Evening star., 1894-01-06

those balloons were captured which were
low down through expended gas.
Illuminating Bombs and stfnkpots.
If the voyagers in a war balloon are op-
Grating at night and desire to get a clear
view of the camp or forts Of the enemy.
they have only to drop one Of the new IL
Illuminating bombs, which will explode on
reaching the earth and light up the sur
roundirgs with 100000 candle power. Then
perhaps they may let fall stinkpots. which
will set free volumes of poisonous and as
phyxiated gases. These are an ancient de-
vice, utilized by the Saracens In the middle
ages to the terror Of the crusaders. but
similar Internal contrivances are likely to
play part in future conflicts of nations
The French ''melinite" bombs on BURSTING
hberate most deadly fumes. Experiments
have shown that one of them will kill by
sunocation sheep and dogs within a radius
Of many yards. 1t has been suggested that
shells might be filled with stupefying but
harmless drugs, which, on exploding, would
put whole regiment or ships crew to
sleep. After being captured the foe could
be brought to by means of restoratives..
Maxim's Machine.
All such contrivances could be operated
TO the greatest advantage from balloons
The idea on which the famous Mr. Maxim
cylinder of aluminium containing a three
fourths vacuum. its collapse being pre-
vented by strong ribs inside. The machine
is to be propelled and steered by electric
gear. while sustained and balanced by the
wings of a great aeroplane. The inventor
expects to be able to fill his aerial car with
explosives and hover in IL over a city
which must pay ransom or be destroy ed
However, Prof. H A. Hazen of Washing.
al in
asserts that the aeroplsne idea, of which
Prof. S. p. Langley of the Smithsonian In
stitution is the foremost advocate. is i'm
practicable His opinion is that man mus,
initiate the bird IL he is ever to fly at ell
The soaring Of the bird, by which an
animal many times heavier than the air
is erabled to sustain itself motionless in
the latter medium on extended pinions. IL
as yet an unexplained phenomenon. II II
could be accounted for. light might be
thrown on the problem of human flight
Wonderfully clever mechanical birds, by
the way. which will actually fly quite a dis
tance have been made in France, but they
are only toys.
For Reconnoftering.
The United States signal Office has al
ready constructed balloons for reconnoi
tering. These are intended for ascents l,aUI
feet or So being anchored to the ground b,
a wire rope. through which a copper wire
runs. The latter affords telephone com
munication with the aerial car from which
the observer gives notification OF what h,
sees. In this way a full description of the
enemys formation, movements and FORTH
cations can be readily obtained. If desire.
the telephone wire may communicate witt
the headquarters of the commanding gener
al miles away. The whole apparatus is ear
ried in three wagons, one conveying IN,
balloon packed in a basket and the Others
containing cylinders filled with compress e
an ascent the balloon is taken out of tht
basket, attached to one of the cylinders AM
is inflated and ready within fifteen minutes
Sketch maps can pe sent down by the rope
Should balloons come into use in warfar'
they might be forbidden by internationa
law because too murderous. There woul.
be a great howl IL any nation should SEM
a flock Of airships to destroy a defenseles.
city by means Of bombs. On the othei
hand, such contrivances, IL once perfected
may be the means OF doing away with a!
wars, for the reason that the latter wouli
become too destructive. Thus resort woul.
have to be had to arbitration, instead u
violence. for settling the disputes Of riva
powers
Trying to Fly.
Man has been trying to fly ever since IN,
earliest historic times. The first notahl,
record OF an attempt in this direction de
scribes the artificial pigeon Of Archytas-a
famous geometrician of the Pythagorear
school. who fiourished 400 years B. c. III.
made a wooden bird, which. as Is alleged
flew by mechanical means. its buoyancy he
ing affected by magnets. But IL 1t fell .,
the ground II could not lift itself again
Under the reign Of Nero an inventor is SAID
to have flown in Rome, but he lost his lif,
in coming down-an unfortunate fatalit,
which seems to have terminated man,
ancient attempts at flying. The failure wal
attributed to his evil genius which tackled
him while aloft, taking him at disad
vantage.
John Muller is said to have constructe,
an artificial eagle at Nuremberg. which ner
out to meet the Emperor Charles V and &C
companied him back to town. Abou: th'
same period q monk named Elmerus new
about a furlong from the top of q tower IL
Spain. By means Of a pair of wings a per
SON named Dante Of Perouse was enable
to fly, and. while amusing the people u
that city with his aerial performances, n.
fell from the top Of st. Mary's Church IN:
broke his thigh.
1t has been gravely suggested that, viii
the help of trained BIRDS like the condor q
South America, which can carry on a sheer
or calf, man might be enabled to fly; bu
this plan would certainly be attended w.ss
danger, and up to date II has never beer
tried. RENE bASi'E-