Omaha daily bee., 1892-04-02
0EkMINr,s mIR R4LLOONs.
An American Professor Claims the Aerial
Ship as Ills Invention.

An American Professor claims the Aerial
Ship as His Invention.
e BALTIMORE, Md, April 1.-Prof. William
Hill OF this city says he believes tho war bal
looms from which the Germans have been
observing the Russian fortihcations and ar
mics are his own invention. He declares
that the descriptions OF the balloons in the
Associated press dispatches from Europe CO.
incido with the plans which no perfected
some time aro ana submitted to Chief Won
Lindcnburg Of tho ncronautical department of
the army. Continuing Prof Hill said:
~ first conceived the idea of inventng a
balloon that could be steered in any way, at
tho Malta riots in New Orleans in March,
1891. There was some talk ut tho time, in
view of possible hostilities between tho
United States and Italy, of the coming of an
ironclad and bombarding New Orleans.
This suggested to mo that such an ironclad
could be destroyed by dropping torpedoes on
1t from balloon, and l at once pogan to
make plans for balloon which could be fit
ted out as an aerial torpedo ship, and in June,
1871, my plans were completed
"l Mt once determined to offer my plans to
tho United States, aud in July,a month after
my invention was perfected,1 went to Wash
ington and called ut the War department. |
saw the assistant secretary of war, and ho
referred me to Captain Knight of tho United
StaleS engineer corps. captain hnlEnt re-
ierred me to Mr.. f.. l.. Chanute of Chicago,
who, he said, was the leading expert of tho
country in aerial navigation. | wrote to Mr..
Chanute and inclosed my drawings and
plans. few weeks afterwards received a
long letter from him, in which he said he had
approved of the mechanism which | had de-
vlsed, but doubted If the form of the paddle
with which l proposed TO propel tho balloon
would be adequate to the purpose. | then
changed the designs so as TO both steer and
M Dnlf Ia hnl n G Nr.Nt nlln.g
a new plan.
"In November, 1891, applied to Herr Won
Mum, German charge d'afIaires at Wash
ington, and asked him il the German govern
ment could not take up my plans. He told
ne he was no judge of such matter, but do
cided that if my invention would accomplish
what claimed 1t was the very thing tho
German government was looking for. |
mailed all my plans, drawings and descrp-
tions to Germany in December I hoard
nothing until February, although had par
ticularly requested Won Lndennurg of tue
eronautical department to return. my plans -
If rejected as soon as possible l then re-
ceived big Official package from Berlin COM
tanning my plans and letter from Chief
Won Lindenburg, IN which he stated in sub
stance that my invention was not adapted
for use on the other side OF the ocean.
"rhe German balloons were used exactly
for the purpose l had outlined 10 my com
muncation to Chief Won LindenbUrg, and |
had particularly suggested that the Germans
could use the balloons for examining the for
fcations of neighboring powers. The bal
loon which Planned was cigar-shaped. The
case was $50 long and about 30 feet wide
The bag of silk was to be filled with hydro
gen gas. The car was made of steel rods
and was attached to the bag with steel up
paratuS."