Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-11-30
KULPARKER'S AUTOMATIC BALLOON.

tanzes said he would gladly pay double
provided the balloon did all that was
claimed for II. II, therefore, Mr.. Kul.
parker would 60 to Cuba with his bal.
loon and wipe out Spanish corps or
two the money would be promptly paid
to him, and they would finish up the
rebellion In brilliant style with the Pat.
ent Automatic.
Kulparker demurred at this. He
had no desire to visit Cuba at that mo.
ment. There was danger Of being cap.
tured by . Spanish cruiser before they
reached the land, and In that case, with
the balloon and dynamite In his pos.
session, Kulparker did not rightly see
what excuse he could make to the
Spanish Government.
The major blandly pointed out that
the Spanish cruisers occupied them,
selves with capturing innocent mer.
chant vessels Of numerous neutral ma.
lions, thus keeping the government at
Madrid busy apologizing, but that they
never by any chance hit upon a real
fillbustering schooner, and that the
rebels up to date had had no trouble
In landing Ill the munitions Of war they
wanted. II the Revolt Committee sent
over the balloon without any one to
work It who understood Its habits and
customs. the trial would doubtless be
q failure, and 30 no good would accrue
to anybody, while the Spanish troops,
who sadly needed amusement on the
desolate plains, would be deprived Of
the fireworks display which would
bring 10 much excitement into their
camp. and, by blowing them up with
dynamite, prevent their dying Of ennui
or fever. The committee were willing
to pay Kulparker's expenses to Cuba
and back. and, In the event Of success,
to give him, In cash, double what he
asked, which offer, the major politely
insisted, was all that any reasona bic
man could ask.
II wars had been plentiful, It is
doubtful that Kulparker would have
gone to Cuba, but. as every one knows,
they were deplorably scarce, 20 It was
that or nothing.
Kulparker was put aboard a lugger
from deserted sand dune In Florida,
together with his balloon and about
1000 rounds Of dynamite cartridges. Il
was an anxious voyage, he knowing
that there was such quantity Of sen.
sitive explosive stun in the hold, but
the major proved to have been right
about what he said Of the vigilance Of
the Spanish cruisers. The lugger land.
ed Without molestation In little cove
on the island, and scouts were sent out
to find the whereabouts Of the rebel
army, or some part Of II. At last the
deadly apparatus was loaded on mules,
and thus they made for the hills, where
Information had been received that
Gen. Carambo and his men were sta.
toned. Carambo was not In good hui.
NOR when the outfit arrived. He had
just had . brush with the Spaniards,
who were encamped In the valley. and.
although both sides had telegraphed to
the world at large that each had achiev.
ed . great victory, Gen. Carambo did
not appear satisfied with the result and
had taken to the hills, while the Span.
iards were busy contracting yellow
fever In the valley.
When Gen. Carambo found that the
committee had sent him q new.fansled
balloon and q tenderfoot to work Il,
when what he wanted was something
to drink, he made no attempt to con.
ceal his anger. He wanted gunpow.
der, not dynamite; In fact he had never
heard Of dynamite before.
1t did not need Carambo's anger to
frighten Kulparker. He was already
nearly scared to death at the company
he found himself In. They seemed to
him q ragged, unkempt assortment Of
colored brigands; even the general him.
self had no boots on, and the villainous
looking guns with which they were
armed added to their terrifying ap.
pearance. II these barbarous cut.
threats were fighting for liberty. Kul.
parker wondered what sort Of liberty
they would establish when they got II.
Gen. Carambo CURLY ordered him to
get bis bag Of tricks In working order
and lot him see what there was In Il,
warning him at the same time that II
there was any skull.duggery about II,
Kulparker would be instantly shot, and
the general would do himself the hap
piness Of apologizing to the United
States for the action later on. With
trembling hands, Kulparker got his gas
machine In operation and inflated the
balloon. while the rebels looked on with
scarcely disguised contempt. At last
the balloon arose with the fan whirling
and moved against Q light sephyr to.
ward the Spanish camp. Its unfoStu.
nate inventor watched It with intense
interest for he felt that bis life depend.
ed on its actions.
"How soon will 1t begin to shoot"
asked Gen. Carambo.
1T ought to begin in about ten min.
utes," said Kulparker. looking ct his
watch.
Every well. II 1t doesn't commence
then, We WILL" replied the general ON.
inously. I'VE are not here to be trinsd
with"
To inspire confidence In the inven.
tors mind the rebel general ordered Q
hle OF his rufaans to cover Kuiparker
with their guns, and to hre when hs
gave the order. Much a. the unlucky
scientist wished for an adequate test
for his balloon, he did not yearn for Il
under these conditions, and It 10 prob.
ably the only case ON record where Q
man on the solid earth was In more