The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-07-28

1he First Particulars of the Expedition from
Minneapolis to New York City-Interestine
Letter from Prot. Samuel A. King, the
World Famous ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hun
dred Miles Whirled Through Space in /,
Monster New Air. Ship:
=" THE LAST SENSATION:
From the Minneapolis Tribune, July 20.
For several years past the darling wish OF
every noted teronaut has been to make the
| journey from New York to London in a
balloon, and two years ago and last year
meetings were held in New York city look
ing toward extending help to Prof. Lowe to
make the trip. The idea was to utilize the
So called western trade currents by starting
! from New York in September, ard many
| scientists declare il possible to reach the
| other side in safety through the aid of these
| winds. For some le lson unknown OF for
! gotten by the writer the scheme was aban-
| doned. About a year ago, Prof Wise, with
whom the writer made two unimpor,ant
ascensions, constructed an air. ship i'll St.
Louis in which he fondly hoped to cross
the broad ocean. He made a preliminary
trip from ST.. Louis, taking with him three
or fottr protninent citizens Of that place,
and from that fated day 10 the present
time no tidings have been received from
the balloon or tie daring ;eronauts, not even
rope or strip of silk having been found to
tell the tale. An opinion has been given
that the balloon, which was filled with by
drogen gas is still wandering Though space
with its freight OF dead men.
THE MINNEAPOLIS SENSATION.
In casting about for supreme attraction
for the great Minneapolis fair beginning
Monday, September s. Col. w. S. King
decided upon securing TIE first ascension
aud long voyage Of the monster air. ship
which is to cross the ocean, under the
learned objection of Prof. Samuel A. King,
the greatest and most successful teronaut
now living. The papers eastand west have
been teeming with preliminary articles on
the thrilling voyage, and from mere
theory and dream it has become reality.
The first voyag in the air ship will take
| place Wednesday, September Z, the balloon
o'clock p. H., bound for New York. If the
voyage is made safely Prof. King will
start from New York for London
at the height of the September
trade winds. AS the great enterprise is to
have birth in Minneapolis the Tribune on
July made application, through one of it's
city staff, for passage to New York. and on
yesterday the following interesting letter
and grant Of the application was received
LETTER from PROT. KING.
PHILADELPHIA. July 17.-CHARLEs
NJ. FAYE, EsQ.-Dear SIR: Your favor of
the 9Th instant came to hand in due season
but have found it impossible to answer
sooner Ny whole time is occupied in
preparing for the grand voyage from Min
neapolis in September. I am making an
air ship of unusually large proportions,
and new principles are involved in it's con-
struction SO that, though have plenty of
help my own attention must DO constantly
given to it. You would like to know some
thing of the ideas which govern me- in the
proposed grand continental voyage, and
will give them. DR.. Winsaip-the famous
strong ma1l--once said to me, If it spos-
sible for a human being to fly with the aid
of artificial wings, l am prepared better
than any one else to accomplish the feat"
and though he never made the attempt to
fly, the strength left no doubt Of the cor
rectness of his assertion.
Now, it is asserted by some that bal
loon is but useless toy, fit only for the
amusement of the crowd. object to this!
l object to the notion that because the
aerial globe cannot he governed like rail-
road Car or steamboat and made to carry
it's freight from one given point to another,
that, therefore, it should be considered as
good for nothing. 1t is true the arona at
must be content to float upon the cloud
pillows, drifting whithersoever the wind
listeth; but, what of that? Instead Of
being an objection, it has just this advan-
tage that no other known method can &C
complish the same thing. That the balloon
has it's own particular province with regard
to scientific research there can be no doubt
and in this it is most valuable-it cannot
be made to lie regarding the course of the
wind waiting it ore earth Oh sea, and it is
the study of these currents of air, high and
low, that is SO all important to meter. logy.
! All great efforts require prep nation.
believe if it is possible for any one to dem
onstrate the truth of the New York Herald's
| theory Of ocean storm currents, by crossing
! in them from America to Europe, I am
that one, yet feel tho need of such expe-
| rience as have not yet been able to obtain
| voyage over land which shall partake of
many features of the ocean voyage itself.
I count upon the coming one (from Mime
apolis to New York) to be the most extraor-
binary of air voyaging, and hope thereby
to demonstrate the entire feasibility of the
other across the Atlantic.
Col VS.. King has promised to enable me
to initiate at immense expense by hydrogen
gas so that with the enormous arostadt
shall be able to leave te,yu iymo with the
greatest number of persons and the largest
quantity Of ballast that ever assembled into
the ait. This, at the start, for after the
first day my company will be reduced to o
minimum; all parties ascending with me
must bear this in mind and accept cordially
such rules as 1 may TIA necessary 10
adopt.
COL King has writ II me recommending
you very highly, So l .x.," 1t for granted,
with what you say yourself, that yoat will
ascend acith me. shall be pleased to hear
further from you, and will endeavor to
answer any inquiries you may wish to
make. Yours truly.
SAMUEL A. KING.
SEVENTEEN HUNDRED MILES THROUGH
AIR.
That Prof. King will be able to complete
his journey successfully and safely there
can be no reasonable doubt under ordinary
circumstances. To be sure, 70 per cent.
OF the balloons leaving the earth are wreck
ed or never heard from again, but with the
approved apparatus now building it is be-
lieved the chances are reduced to an even
per cent. for and against safe landing. To
no more learned, practical and brave a
gentleman could the great task be commit.
ted than to Prof. King. He has made
great feat of going from Minneapolis to
New York and thence across the Atlantic is
to be the cap-sheaf of famed achievement.
The party going up with Prof. King will
consist of five persons, all newspaper men,
from New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chi
cage and Minneapolis. The Tribune send
ing Charles M. Faye, Of the city department.,
as its representative
At first it was arranged for 100.0 G0 cubic
feet of coal gas from the Minneapolis Gas
Works with which to initiate the balloon, but
this was found inadequate, as it possessed
buoyancy of only IL pounds to the 1,0u0
cubic feet, or 300 pounds for the entire
10O, GOO cubic feet. As substitute, n.y.
drogen gas will be used, which has buoy
ancy six times greater than coal gas-the
relative buoyancy being: coal gas, 2 l-2;
hydrogen, Is: So it is learned that
100000 feet of pure hydrogen gas
will take mp 1890 pounds. The pro.
portion of buoyancy is given on a basis CT
atmospheric air. Special gas works must
needs be constructed on the fair grounds in
which to make the gas, and men must come
-