New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-20
DYNAMITE IN THE BALLOON.
THE THING WAS AFIRE AND THE CROWD
SCAMPERED.
ryTowARD END OF THE FIRST ATTEMPT a
RAINMAKING IN NEw-ENGLAND-THE Ex-

rNTOwARD END OF THE FIRST ATTEMPT n
RAINMAKING IN NEw-ENGLAND-THE Elk.
PERIMENTERs NOT DISCOURAGED.
Hartford. Conn, Aug. l9-The first experiment b
rainmaking in New England was tried at Bloom
field this morning. when several half-pound dyna-
mite cartridges were sent up attached to fire bal
Ioons The tobacco-growers had gathered in large
numbers. as probably the salvation OF the tobacco
cron already badly damaged by the intense heat
and the drouth, depends upon the result OF the ex'
pertinent The experiment was conducted by Ed
gene s Clark of Bloomfield, assisted by c. W.
Chapel of Meriden, an expert IN the use OF dynar
mite and William Stevens. OF New-iork' rep
resentatve of the Consolidated Fireworks Com
pany who sent up the balloons IN experimental
halloop was first sent up with large stone at
tached This assembled perpcndcularly about 1000
feet and then was carried to the south In fog
cloud.
A dynamite cartridge was then prepared. wire
was tied to the cartridge and tied TO the bottom OF
the balloon. Attached to the cartridge was ful'
inmate cap, and this fuse little over six feet
in length regulated to burn three feet each minute
The light was touched to the end of the fuse and
the balloon released. Ii sailed upward. and the
dangling fuse began to leave behind trail OF
smoke. 1t rose until at the end OF two and quar-.
ter minutes the red and white sphere changed II.
stantly into cloud of black smoke. The spectators
hard terrific report. Mr.. Chapel said the BAL
loon was about 1000 feet high when the cartridge
exploded A second balloon sent up. longer
fuse was used, and four and half minutes after
the balloon had been released the cartridge exc
ploded at an altitude OF about 5000 feet
The third cartridge sent up was as big success
as the ones before IT, and orders were given to the
experts to send up the remainder Of the fifty
balloons and cartridges as quickly IN succession as
possible The next balloon Uas prepared and re"
leased II rose dozen fee when II was caught
in "A current of air and sagged The paper near the
base took fire. and IT. moment the balloon began
TO descend while the flames began to envelop 1t
from bottom to top.
The mass OF fire with dynamite cartridge dam
Cling it created panic and scattered the crowd
in all directions. The long fuse kept eating It's
way toward the bomb. and it would be at least
four minutes before the cartridge would be touched
off in the regular way, but there was danger that
the fire from the balloon would ignite the fuse close
TO the cartridge. Mr.. Stevens and Mr.. Chappei
kept their wits about them, and as soon as the
fuse could be reached tore the cartridge from the
flames and the balloon sank to the ground a crum-
pied mass 1t was decided that IL would be TOO
risky to have a repetition OF the accident with peo-
pie standing around In danger, and the experiments
were cut short.
Ii has been decided to continue the experiments
another day with rockets. No rain has fallen, out
II is expected the results of the experiment VIII 10
made manifest within twenty-four hours