The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-01

operator aoes not have to expend power
IN forcing the balloon filled with gas and
the alrship attachment against the wind.
This is the reason that the inventor has
gone SO high when experimenting with
his ship. He tells me that at a great
height he can go against the wind with
comparative ease, but that at 300 or 400
feet from the ground he is compelled to
use UP great deal of power"
The subject uppermost in the generals
mind, the freeing of Cuba from Spain,
came to the surface in the conversation,
and the attorney said that "the inventor
Is likely at any time to pack up b is smaller
airship and start for the scene of blood
shed and trouble"
ut can be easily DONE" he said. 'sIn
the first place the material of the outfit is
light, and the ship can readily be packed
in cases and shipped away by rail without
attracting the least attention, and it would
take but short time to put it together
again."
How could this be done when your
power,is storage battery that will only
last six hours?'' was asked.
There would be no difficulty about
that was the response. "Thes Fargo
storage. battery can be recharged any,
where where there is an electric-light wire,
and there are electric power and lighting
plants in all of the towns from here to
Arizona, and from Arizona to the South
ern States.
''The whole apparatus of the twenty
horsepower Fargo battery does not weigh
over 125 pounds, and the storage battery
proper can be carried in your overcoat
pocket, it not weighing over three pounds.
Each section weighs but little more than
sodawater bottle filled with water. He
could come into this Office and charge his
entire battery by tapping one of those in
candescent:light wires. So, you see that
he could take his ship across the continent
without any trouble at all. Speaking of
the expedition to Cuba reminds me that
already 1 am beginning to receive lettors
from people who desire to go volunteers
in the new aerial navy. Here is one. /
will read it to you, but not give the writ
er's name:
MADEIRA 11-29-'96.
w. H. H. Hart-DEAR SIR: If 1t is possible
please consider me as a volunteer for the
party in the airship to go to Cuba. 1 am 40
strength. Am fairly educated man, a good
| telegraph operator, stenographer and type
writer operator. understand that 1T will be
a very hazardous enterprise, but believe me,
there is no danger that l am not perfectly
willing and glad to face.
l shall fear no hing and will GO anywhere
and do anything my superiors may command
or desire 1t does not matter to any one If
am killed, as have no ties. I have no FAM
ily relatives or persons relying upon me. and
for that reason alone 1 should be sent ]
viii take any obligation as to secrecy, faith
fulness, ETC.. and willingly answer with my
life for it. High attitudes do. not affect me.
Please let me hear from you at your earliest
convenience. Most respectfully, -.
"Will you engage him?"
az Will not. l will hand his letter over
to the inventor, and he will do with the
proposition as he sees fit. l have no
doubt but what, as he is related to The
electrician of Maceo's army, all the ar
rangements were made as TO the crew and
other details before he came to this part
of the continent. As have said before,
he came here to test his airship in the
high attitudes, the lower heavier strata OF
air and the logs from the ocean. He
wanted to test it under ocean conditions.
In the East the wind blows from the land
to the sea. but here it blows in from the
sea, and in an expedition over Cuba he
wants to be thoroughly familiar with
ocean atmosphere. The last time l saw
the inventor his purpose was to operate
his ship in the high, dry atmosphere over
the southern part of the State, and from
the Geographic accounts in THE CALL he
must be there now with one Of his air
ships. We are told that his lights have
been seen by hundreds in Los Angeles
County, and have no idea that they were
jack o. lanterns or fakes"