The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-11-21
TO EUROPE IN A BALLOON.
PROF. KING WILL TRY THE VOYAGE
If FUNDS ARE RAISED.

He Believes 1t Possible, and Explains His
Theory-How He viii Overcome the Dan
gers Attending the Experiment..
philadelphia Times, Nov. l4.)
Prof. Samuel A King, the well-known
ae,onat, has expressed his willingness to
attempt q voyage across the ocean in bal
loon, provided the necessary funds are
raised. Prof King has made 294 success
ful voyages since 1851 and feels confidenr
that he can cross TO Europe In speakin"
Of the project, Prof. King said yesterday:
''My prime reason for wishing 10 attempt
this trip across the ocean is TO demonstrate
the usefulness of the balloon. The balloon
has been misunderstood from the first.
Instead of being intended for ;erial navi2a-
ton, it is really an immense meteorological
instrument by which we shall be enabled
to learn sll that can be learned of the at
mosphere. Besides that, it is probably the
one means of reaching the inaccessible
parts of the earth st some future period
after the full development Of its powers
We have had any quantity Of experience
in ballooning in a small way, and the main
thing which has kept it alive is the gratiti-
cation the public has experienced in wit
Messing ascensions. Viewing the matter
from my standpoint, something more should
be done, something more should be done,
something or grander scale, and that
which lies nearest within reach seems to be
an ocean voyage.
PROFESSOR KINGS THEORY.
81 think the voyage can be successfully
accomplished. Professor Wise said that
he thought the trip could be made III three
or four days, and gave as his reason the
theory that three miles above the water
there were two constant, rapid currents Of
sir, one going west and one going east.
His plan was to get in the east current anc
then the only difficulty would be to keep
the balloon in the air sufficient length OF
time, Now, there is nothing to support
this theory and do not base my offer upon
il. The general direction Of the wind On
the ocean is east and feel confident that
the balloon would reach it final destination
when once started on its way aud for a
certainty it would not again come in view
OF the American coast.
''This ocean voyage will require more
than ordinary skill end judgment and q
balloon of large proportions fitted up with
unusual appliances. 1t will have to be
capable of floating in the air 3 number of
weeks. 1t will star: upon an errand The
tue nature of which we have previous
practical knowledge. We would probably
encounter storm The effect Of which we can
only imagine. We would have constant
waste of water beneath US into which We
may be driven by unforeseen circumstau
ces. We may be blown north or south out
of our course ard so be delayed in reach
ing our destination. But not withs:anding
alfthis think il can be safely accomplish
ed, and that the accomplishment Of this
feat will be fruitful Of discoveries of the
greatest value to science as related TO me-
teorology.
TIE SUM NEEDED.
'.It has been suggested that the North
Pole might be reached by balloon. This
may become evident when once the ocean
is crossed. and may possibly follow, but
until something of this nature has happened
there is no hope of any sane person at
tempting to find the North Pole by this
means.
s.From $4,000 to s14, 600 will be neces-
sary TO 6efrsy the expenses of az ocean
voyage II it is asked what are Veto learn
By the voyage it may be difficult to answer.
II Will probably demonstrate the movement
of storms across the ocean, the general
drift Of the atmosphere, as well as a vast
amount Of meteorological phenomena to be
gathered in no other way. The United
States Signal Service Bureau would take
great interest in such voyage, and would
be represented by one or more observers.
The principal obstacle to be overcome in
starting out on such voyage is the great
red in procuring the most perfect outf:
that prudence could suggest. But this
might be overcome when once the posi-
bility and benefit accruing IS brought be-
fore those possessing sufficient meaas to In
sure success. An effort will be made 20
raise funds necessary ard if it is successful
preparations will be begun at once.
PROVIDING FOR EMERGENCIES.
sNo balloon has hitherto been kept
afoat twenty-four consecutive hours, ex-
cspt Giforo's great captive balloon, which
was kept in the air while the Paris Expo
sition lasted. This was because the balloon
was not allowed to rise to great altitude
but was kept up at one height all the time.
The great waste Of gas in ordinary balloon
ing is caused by the expansion which fol
lows rise to great altitude, thus forcing
the gas out of the open neck. Now pro-
pose to adopt the system used by Clifford,
that of keeping at certain altitude. I will
stay down in The lower atmosphere, about
two thousand feet high This will be ac-
complished by o drag rope or similar con
trivance, and propose TO lose nothing by
wastage.
Another advantage We have in the
ocean balloon is that we can use heavy ma
terial for the envelope, thus reducing the
loss by percolatiou to minimum. In or
dinary Dallooning it is considered prefers
bic to use lighter material and suff.r the
loss by percolation. To make the voyage,
balloon with capacity of about 100000
cubic feet will be necessary. It will be
filed with pure hydrogen gas, the lightest
known.
Under all circumstances we would be
provided for, emergencies. If we should
happen to be swamped We would have ap-
pliances which would render us capable Of
rising again If We we're compelled to
leave the balloon we would always have
something that would float, so that in case
failure did come it need not necessarily be
followed by loss of life. -
Lost and Found