News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-08-26
AN AERIAL SHIP.
FROM Chfrbourg to London in the Steering
Balloon TOrpilIeur.

The balloon Torpilleur, which is ftted
with patented steering and propelling
apparatus, and in which the aeronaut
l. Hoste and astronomer Mangot as
cended from Cherbourg, France, at IL
O'Clock descended in London at o'clock
the next morning. The aerial naviga-
tors VIII return to Cherbourg and will
attempt voyage from that place to
Norway.
The most recent feat, with conclusive
proofs, IN the new born science Of bal
loon navigation was performed in France
ON September "a, 1885, by the young
military engineers, the brothers Renard,
from the camp of Chalons, within few
miles of Paris. Starting at twenty-five
minutes after four p. m, the aeronauts
reached Point du Jour after five D. M,
returning to the camp at twenty i've
minutes 20 skip. ma distance of three
miles each way. On this journey in the
outward trip the wind was against them,
opposing the advance of the apparatus
toward the capital at the rate of four
metres per second. The rate of speed
OF the balloon, as recorded by the ''log
balloon" was six metres per second.
The revolution of the screw was 55 per
minute; its diameter metres. The
volume of the balloon was ], $50 cubic
metres, filled with pure hydrogen gas.
The machine was of eight horse power,
constructed by NJ. Gramme, with bat
terry by Captain Renard, weighing in all
$50 kilos, and capable of working at
the rate given for two hours. The whole
journey was performed with perfect
most satisfactory manner. After the
journey Captain Charles R2nard said to
a Herald correspondent, 81 consider the
problems of aerial navigation solved by
the results of our experiment" A jour
ney was also made on September %,
1885, with much the same results, trsc
only difference being that the wind was
with the aerial boat going out and
against her on the return journey, and
was light all the time, blowing at the
rate of one metre per second. The
distance covered was about five miles.
On November 3, 1884, Captains Re-
naTd and Krebs made balloon voyage
from Mendon to Bellancourt, and re-
turned, alighting at the point from
which they started in forty-five minutes.
This was the third attempt made by
CAPTAIN Renard with his balloon and
steering apparatu the second having
proved failure. His first attempt was
in August, 1884, with such good re-
suits as to create the greatest interest in
all the military circles of Europe. The
balloon was cigar shaped and pointed
at each extremity. In the car were seats
for two aeronauts, and the balloon had
a directing apparatus and rudder. The
force was obtained by series of electric
accumulators of ten horse power, and
the balloon was operative for four hours
On October 20, 1884, an experiment
took place at the Place de la Defense,
COurbevoie, Paris, under NJ. Brisson,
but the cable apparatus failed and the
result was consequently unsatisfactory.
In June, 1879, Professor Grimley and
Herald correspondent started from
Montreal for New York in the airship
Canada, but they had fearful expert
ence and came near losing their lives
owing to the poor quality of the gas
used.
In September, 1879, Professor G. r.
Ritchell airship was sent up at Hart
ford, Conn. 1t consisted of balloon
above and vertical screw, worked by
hand power, beneath for lifting pur-
pos S, and horizontal screw for steer
ing. The result was anything but
success. In four mile breeze it could
be steered, but at little increase above
that force it drifted miles to leeward.