Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24
CHAPTER ".
A NEW DISEASE

A NEW DISEASE.
No mention has been made of the fact
that this new form of what might be called
flying, but which was, in reality. motion
much more steady, had brought its newt
able nausea The excitement of the contest
with the flock of birds, added to the de-
cision in regard to the matches. had put
this abhorrent feeling to fight from our
travellers
II is 8 curious circumstance that the hu-
man frame must undergo new tortures in
accommodating itself to new conditions
The slightest change throws the mechanism
out of gear. Commonplace seasickness is
our most evident illustration Of this. The
rocking railroad train is another. A fever,
often of a malignant type, prostrates the
Europeans who land upon the west coast of
Africa or penetrate the jungles of Ceylon.
There is certain odd sensation which at
tacks sensitive organisms when they ride
upon the electric street car An elevator
creates its own maladies for the passengers.
The aeronaut has his peculiar sensations
when the balloon leaves the clouds, as
specks, under him.
Judge, then, whether this airship shall
"
be the parent of q new disease.
At the moment when Sergeant Willtwig
mentioned so common a matter as clothes,
he relieved tie strain upon the thoughts of
the party, and the Unique motion now
Cripped their minds and clutched their
bodies and prostrated them.
The shock was as inexplicable as seasick-
ness, and as subtle as nostalgia. This NAL
ndv, which has been hitherto unknown, and
20 which we give the name ''air sickness"
now attacked them ferociously. Sud-
denly, everything spun black before
Eheir ewes. Their throats became parched;
their heads swan; their hands and feet be-
came nerveless; their hearts palpitated
iercely. The four men in the main room of
the car sank into heaps and groaned.
Professor Wilder alone, sustained hitherto
not only by the conversation, but also by
the excitement of guiding his monstrous
aerial creation, withstood the indisposition.
He concentrated his attention upon the in
tricate machinery ahead, as he piloted his
mercurial ship. Once, only, he looked at
his companions, then he turned away, for
he felt dizziness, like a serpent, creeping
upon him.
Here were two rudders which be had to
control, whatever happened. The one de-
termined the direction of his ship; the
OlueT, llS alIltuqe. Inc slightest deviation
of the latter might send the vessel gallop-
ing to the moon, or crashing to the earth
Jnst like the rudder of q yacht it needed
she constant pressure of the hand.
Here was a condition unforeseen. Here
was an uncalculsted calamity. Shall air
sickness disable the crew and wreck the e1-
pedition? When all difficulties have been
conquered, when all things have been ae-
compiished-swhat an irony is this! Surely,
there is some power more intelligent than
cold and ice that protects the inaccessible
wastes of the North Pole, that extends its
baleful influence even unto the invaders of
the air.
Prof Wilder "a nervous little man, with
fine eyes and intelligent, sandy face and
sander whiskers) looked out of the win
dow. He did not know what to DO. Far
below the restless water of the lake re-
fected the sun. There was evidently no
time for him to pilot the airship to the
land, before helplessness would overtake
him too. He ground his teeth in the agony
of the prospect. HIS companions. even
the uncOnquerahle Sergeant, were pros
trate, helpless, perhaps insensible. They
CID not care whether they lived or died.
But the Aerspole could not'travel un-
guided. To keep up at all it had to go
ahead. There was no time for considera-
tion, for choice. A fearful spasm of the
heart and convulsion of the head warned
him. Blackness began to film his eyes.
He reached out his head to retard the YES