Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-03-03

balloon got a fair innings upon any war
like body Of men no country would,
after the trial, open bostilitios against
any other nation. Thus war, and also
the first army on which tho balloon
opened out, would be blotted from the
face Of tho earth.
After much experimenting Kulparker
at last had successful trial Of his auto
matte balloon IN the open country some
distance west Of New York. He used
wooden plugs instead Of dynamite car
tridges, 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
mischievoua boys whom the indignant
agriculturists thought were throwing
ths blocks Of wood.
Unfortunately at the time the auto
matio balloon was completed there was
no really first class war going on, and
Kulparker knew Of no people, tired Of
life, who wished 70 have the balloon
tried upon them. The China-Japan
struggle had been brought to a close
without the aid Of the automatic, and
Europe was In q state Of profound peace.
However, Il Is hard to discourage real
inventor, 80 Knlparker took a glance
over the universe and realized that, al
though It was but one horse affair at
the best, the Cuban rebellion offered him
the only chance Of a satisfactory test for
the balloon.
bis sympathies were with the rebels,
as all our sympathies are, and so no
opened communications with the Cuban
revolt committee in New York He saw
there most polished gentleman, Major
Kotanzes, who listened with interest TO
what Kulparker had TO say. The invent
or wanted $40, 600 for HIS patent and
the sample balloon. Major Kotanzcs
said he would gladly pay double pro
vided the balloon did all that was
claimed for It. If. therefore, Mr.. Kul-
parker would 60 to Cuba with his bal
loon and ripe out Spanish corps or
two, the money would be promptly pa
to him, and they would finish up the r.
bellion 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
a 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 OK
cuse he could make to the Spanish gov
eminent
The major blandly pointed out that
the Span. sh cruisers occupied themselves
with capturing innocent merchant YES
sells Of numerous neutral nations, thus
keeping the government at Madrid busy
apologizing, but that they never by any
chance hit upon real flibusterirg
schooner, and that the rebels up to dafe
had had no trouble in landing all the
munitions of war they wanted. II the
revolt committee sent over the balloon
without any ono to work it who under
stood its habits and customs, the trial
would doubtless be failure, and so nc
good would accrue to anybody, while
the Spanish troops. who sadly needed
amusement on the desolate plains
would be deprived Of the fireworks dis
play which would bring so much excite
ment into their camp, and, by blowing
them mp with dynamite, prevent theil
dying of ennui on fever. The COMMITTEES
was willing to pay Kulparker's ex
penses to Cuba and back, and, in thu
event Of success, 20 give him, in cash
double what he asked, which offer, thu
major poll sly insisted, was all that an.
| reasonable man could ask.
II wars had been plentiful, 1t is doubt
ful that Kulparker would have gone 4
Cuba but, as every one knows, the.
were deplorably scarce, so 1t was that O
nothing.
Knlparker was put aboard a lugge
from deserted sand dune in Florida
together with his balloon and abou
1000 rounds of dynamite cartridges.
was an anxious voyage, he knowing tha
there was such a quantity of sensitiv
explosive stuff in the hold, but the ms
jor proved to have been right abou
what he Eaid Of the vigilance Of tn
Spanish cruisers. The lugger lande
without molestation in a little cove o
the island, and scouts were sent out
find the whereabouts Of the rebel arm
on some part Of it. At last the deadl
apparatus was loaded on mules, an
thus they made for the hills, where IL
formation had been received that Ger
eral Carambo and his men were station
cd. Carambo was not in good hume
when the outfit arrived. he had jul
had a brush with the Spaniards, wh
were encamped in the valley, and a
though both sides had teleRraphed to II
. world at large that each had achieved
great victory General Carambo did NJ
appear satisfied with the result and hn
taken to the hills, while the Spaniar'
= were busy contracting yellow fever
, the valley.
When General Carambo found th
the committee had sent him a new fu
{ gled balloon and a tenderfoot 70 won
= Il, when what no wanted was aomethii
, to drink, he made no attempt 70 conce
r his anger. He wanted gunpOwder, n
] dynamite--in fact, he had never heai
! Of dynamite before.
{ II did not need Carambo's anger
. frighfen KSpalhr. Ho was alrea'
: nearly scared 70 death at the compal
' he found himself In. They seemed
: him q ragged, unkempt assortment
? colored brigands. Even the gener
1 himself had no boots on, and tho "
d lainoua looking guns with which th
: were armed added 70 their terrifyii
\ Ballard's SNOW LInIment.