Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-18
,TwIxT HEAVEN AND EARTH.
Dangling in Space in Disabled Air
Shin.

Dangling in Space in a Disabled Air
Ship.
New YORK, July l7th.-Au awe-s struck
crowd of men and boys gazed upward from
the streets in the neighborhood of the Mas
sau Gas Company, Kent avenue, Brooklyn,
this morning. Floating far above was an
object that resembled balloon and dang
ling from it was what seemed to be rope.
1t was Professor Campbell airship which
short time before assembled from the gas
company's yard, and the swinging object
which seemed scarcely attached to the net
ting from which it hung was Professor
Hogan, the aeronaut.
The airship capsized thousands of feet
above the earth and the unhappy man hav-
ing lost control of the aerial vessel, which
was hurrying on toward the sea, seemed in
imminent peril of dropping from that
dizzy hight to certain death.
Circulars announcing that the trial of the
airship would be made this morning were
circulated in Brooklyn, and before the APP
pointed time a large crowd of curious per-
sons gathered on Kent avenue. AT O'Clock
Professor Peter Campbell, the inventor,
and Professor e. d. Hogan, the aeronaut
arrived with moderate-sized bundle. II
was taken into the yard and spread out on
the grass, over which muslin had first been
placed. A pipe was run into an opening
in the balloon and gas forced into it. AT
10 o'clock Campbell ordered the supply OF
gas turned off. the opening was closed, the
ropes tested and bags fastened to the net
work which covered the inflated bag.
Professor Campbell and Hogan looked at
one another in silence. Campbell did not
seem at all concerned. His actions and
gestures seemed to say, well, in any event
it's no funeral in mine. l am not going to
navigate the air to-day"
TUE DEPARTURE.
Professor Hogan seemed to interpret
Campbell's thoughts, for as he stepped into
the car nervous tremor shook his frame.
The blood mounted slightly to his usually
palefac and his voice was husky, as taking
in a few sandbags, he said: Let her go. "
The ropes were cut and the airship darted
into space. The ascent was cheered by the
crowd. The balloon took a southeasteriy
course, although Hogan worked vigorously
turning crank, which kept the steering
apparatus and propelling wheels revolving,
with the hope that he could compel the
gasbag TO face the wind.
When over Hooper street about mile
distant, the wheel intended to raise and
lower the ship became detached and fell
into the yard of No. a of that street II
was picked up and taken by an officer 10
the nearest station house.
At 11:45 the airship was in fair way for
Coney Island, at an elevation of several
thousand feet. At the transfer office. Ora
ham avenue and Meserole street, it was
seen by reporter. 1t seemed turned on
end. A black streak about the size of a
rope was suspended from it. Occasionally
it could be seen reaching up to the netting
of the balloon, where it would remain fol
a time and then descend again. The
balloon was apparently overturned and the
moving object was the aeronaut, vainly en-
deavoring TO put the great airship in posi-.
ton again.
SEEN AT ASTORIA.
The balloon remained in sight until
1890, when it vanished from view, the
aeronaut still dangling from its meshes as
the big air-ship faded from sight At mid
night the balloon was seen lowering over
Astoria, the wind having during the twelve
hours veered to the south.
United States Commissioner Mueale was
one of the many spectators. He said that
at that time it was apparently stationary and
futtering like a dove.
The air-ship was the same used at the
polo grounds in this city on July 4th. Al
this time the projectors did not succeed in
obtaining a sufficient quantity of hydrogen
gas, from the fact that they attempted to
manufacture it by the immersion of iron
into acid.
The balloon was about 30x50 feet in area
and oval shaped. Beneath was a car OF
boat of the same length, fastened TO the
netting with ropes. Below the BOAT was
the wheel which became detached, and
perhaps had something to do with the
overturning of the ship. On one end was
wheel used for propelling purposes On
the other end was rudder.
1t was stated that the ship was operated
by the Edison electric motor Such was
not the case. The wheels, which are
shaped similar to those of screw propel-
Ter, are set in motion by turning crank in
the center of the car.