New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-09-18
TWO MONTHS IN THE AIR.

A Balloon Trip icr0ss the Ocenh-B,tjldinO
a Balloon With Cnpacify If 100000
Feet of Gus. tn sail ThronGh the Ai1 Five
H.ndrsa Feet Abore the 1T0tes-Erpect-
inn to Cover the Continents ia TtcentY
DAYS.
Philadelphia Record.
In producing men who are prepared to
undertake the accomplishment of unheard-
of feats of enterprise and daring the An eri-
can nation can fairly be said to claim the
palm. Stanley penetrated the Jungle Of
Africa and excelled Livingstone, Boynton
SWAN the straits of Dover, an American
mariner and his wife crossed the ocean in a
tiny shell, while Fowler, another Anne lean,
has just succeeded in literally s'walking'
over the English channel. And now daring
aronantical feat is to be attempted some
time during the present year. Professor
Samuel A. King, the well-known mronaut,
and Philadelphia by birth, proposes to
cap the climax by doing his level best to start
from New York on balloon voyage which
shall terminate ON some portion of the Euro
pean continent.
Several years ago proposition was made
to Professor King to undertake the task, and
the sum of $4,000 was guaranteed by some
wealthy New Workers to cover the necessary
expense. For prudential reasons the aero
maui at that time decided to decline the offer.
Last winter, however. while making some
improvements in balloons for the Howgate
expedition he was successful in discovering
asubstance of such impenetrability that
balloon of q capacity of 100000 feet would
not lose more than l per cent. of gas in
twenty-four hours, SD that after journey
occupying twenty days $4,000 feet of gas
would still remain. The Importance of this
discovery is recognized when it is stated that
an average balloon will lose 20 per cent. of
gas in twenty four hours. The new idea was
communicated to the New Workers. who re
newed their previous offer. Professor King
at once accepted, and the construction of the
ensuing winter and spring, will be at once
commenced.
The balloon in which the intrepid aero
naut is to attempt to accomplish the greatest
feat of his life will, when completed, be the
largest in the world. 1t will average about
80 feet in diameter q, 275 feet in circu IL
ference, with capacity of holding between
100000 and 900 feet OF gas. The material
employed will be Pongee silk, of special
manufacture, coated with substance only
known to the professor. The silk will be-
doubled throughout. Pure hydrogen gas
will be used, and the cost of imitation alone
is appropriated at $4,000. The car VIII Oh
the aeronaut and his companions Gf any
will occupy will be II combination of boat
and basket, wicker framework, covered
with q heavy rubber substance. which can
easily be used as boat in case of emergency.
II shall positively start early in june"
said the professor last night. 81 consider
that the month in which thunder storms.
which do not wish to encounter, are the
least frequent. The starting point will be
either New York or Brooklyn. propose to
keep in the lower currents and to maint in a
permanent altitude of 500 feet above the
surface of the water. I shall entirely dis
card the old theory of sailing in currents
from west to east at height of three miles.
When you reach that height the gas begins
to lose by expansion. Then. when you be-
gin to descend, ballast must be thrown out.
You rise again: more gas is lost; another de-
scent; further throwing overheard of bal
last and 80 on until all your ballast is gone,
and then you come down for good. Under
my scheme expect to be able to keep in the
air for two months, if necessary, while there
has never been balloon which has kept de-
tached from the earth for longer period
than twenty -four hours"
"What period of time do you anticipate
the transatlantic voyage will occupy?"
"That is hard to say, but expect to make
at least twenty miles an hour. In addition
to the ballast the balloon will carry large.
heavy rope, which will drag the water. This
will have tendency to keep US in the per-
mAnent altitude of which I have spoken.
You see, shall have to depend on the fair
weather winds at the surface of the earth or
water, which at certain easons, are general
ly from west to east"
''Have you any fears as to the result of
the adventure?"
We'll, now, of course it is hazardous, ut
we shall take great care in the construction
of the balloon; and with enough provisions
on board 1 am fairly confident that the feat
will be accomplished with Safety
The only similar attempt on record was
that OF the i'll fated Professor Donaldson in
1873. The balloon on this occasion was in
hated by Professor King, and was started
from Brooklyn, several newspaper CORE
Bpondents beng fellow-voyagers. It was
Donaldson's first attempt at handling bal
loon of such size, and, consequently, after
going over about one hundred miles, he
came down at East Canaan, Conn.
Whether Professor King will take any
companions on his perilous voyage he leaves
to the future to determine. That plenty o
Americans have the necessary courage
proven by the number of letters he ha
already received from would-be voyagers,
several of whom have been his companions
in previous aerial trips.
a FRENCH MURDER
As,other Old Woman Killed For Her Money
---An I0eH Wido,v Who Lived AlOne aud