Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 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 OPP
Grating at night and desire to get 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
roundirg s 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
iberate most deadly fumes Experiments
have shown that one of them will kill by
suffocation sheep and dogs within a radius
of many yards. 1t has been suggested that
shells might be filled with Supplying, 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
has been working for some time past is a
cylinder of aluminium containing a three
fourths vacuum, it's 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 aeropiane. 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 destroyed
However, Prof. H. A. Hazen Of Washing
ton, an accepted authority in aeronautics
hnf hA .lcr 90
Prof S. p. Langley of the Smithsonian In
stitution is the foremost advocate, is i'm
practicable. His opinion is that man must
initiate the bird If he is ever to fly at all
The soaring" of the bird, by which an
animal many times heavier than the air
is enabled to sustain itself motionless in
the latter medium on extended pinions, Is
as yet an unexplained phenomenon. If II
thrown on the problem of human flight
Wonderfully clever mechanical birds, by
the way, which will actually fly quite a dis.
lance, have been made in France. but the,
arc only toys.
For Reconnoitering.
The United States signal office has al
ready constructed balloons for reconnoi
! tering. These are intended for ascents NJ.
feet or so, being anchored to the ground b,
a wire rope. through which a copper wir.
runs. The latter affords telephone com
munication with the aerial car, from which
the observer gives notification OF what n
sees. In this way a full description of tn,
enemys formation, movements and fortii
| cations can be readily obtained. If desire.
the telephone wire may communicate wit
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 other
containing cylinders filled with compress =,
| hydrogen gas. When II is desired to MAX
| 1n hr1 fc he Is
| basket, attached TO one of the cylinders an,
| is inflated and ready within fifteen minutes
Sketch maps can DE sent down by the rope
Should balloons come into use In warfar
they might be forbidden by internatioue
law because too murderous. There wonl
be great howl IL any nation should sen,
| flock OF airships to destroy defenseles
city by means of bombs. On the othe
hand. such contrivances. II once perfected
may be the means of doing away with a!
wars. for the reason that the latter woul'
| become too destructive. Thus resort woul.
have to be had to arbitration, instead .
| 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 notahi
record Of an attempt in this direction lie
scribes the artificial pigeon Of Archytas-
| famous geometrician of the Pythagoreal
| 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 4
| the ground ii could not lift itself again
Under the reign of Nero an inventor Is sal
| to have flown in Rome, but he lost his VIZ
| in coming bowman unfortunate fatalit
which seems to have terminated man
ancient attempts at flying. The failure wa
| attributed to his evil genius which tackle
\ him while aloft, taking him at a disad
| vantage.
| John Muller is said to have constructe
an artificial eagle at Nuremberg. which heS
out to meet the Emperor Charles and &C
| companied him back to town. Abou. tn
same period q monk named Eimerus ne,
about a furlong from the top Of q tower d
| Spain. BY means Of a pair Of wings per
son named Dante OF Perouse was enable
| to fly, and, while amusing the people .
| that city with his aerial performances, n
fell from the top of st. Mary's Church IN
| broke his thigh.
| It has been gravely suggested that WIZ
| the help of trained birds, like the condor c
! South America, which can carry on shee
4 or calf. man might be enabled TO fly; hrl
| this plan would certainly be attended VIZ
danger, and up to date II has never bee
tried. RENE BACIiE.