Morris tribune., 1881-08-04
THE LAST SENSATION.


Monster New Air-Ship.
THE LAST SENSATION.
From the Minneapolis Tribune, July 20.
For several years past the darling wish OF
every noted @ronaut 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 reason unknown or for
gotten by the writer, the scheme was aban-
doned. About year ago, Prof. Wise, with
whom the writer made two unimportant
ascensions, constructed an air. ship in St.
Louis in which he fondly hoped to cross
the broad ocean. He made o preliminary
trip from st. Louis, taking with him three
or four prominent citizens of that place,
and from that fated day to the present
time no tidings have been received from
the balloon or the daring @ronauts, not even
a rope or strip of silk having been found to
tell the tale. An opinion has been given
that the balloon, which was filed with hy-
drogen gas is still wandering through space
with it's freight OF dead men.
THE MINNEAPOLIS SENSATION.
In casting about for supreme attraction
for the great Minneapolis fair beginning
Monday, September 5, Col. w. s. King
decided upon securing the first ascension
and long voyage Of the monster air-ship
which is to cross the ocean, under the
learned direction of Prof. Samuel A. King,
the greatest and most successful eronaut
now living. The papers astand 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
leaving the Minneapolis fair grounds at 4
oclsck p. M, 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 Z 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 PROF. KING.
PHILADELPHIA, July 17.-CHARLEs
M. FAYE, EsQ.-Dear SIR: Your favor of
the 9Th instant came to hand in due season
but have found it impossible to answer
sooner. My whole time is occupied in
preparing for the grand voyage from Min
neapolis in September. 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 be constantly
given to it. You would like to know some.
thing of the ideas which govern me in the
proposed grand continental voyage, and I
will give them. DR.. Winsiip-the famous
strong man-once said to me, IF it is pos
sible for human being to fly with the aid
of artificial wings, I am prepared better
than any one else te 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 !!
object to the notion that because the
aerial globe cannot be governed like a rail-
road car or steamboat and made to carry
its freight from one given point to another,
that, therefore, it should be considered as
good for nothing. It Is true the aerona at
must be content to float upon the cloud
pillows, drifting whithersoever the wind
isteth; but, what of that? Instead of
being an objection, it has just this advan-
tage that no other known method can ac-
compIish the same thing. That the balloon
has its 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 or sea, and it is
the study of these currents of air, high and
low, that is so all important to meter. loey.
All great efforts require preparation.
believe if it is possible for any one to dem
onstrate the truth of the New York HeralTs
theory of ocean storm currents, by crossing
in them from America to Europe, am
that one, yet I feel the need of such expe-
rience as have not yet been able to obtain
a 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-
dinary of air voyaging, and hope thereby
to demonstrate the entire feasibility of the
other across the Atlantic.
Col S. King has promised to enable me
to initiate at immense expense by hydrogen
gas so that with the enormous. erostadt ]
shall be able to leave terra Jfrma with the
greatest number of persons and the largest
quantity cf ballast that ever ascended into
the air. This, at the start, for after the
first day my company will be reduced to q
minimum; all parties ascending with me
must bear this in mind and accept cordially
such rules as I may find necessary 10
adopt.
Col. King has written me recommending
you very highly, So Itah;e 1t for granted,
with what you say yourself, that yoat qcill
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, 73 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 q
60AeASAA~n SOu1u tuo SEcttb tdSk De COuIuIts
ted than to Prof. King. He has made
more than 260 ascensions safely, and this
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 NJ. Faye, of the city department,
as its representative.
At first it was arranged for 100, ,0t0 cubic
feet Of coal gas from the Minneapolis Gas
Works with which to initiate the balloon, but
this was found inadequate, as it possessed
q buoyancy of only 13 pounds to the 1,0U(
cubic feet, or 1900 pounds for the entire
loo, 900 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, Ia
hydrogen, Is, SO it Is learned tina,
100000 feet Of pure hydrogen gat
will take mp 1890 pounds. The pro.
portion of buoyancy is given on basis oi
atmospheric air. Special gas works mus,
needs be constructed on the fair grounds ir
which to make the gas, and men must come
from New York city to build the works, the
expense Of which will be thousands Of do ].
ars. Col. King is bound to make the bal.
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