Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1895-12-27

So much for the motive power. The
armament consisted of tube through
which was dropped at satisfactory in
tervals regulated by clock-work mech
anism, dynamite cartridge which eN-
ploded when it hit the earth. The bal
loon, when fully loaded, contained fifty
dynamite cartridges, and Kulparker's
idea was that the balloon could be sent
III any direction high above an army,
dropping dynamite down upon the
troops from it's elevation above rifle
shot, thus bringing discomfort, confu-
sion, and perhaps humiliation, upon the
enemy. Kulparker believed that the
moment his balloon got fair innings
upon any warlike body of men, no coun-
try would, after the trial, open HOSTILE
ties against any other nation. Thus
war, and also the first army on which
the balloon opened out, would be
blctted from the face of the earth.
After much experimenting Kulpar-
ker at last had a successful trial of his
automatic balloon in the open country
some distance west of New York. He
used wooden plugs instead of dynamite
cartridges, and they came down all right
at the proper intervals, although they
nearly sacrificed several Industrious
farmers who did not know what struck
them, and who vainly searched for the
mischievous boys whom the indignant
agriculturist thought were throwing
the blocks of wood.
Unfortunately, at the time the auto
matte balloon was completed there was
no really frst-class war going on, and
Kulparker knew of no people, tired of
life, who wished to have the balloon
tried upon them. The China-Japan
struggle had been brought to close
without the aid of the automatic, and
Europe was in state of profound peace.
However, it is hard to discourage real
inventor, SO Kulparker took glance
over the universe, and realized that
although it was but one-horse affair
at the best, the Cuban rebellion offered
him the only chance of satisfactory
test for the balloon. His sympathies
were with the rebels, as all our SYM
pathies are, and so he opened conlmu-
nications with the Cuban revolt COM
mittee in New York. He saw there
most polished gentleman, Maj. Kotan-
yes, who listened with interest to what
Kulparker had to say. The inventor
wanted twenty thousand dollars for his
patent and the sample balloon. Maj.
Kotanzes said he would gladly pay
double, provided the balloon did all
that was claimed for it. If, therefore,
Mr.. Kulparker would go to Cuba with
his balloon 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 patent automatic.
Kulparker demurred at this. He had
no desire to visit Cuba at that moment.
There was danger of being captured by
Spanish cruiser before they reached
the land, and in that case, with the bal
loon and dynamite in his possession,
Kulparker did not rightly see what ex-
cuse he could make to the Spanish gov
eminent.
The major blandly pointed out that
the Spanish cruisers occupied them
selves with capturing innocent mer-
chant vessels of numerous neutral ma
tons, thus keeping the government at
Madrid busy apologizing, but that they
had never hit upon real filibuster-
ing schooner, and that the rebels up to
date had had no trouble in landing all
the munitions of war they wanted. If
the revolt committee sent over the bal
loon without anyone to work 1t who
understood its habits and customs, the
trial would doubtless be failure. and
so no good would accrue to anybody,
while the Spanish troops, who sadly
needed amusements on the desolate
plains, would be deprived Of the fire.
works displayed which would bring so
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 reasonable man could ask.
Ifwars had been plentiful, it is doubt
full that Kulparker would have gone to
Cuba, but, as every one knows, they
were deplorably scarce, so it was that,
or nothing.
Kulparker was put aboard lugger
from a deserted sand dune in Florida,
together with his balloon and about
one thousand rounds of dynamite car
tridges. It was an anxious voyage,
he knowing that there was such
quantity of sensitive explosive stuff in
the hold, but the major proved to have
been right about what he said of the
vigilance of the Spanish cruisers. The
lugger landed 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 it.
At last the deadly apparatus was loaded
on mules, and thus they made for the
hills, where information had been re-
ceived that Gen. Carambo and his men
were stationed. Carambo was not in
good humor when the outfit arrived.
He had just had brush with the Span
iards, who were encamped in the valley,
and, although both sides had tele-