Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-12
WOODWARD'S AIR LINE.
A VENTURA BALLOONIsT TO CROSS
THE CONTINENT.
San Diego Gas to Furnish the Buoyancy.
The Would-Be Traveller Expects
to Start on Tuesday.

Robert ]. Woodward, the Ventura
county man who wants to cross the
American continent in balloon, as
briefly stated yesterday. was seen again
this morning by San Diegan represen-
tative, saysthat paper of Friday. Wood
ward was at work putting in the last
stitches in the canvas with which be
has surrounded the scaffolding. "This
is DONE" said he, sin order that the
wind will not toss the balloon about
when begin to initiate it. The balloon
is fine new one, and the silk, although
strong, must be looked after carefully"
The box containing the balloon was
lying on the sidewalk, having just been
brought up from the depot. The box is
not large, being about four feet in height
and some three and q half feet in width.
1t is addressed to "RobertJ. Woodward,
San Diego, Calif., " and just below the
address is written, "From the balloon
farm. of Carl E. Meyers, Frankfort,
N. Y"
In the rear of Magwood's second
hand store are the two great wings, or
oars as Woodward calls them, with
which he is going to steer the balloon.
They are made of bamboo, and are COW
cred with canvas. Both oars are exact
ly alike and each one contains about
| 38 or 40 square feet of canvas. They
\ are very light.
The knack of handling these oars is
what Woodward largely depends upon
| in making q successful voyage. Said
he: II know just bow to handle these
oars. am an expert oarsman upon the
water, and have made thorough test
of this invention of mine. Tho handle
of the oar will be attached to the car in
about the same manner as a common
oar is upon boat. It is difficult mat
ter to prevent balloon from wabbling
in the air, but with these wings can do
it. do not know how long it will
take me to make the trip, neither
do care. At this season
of the year the prevailing
winds are from the west all over the
country. am going up to Signal Off
Ger Hearne's Office this afternoon and
get some pointers from him as to the
local currents. Just before start, Mon
day or Tuesday of next week, I will tele-
graph all over the country to learn the
direction OF the wind. will only take
provisions enough to last me two or
three days. I will also carry ther-
mometer, barometer, compass and
watch. have been a miner in Colo
rado and worked a mine at an eleva-
ton of 1900 feet, and know what it is
to endure hardship. / travelled 900
miles in the dead of winter in Colo
RADIO before that country was set
tied and think know how to
take care of myself. / have lived in
California for the mast four vaara and
have wife. but no children. If reach
the Atlantic coast safely will cross the
ocean. This is not a money-making
scheme of mine, neither do / seek noto-
riety. If successful, the trip may be the
means of my making money. have
studied over the trip for ten years past
and now lam going. can't tell you
the exact moment 1 will start. / don't
know myself. It will be early in the
day when 1 do get away. in order to have
the advantage of the sea breeze"
Woodward was born in the state of
New York. He does not know his exact
age, but is probably trife over 40. He
il of nervous temperament, with pierc.
ing blue eyes. He is of medium stature,
and dresses in neat, but plain clothing.
He is not heavy man, but is wiry
and muscular. His manner of address
is pleasing, but his speech quick and in
dicative of frmness of character. He
has all the characteristics of frontiers
man, and the education of an average
man of that stamp.
When asked if his life was insured he
laughed and said: ''No; they wouldn't
insure it. scarcely think it necessary,
however, f r a