The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-01
A Destructive Weapon.

novel application OF the balloon in war
fare consists in using it for transporting
percussion shells to point where they can be
dropped on the heads of an advancing force
or into town or fort gun-carriage is
fitted, instead Of the usual gun, with a
strong iron container filed with compressed
hydrogen gas. In addition to this there is
case containing balloon packed in such
manner that it can be inflated by means OF
proper tubing connecting the bottom of the
case with the gas-holder. It Is calculated
that sufficient gas can be compressed into
holder not larger thsn, and similar in shape
to, the iron ''fonts" used in saltwater
fountains, to fully initiate balloon capable
Of carrying 100 lbs. besides its OWN weight
and that Of the thin, but strong, line by
which it is held captive to height Of mile
into the air. This line, which is carried on
q reel mounted on timber " carriage, has
interviewer into it thin copper wire which
forms an electric connection with clutch
fastened to the hoop of the balloon, and
small dry" battery, also carried on the
timber. The reel and battery are carried in
one-half the limber-chest, and in the other
half are stored shells weighing so, GO, or 10
lbs, charged with dynamite or some other
powerful explosive. The surfaces of these
shells are studded with cones or nipples
like those used ON muskets, and set close
enough together to ensure the explosion Of
at least One when the shell strikes any OBJ
iect. Lugs, or depressions, are formed on
opposite sides of each SHELTON. which the
clutch previously mentioned takes hold.
The operation of the machine is quite
simple. 1t is manned and horsed as an
ordinary gun with its timber, and if needed,
ammunition chest on spare carriage; and
it is calculated that in the case of the invest
ment or siege of fort the apparatus can be
driven up to some convenient point to wind
ward of the place to be attacked, as easily
as field-gun could be brought into posi-
ton. Upon hating, the cover of the case
containing the balloon is thrown back, and
az it is filed with the gas from the holder it
slowly energies. When filed, the proper
attachment is made of the line, and when
all is in readiness to let it rise the shell is
attached to the clutch, and not till then are
the nipples armed with the caps. This being
done, the balloon is allowed to rise, and as
it does so is carried by the wind over the
fort. II those inside the doomed place see
it coming they can fire at it if they chooses
but experience has shown that the chances
of their hitting it are very small, and as the
machine from which it is sent would be
properly guarded and protected, the proba-
| bilities are that tie balloon would be high
over the FORT out Of rife-shot distance, be-
fore it was touched by bullet. Then all
that remains to be done would be to COM
plete the electric connection between the
battery and the clutch that would release
the she'll and permit it to drop into the fort.
As there arc no known means of adequate
protection from missile coming from
directly overhead, it can be seen that it
would not take very many shells loaded
with so lbs. Of dynamite to render untenable
fertilization that might biz defiance to any
other mode Of attack.