Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-27
AERIAL MITIGATION.
Epcouraaiug Progress OF captain Renara IN
the Ara or Balloon Steering.


The newborn science Of balloon navi-
CATION has advanced another step.
There is no longer room to doubt that,
given certain favorable atmospheric con-
ditions, balloons may be guided for
time as easily as bicycles. Krebs and
Renard, the Tissandier brothers, aud
the late Frederick Cover had all OBJ
tanned partial success in steering their
air.ships; while a NJ. Clarin de la Rive,
hailing from Burgundy, has just COM
pleted an aerostat which he claims will
be infinitely more manageable and prac-
ticable than anything yet invented.
Yesterday and the day before thousands
of people congrcgated on the banks Of
the Seine at Meudon to watch the fresh
trial-trips made by Captain Renard and
his brother from the camp Of Chalais.
MASTER OF THE AIR.
On the afternoon OF each day their
balloon rose suddenly in mid-air, and,
after remaining motionless for short
time. sailed off successfully toward the
east. west, north, and south, and finally
took its course steadily toward the
Point du Jour, about three miles from
the starting point. Here the balloon,
descending slightly, paused again !;
then, INTERESTINGLY obeying its steers
man, it sailed back to the camp Of Cha
lais, where it descended. The War
Office authorities. who watched the
trials, seem satisfied that the problem
has been solved but experts tell me
that the cost of working Captain
Renard's balloon is still prohibitive,
while even at the enormous cost it can
not be controlled for long interval of
time.
HOUSEKEEPING.
The most recent feat in aerial nayiga-
ton was performed in France on No
yember 8, 1884, when Captains Renard
and Krebs made balloon voyage from
Meudon to Bellancourt, and returned,
alighting at the point from which they
started in forty-iiye minutes. The
aeronauts made complete success in
steering the balloon. This was the
third attempt made by Captain Renard
with his balloon-steering apparatus.
His second experiment was far from
being satisfactory. lie assembled at
Meudon on September 18th. expect
ing to 90 to the Champs Elysees,
and was able for some seconds TO sail
against a strong breeze, but his at
tempt to rise or to return to his start
ing point was failure. The propeller
ceased to revolye after ten minutes,
and he descended. at Versailles. His
first attempt was in August, 1884,
when Captain Renard started from
Meudon, and although the balloon
moved against the wind it easily fol
lowed the course along which II
was stesred. 1t was then veered
around and brought back to the
point from which it started
The success Of this feat created the
greatest interest in all the military cir
cles of Europe, and NJ. IIerve Maujor
brought the matter to the attention o
the French Academy of Sciences. Cap
tain Renard's balloon was cigar shapeC
and pointed at each extremity-no
simply underneath, as is usually thu
case. In the car were seats for TIVE
aeronauts, and the balloon had di
recting apparatus and a rudder. Tn
force was obtained by series of cleo
trio accumulators of ten-horse power
and the balloon was operative for fou
hours.
| BRISSON'S FAILURE.
On October 90, 1888, an experimen
took place the Place de la Defense
Courbevoie, Paris, which comprised
sensational balloon ascent and the us
of a new contryance for aerial nayiga
ton invented by NJ. Brisson. The az
paratus was lozenge-shaped, and coul
be compared to the upper deck of on
of the small passenger steamers whlc
cross from Dover to Calais. 1t was
sort of a platform, safely surrounde
by iron ratings, one of which, at tn
height Of two yards served as SUI
port for another platform, on whic
nine parachutes, in the shape of cuI
about As riches high, were placed side b
side. These cupolas were supposed
reserve under their air-tight domes
certain quantity of air considered to b
less dense than the interior layer Of ali
The apparatus in its descent was e'
pected to displace a volume Of air equi
to its proper weight, and consequent
to find its support on layer of air mol
dense than that stored under the cupt
las. At about p. NJ. the balloo
started, with NJ. Brisson's apparatu
attached to it, with sudden rush, an
disappeared in less than two minutes
thick fog. The next day one of ii
aeronauts reported that after leavin
CourbeyOie his party plunged into
thick fog, but at an altitude Of 800 yarC
the sky was fine and bright, and the Sc
ting sun gave brilliant light. A sudde
expansion of the gas made them asceu
LOCO metres without having to thro
out any ballast. Having reached tn
altitude strong pull was given to Il
safety-valve, and almost immedlatel
the balloon descended with a certa
rapidity which one Of the aeronauts a
tempted to control in order to 81
whether NJ. Brisson's apparatus won
offer any resistance, or, IN other word
remain in the air by itself. The cab
to which the apparatus was fixed d
not even bend. and consequently the r
suit of the experiment was entirely u
satisfactory. At about Goo metres a
titude the aeronaut had to regulate Il
descent by throwing out ballast, as
was afraid to make the land too swil
ly. Finally a successful landing vi
made at the Maladrerie Of Poissy.
GRIMLEY'S ATTEMPT.
In June, 1879. Professor Griml'
and a Herald correspondent started (
a balloon voyage from Montreal f
New York in the air-ship Canada, b
thew had fearful experience, and can
near losing their lives. After ascen
ing for the first few hundred feet it W
found that the trip could not be ma
on account of the poor quality of the &
used. The wheels for steering and q
rudder of the aerial car worked sple