Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-25
TO Fly Through the Air.
Mr. CAMPBELL's SHIP NEARLY READY-How IT WILL
BE OPERATED.

Mn CAMPBkLLs SHIP NEARLY READY-HOW IT WILL
BE OPERATED.
From the Philadelphia Telegraph
In small wooden building close by the sea, at
the foot OF 10tn street. West Brighton Beach, Coney
Island, hangs suspended the of the airship with
which the inventor, Peter c. Campbell, and the
aeronaut, Carl Myers, Will endeavor to prove that
science at last controls the air." The ship is now
ready for the ascent, which will be made within
Two. or at least three, weeks, probably, from the
folo grounds. On the arrival or Myers IL Will be
taken from Coney Island 10 the place or ascent on
sruex drawn by six norses and accompanied by
oanu- MI. Myers Will operate the machine in
the ascent, with Mr.. Campbell as his ass,sUant
Inc snip complete consists Of q balloon and car.
Inc balloon Is ovoid AZ Ieet long, and "A feet wide
In lts Greatest diameter. The balloon part VIII be
MED with hydrogen gas. 1t has a Capacity of
ie,OOO CUBIC feet. Attached to the balloon from
beneath, by means OF a long rod is bOaJ-shaped
reporter climbed Into 1t as 1t hung suspended from
tne ceiling just as II Will hang from the balloon,
like that OF bicycle, he worked the machinery by
means OF a crank and treadles which LATER are
precisely Ike those OF bicycle. The mechanical
movement too. Is a bicy Gle movement, consisting
Oh an iron chain belt ana the ordinary multiplying
gear wheels
Directly beneath the car is a large ran.wheel
ieet In Diameter. and containing sixteen
blades made OF cedar. BY means of this the car
Is raised or lowered at Will. In tue stern of the
snip Is another Wheel also feet in diameter
placed at right angles with the otner and ain.
Ing two blades Oh Sail-cloth This acts as pro-
peiler, ana IL may be worked in connection with
the fan-wh below the car or SEPARATELY al tine
will OF the operator, there being levers TO throw
either set OF machinery In or out OF gear at the
top OF the car fore and aft, are fastened to the
balloon spleen-wnich name Is given TO the long
rod that uniteS the ballOn TO the Garland to
posts, smaller propeller wheels to guide the vessel
In connection with the rudder, which unlike rud-
ders Ia general Is attached to the fore part OF the
snip.
With the rudder in front, it is said, the ships
operator can steer In air more readily. On the
lmmOyaDle f..af
long and feet In their greatest width. They are
made OF SILK stretched upon rattan frames. and
will serve 10 steady the huge vessel as 1t sans
through the air. The car Is made Of light spruce
rails intertwlned with rattan rods to lend them
strength, ana the entire weight or car and con-
tents is supported by steel band enclrcling the
car and oy four stout cable wires. The machinery
Is a model OF simplicity.
The question Is, "Wlll the ship go?" Mr. Camp
than quarter OF century, says 1t Will He re-
CARDS this as the browning effort Of his achieve
ments, and firmly believes that, with good weather
conditions, he can sail his ship and steer It, too
Mr.. N. X. Briggs, who, as agent OF the Novelty
Air ship Co., has superintendent the work OF con-
struct1on, Is hopeful, but somewhat inclined be
Sceptlcal. He mas corresponded with aeronauts
and scientific men In all parts OF the globe and
from the mass OF testimony thus CLEANED draws
this CONCLUSION: That aerial navigation, when a
balloon Is used will only be a partial success II
successful at all He particularly cited the case
OF Rennard and KrebS, or Paris, who, In 1855
tried an apparatus whose motive power was elec.
time OF their experiment the wind was blowing at
the rate OF 10 miles an hour. For 10 miles they
mad almost entire control OF their machine, and
then the battery lost its power. They made 5
miles an hour against the wind and L. miles with
the wind. But the experiment convinced them
that aerial navigation would not he an accom-.
plisbed fact until some method should be devised
that would develop greater horsepower In pro-
portion 70 weight than mas ever yet been attained
has the best apparatus, both In design and work.
manship, that has ever been constructed,