Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-07-28
vOYAGING In THESKY
aALLooNlkc wlrH PROPER CARE 10
NOT DANGEROUS.


rcmcter-- Experiences ef Mr.. and Mrs
Carl Il. Myerv-P Playing shattieeoek Ne
tween Two Thanaercisnds.
Among the very few people who have
reduced aerial navigation to anything
like an exact science are Mr.. and Mrs.
Carl Z. Myers, who are now living on
Reid avenue, Brooklyn. BY series of
experiments stretching over a period OF
more than 10 years they have learned
to manage and guide balloon with
approximately the same accuracy that
sailor employs in guiding ship. the
emily element OF uncertainty being tho
weather. A reporter called ON tho
Myerses tew days ago TO learn some Of
their experiences and adventures in
cloudland.
He found them not at all like what
one would expect of people who pass
large portion of their lives in most
periious occupation. Mr.. Myers IL a
slender, rather short man about 40 years
old, with black side whiskers, the face
of scholar and a benevolent express
sion. Mrs. Myers. who was formerly
knowsa professionally as carlotta, is q
sweet faced woman, with keen gray
eyes, wavy brown hair and d bright,
eager manner in conversation. She
looks TO be about 80 years old. She does
not now make ascensions, having
stopped In 1891, but she helps her hus-
band In his experiments Mt his farm at
Mohawk, N. Y. In her career she has
taoAa txanro Shu.. rna ~
Myers has been mp among the clouds So
times himself snd has superintended up
ward OF 1900 aerial excursions. For
obseryational purposes and in pursuance
OF his studies in meteofology he still
makes his dangerous trips. although
indeed both he and his wife maintain
that ballooning, when carefully con-
Quoted, Is not dangerous occupation.
Neither OF them has ever been injured.
ITO an experienced aeronaut," says
Mr.. Myers, the danger is really no
greater than that OF sailing in small
boat. II is possible to navigate bal
loon by taking advantage Of the differ
ent air currents. and in going down the
bailoonist can steer by weights ON the
same principle as steering a canoe by
leaning TO one side or the other. The
| platform ON which the aeronaut stands
serves as the rudder. and by throwing
his weight TO one side or the other and
| thus slanting tbe platform he can guide
himself OF course his rising and fall
ing are controlled by the valves and the
sandbags."
| II illustration of this Mr.. Myers told
how his wife once followed course
mapped out for her by Peter c., Camp
bell of Brooklyn. who built the uirship
In which Ed Hogan went out 10 sea and
was lost four years ago. Mr.. Campbell
challenged Mrs. Myers 10 start from
East New York. go TO the city hall in
Brooklyn, thence mp the river, across
New York and to the Pennsylvania sta
ton in New Jersey, to tho city hall in
Jersey City, and finally 20 land in Se-
caucus. She made tho trip in less than
| an hour. and Mr.. Campbell gave her a
handsome gold badge as memento.
There are two or three rules always
to be observed In managing balloon, .
continued Mr.. Myers. First, be sure
that everything Is taut and shipshape
l aD1 ~ W CHtfAtiHAC t1HlAlCNE
for yourself-they are extremely decep.
tive when you are In the air. Refer &c
the barometer, which is the aeronaut' 4
compass, always. Tho most important
rnie OF all is, Never give up the ship.
No matter what happens, as long I'd
there Is anything left of your balloon
and you are still fastened to 1t, you've
got a chance"
"Have you ever had any unpleasant
experiences" asked the reporter.
Mrs. Myers has had more expert
ences than have"
Being appealed tos Mrs. Myers, aftel
a minute OF thought, said; "A very pc
cnliar aerial adventure once had wal
over Stafford Springs, Conn.,, wher,
two thunderclouds played battledool
and shuftleeock with mo and my bal
loon. Usually experience no difiicul
ties with electric clouds. Their terrors
diminish as you approach them, ant
when actually among them the dangei
is slight, II IL exists at all. In this In.
stance, however. got between an up.
per cloud and lower cloud, both heay
lily charged. and my balloon acted al
conductor between them. First,
would 20 sp TO the upper cloud and be
come charged with electricity and then
be repelled 20 the lower cloud, only 1.
be reeharged and bounced back to th.
upper again. played this elevator
game II times before the clouds 60
matters adjusted to their satisfaction
Then they let me go unhurt, but pretty
badly frightened by being made tn,
plaything Of such gigantic powers.
Another experience, more common
to balloonisfs and mere dangerous,
had ON the occasion OF the frat trial q
natural gas for ascension In 1888 a
Franklin, Pa" continued Mrs. Myers
The balloon was filled hurriedIy, ans
In some way the balloon cloth 60
caught over the valve, closing 1t.
went up too rapidly and tried to opes
the valve, but broke the cord. In snch |
case there 10 but one thing 10 do--kno
the ropes and keep the balloon from ex
panding to its full extent. Under ordi
nary conditions balloon half full q
the earth surface viii be fully expand
ed ct an altitude OF 81 miles becaus'
Of the decreased pressure Of ths atmos
phere. Hence BY knotting up the ballool
ropes the cubic area IL Diminished, an,
the gas begins to pour out sooner. Nel
wifhstanding my doing this. 20 fazt di.
tho balloon rise that II reached m alti