The yes
sci is to be constructed in the form
of life boat, 60 feet long, 10 feet
wide, and II feet high. The frame
is to consist of wire and steel, and
will be covered with strong water
proof linen. The vessel is to be car
ried by and connected with balloon
of linen, which will hold 10000 cubic
feet of gas. In the vessel will be an
engine of twelve horse power, which
set in motion the wings or sails on
each side of the vessel. The propel-
Tors will be constructed on the same
principle as windmills The ma
chine can be go placed that both pro.
pellOrs can be made to work in one
direction, or one may pull and the
other push. Upon the ascension of
the balloon the propeller in front is
placed in motion; after being at the
height desired, the screws are set 20
work and the vessel follows. the di-
rection given it by the pilot. The
vessel is likewise provided with two
blades, which move simultaneously,
but turn in opposite directions. A
gas machine will be attached to the
balloon to supply the necessary gas
during the voyage. In case Of a leak
in the balloon other small balloons,
filled with gas, will be on hand, and
when placed in the larger ono will
serve to stop the leakage. The
contract for the construction of the
balloon has already been given out,
and the work is to be completed
August 3.
Mr.. Schroeder expects to be able
to make a voyage in this balloon
from Baltimore to New York in one
and half hours, when the wind is
favorable. The voyage by the ball
loon from New York to London is
to be made in fifty hours. Mr..
Schroeder states that if be is intrust-
ed with the carrying of postal mat
ter to Europe be can complete the
route from New York to Hamburg,
Paris, Lisbon and Washington in the
space of six days. The whole vessel
will weigh $500 pounds, and it is
thought that, in addition to the car
riage of postal matter, fourteen pas
sengers will be transported in it.
The inventor is SO years Of age,
having DeeD DOSn IN 1901, IN the
Kingdom Of Hanover. During the
Crimean war, when II years of age,
he was appointed Lieutenant in the
British service, and at the end of the
war went with the British army to
Africa, and took part in the various
engagements with the natives at the
Cape of Good Hope. In 1858 he emf
grated to America, entered the
Union army during the late war and
made nuuber of trips in tho balloon
Saratoga, with La Mountain. After
the war he travelled through South
America. For the past three years
he has been working at the inven-
ton for which he now possesses q
Datent