The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-10-04
ROWING IN THE AIR.
Farmer Woodward Confident That He Can
Propei His Balloon with Oars

From The San Francisco Examiner.
X. J. Woodward, the ballooniSt, who is
determined to prove that the trip to the
Atlantic coast can be made by air, made
another ascension this morning 1t viii be
remembered that Mr.. Woodward made his
first trial some weeks ago, but that tho
balloon was too small to admit of Storing
sufficient gas to carry him and It sufficient
supply of provisions. He was not diScour-
aged but Immediately ordered Il larger bal
loon, and remained in this city awaiting It's
arrival. 1t was received a week ago, and
since that time he has been filling II and
completing arrangements for Il second trial.
The balloon is nearly doubles the size of
the nrst one and has Il capacity Of 10000
cubic feet of gas The past few days have
been consumed in filing the balloon by pass
ing the gas through Stacked lime and
powdered charcoal to remove impurities
and make it more buoyant. This morning
was the time fixed for the departure and at
an early hour Il large crowd had gathered
ON the vacant ground at Eighth and &
streets, where the balloon had betSr mOOrCd,
to witness the ascension. Mr.. Woodward
sad he intended to make an experimental
TRIP, but IL everything proved satisfactory he
would so as lar as the currents would car
~ him. He had, therefore, provided him
self with three days provision, a five gal
lon can of water, Il thermometer, an ane-
rod barometer, blankets, etc. These were
put III the cage with several sacks of sand
vas paddles or wings, which are the unique
feature of Woodward's aerial ship, the
DARING aeronaut stepped i'll and said, Let
her go!
The men at the ropes looscd their holt.
and as the huge yellow bag rose graceful
ly IN the air the crowd cheered heartily.
and MIR. Woodward stood UP in the cage
and waved his hat in response. AT the
heighth OF 100 feeC be experimental with
the wing These huge paddles, whose
blades, made OF canvas stretched on bamboo
frames, measure 5XG feet, we're fixed in the
same manner as the oars to a racing shell
ana worked IN the same manner.
On reaching the height mentioned the
baliOonist seized the handles Of the wings
and Strengthened them out until the blades
were in a horizontal position, forced them
quickly upward, and the resistance of the
air, acting on the wings in lie same man
nef as water against pair of oars, forced
the balloon downward. This operation was
repeated several times, the balloon being
perceptiby lowered each time. He then
reversed the movements, and rapidly work
ing tn paddles o wings downward, and for
ced the balloon upward. This experiment. evil
IDENTIFY proving satisfactory, he sat down in
the cage, the balloon slowly ascending to
a height of 1000 feet.
The day was very calm, the signal service
reporting the velocity of the wind at but
two miles an hour, When near Twenty
eighth street it began to move out over the
bay. and by the aid of Il glass it was seen
that the occupant of the cage was doing some
very lively hustling. As The balloon ascen-
ded il drftpd in a northeaSterly direction
until the height stated was reached. when
il enterd the SoutEerly current and started
towards Mexico at a lively gait. First
came n shower of sand from the ballast
bag. and. as the sir shin again assembled he
seized the oars, and if the same exertiOn
had been expended in a rowing boat against
HaiIon the latter would not have been i'll