Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-12

Prof. Rufus Wells Novel Idea to Capture
Blaine and Logan Votes.

Prof. Rufus Wells Novel Idea to Capture
Blaine and Logan Votes.
Prof. Rufus Gibbon Wells, a gentlemen
who has an extensive reputation as a sue
cessful aronaut, says the Philadelphia
Press, has landed in Philadelphia with
big idea, which he proposes, if possible, to
bring to maturity in this State. He sug-
gests that in future the balloon shall take
an active part in politics. 1t is no sar-
castle allusion to the too abundant wind
bag that he is making, but serious bona
fde proposition to politicians. He thinks
that five years from now no well-cOnduct-
ed ward meeting will be without its bal
loon ascent.
But what on earth forY'' asked an
amazed reporter.
MERELY as an attraction to get the peo-
pie together" was the reply. SEyery one
will come to see a balloon, and then when
you once get them there all you've got to
do is to make speeches to them and con-
vince them. | think that the proposal is
one of the most brilliant that ever ema-
mated from the mind of man. Pm in town
now prepared to accept contracts from
the Republican party all over the coun-
try. want to build thirty or forty bal
looms"
''How have you been agitating the mat
terF' inquired the writer.
"Agitating the matter" exclaimed
the Professor, 'agitating the matterl
Why, Pve called twentv-eight times upon
Chairman Cooper, of the State Committee,
and by now he must have imblbed as
much about balloons almost as l know
myself. | found Mr.. Cooper very much
| interested in my plans, but he told me
| that, inasmuch as a balloon was liable to
| hop over from one State to another without
much notice, it seemed to him that it was
a national rather than a local question.
lie therefore gave me the address OF
Chairman Jones, of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, in New York, and Pm
going to call upon him. Mr.. Jones Will
rapidly digest and assimilate my ideas.
Il Will guarantee" continued the Pro-
fessOr in sanguine tones, shat in ceun-
try towns a balloon WILL attract the
pumpkins to a political meeting when
| nothing else will. My scheme is to
send gas balloon up first, under
| meath it to have a fire balloon, and
under that a parachute. The para
chute 1 would attend to myself. When
the whole business was about five miles
! up in the air | would board the parachute
| and begin to descend. If it was in the
| daytime would wave the American flag
| all the way down, and if at night would
| let off a lot of most brilliant fireworks.
| Tnls wound tend to give eclat to the meet
ing, and STIR up popular enthusiasm"
Prof. Wells thinks that balloons can
| reach the North Pole. He has made hun
dreds of ascents in different parts of Eu-
rope and South America, and during the
| Franco-Prussian war he made a balloon
| for the French Government in which Mar
| shall BaZaine was to escape from Metz.
The Marshal, however, capitulated before
the balloon could be put in working order.
| Prof. Wells has given exhibitions before
the Sultan of Turkey and his harem, in
| Batavia and throughout England. He also
| trained several Prussian officers in the
use of balloons. Altogether he has spent
about % years in Europe in 9rOnautic
pursuits. He is an American.
1t was the Professor who designed a
| balloon that should cross the Continent,
bearings lovely maiden from every State
| and an editor or reporter from every Ter
ritory. On the way from San Francisco
the maidens were to spend their time
waving different colOred flags at the sur
rounding country, and the editors and re-
| pOrters in writing dispatches to their pa
pers, which were to be sent to earth every
| hour in parachutes.