Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-08-15
A PERILOUS RIDE.
A TWenty-mile Trip In n Flying Ma.
ehtns with the Gearing ClOgged.

- c~SJ essbAAc Ely1n& Ma
ehins with the Gearing Closged.
MIR. Frank w. Quindlin made an ascer
sion in the Ritchel Flying Machine from
Boston Common on the Fourth, of which
the Journal of that city gives the follow
ing account:
AT S:45 the end Of the cord which passed
over the frame Of the machine was let 90
and gracefully doated away before the as
tOnished gaze of at least 100000 people
who were so struck with the daring and in.
trepidity of the aeronaut, and the novel ex-
hibition, that scarcely amurmur was heard
in all that vast throng. The machine rose
to the height of a thousand feet ere it pass
ed over the Public Garden, and gradually
increased its altitude until lost to view by
those who witnessed its departure. The
preparations for the ascension differed so
materially from those of an ordinary bal
loon ascension that grave doubts were en-
tertained respecting the fate of the vOyager.
who appeared completely at the mercy of
the elements. The only opening in the
balloon was that through which the gas
was admitted, and that was covered with
composition caps, beyond reach of the ae-
ronaut. who had no valve cord at his COM
mand in case he desired to descend. 1t
struck some OF those familiar with the
machine, and who expected to see the
aerOnaut steer his craft in u direct line with
the wind, as a little singular, to say the
least, that he made flo attempt to keep it
before the wind" rs long as the air ship
remained in sight it turned round and
round, and although the nickel-plated
framework of the machine reflected the
rays Of the morning sun no movement of
the steering fan could be discerned.
Mr.. Quindlin waved his hat to his friends
and proceeded on his pcrilous career Soon
after passing over the Public Garden he
discovered that he had ascended to a re-
markable height, and trying to work the
cranks by means of which the fans are put
in motion lie discovered to his surprise
that something was binding the gearing.
and that the machine would not wo X.
He made this discovery when at the height
of 1000 feet, which was greater altitude
than the machine was ever intended to
reach. Finding that he could obtain no
motion to his fans, he began to investigate
the cause OF the difficulty. Not only the
central fan for raising and lowering the
apparatus would not work, but the steer
ing and propeller fan at the end of the ma
chine was also clogged. He then became
satisfied that something was the matter
upright shaft and the I0hg coiIrircrI1s rO''
to which the steering fan is attached. 1t
was impossible. seated as he was, to lean
over or look under the machine, as by do
ing that lie might lose balance. In this
position of doubt and suspense, the air.
ship having risen to such height that the
roa6s appeared to be about the width OF
two fingers, Mr.. Quindiin racked his brain
to invent some method by which to extri-
cate himself from the danger which en-
yironed him. He could not determine his
exact height, as he was not provided with
either barometer or any other apparatus
for gauging height or distance, but judg-
ed from the appearance OF the world be-
Meath his feet that he was two miles from
it. The balloon being inflated with hydro
gen gas, which has a greater expansive
power th:n the ordinary Illuminating gas,
which is generally used in ballooning. be-
came of greater susceptibility to the influ-
ence OF the Iarificd atmosphere, at such an
elevation. expanded rapidly and began to
crack. while the bands surrounding the
vulcanized rubber cylinder or balloon be
gan to snap. The situation of the intrepid
aeronaut was now one of eminent danger.
He knew that lie Elust do something, and
that Immediately; he must get his machin-
cry in motion, by means of which he hoped
,, complish the same result by 1re haz-
ardous expedient Of cutting ho in the
balloon. He resolved tnat nothil / 1t the
direst necessity would tempt hi resort
. to the latter method of regairlng terra
firma. He determined not to resort to cut
ting till all the other cxpedients had failed
and thought what he could do to repair
the defect in the apparatus. He finally re
solved upon most daring feat. and ON
which causes thrill of horror in writing
Taking piece OF hempen cord, W.T. whicl
: he was provilcntially provided, he woun'
it around his left ankle, and when remov
ing his foot from the stirrup he fastened
:, securely to one of the brass pipes of whic
. the frame of the machine is constructed
= Having fastened his left wrist in the sam
way to the frame of the machine, MI
Quindlin got out of his saddle and let hiu
= self down under the machine. Having di!
covered the cause of the difficulty to be
loosened screw, the head of which projec
ing ont came in contact with one of tt
small gear wheels, he took out his jacl
g knife, and, using the point of blade as
~ screw-eriver, he turned the screw back il
~ to its place, and fastened it securely. L
then regained his seat, and, to his gre
nc Joy, found that the fan would work. al
that, under the influence of reverse m
"a ton to the central or horizontal tan,
A. was descending. 1t would be impossit
o' to imagine the feeling of this young M
hanging between heaven and earth, wi
eu the blue dome over his head, and the ear
" dimly visible below him. His veins we
e- swollen and his brain surcharged wi
y blood.
al In its course the machine encounter
m. different currents in which 1t drifted, fl
in one direction and then in another.
mt Quindlin kept constantly at work, and 81
he ceedel in bringing the machine down il
lower atmosphere. where the conditi
ws of the balloon was greatly improved,
n = well as the chances of length of the days
me the plucky navigator. He continued
kit apptoacn u.D eSa's., co"'.ls uo"" ga
9 . ally until Wit "a few feetfrom the groa
-. when he reno .ed his feet from the stirr'
IN ~ and, letting them hang below the ira
!. :. work. they touched the ground before
- rs.achine did. thereby enabling the aerOJ