The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12

the balloon, in order to hold it in position
while the imitation was going on, then,
when all was ready, these poles had to be
thrown down, alter the rope had been cut,
Within two months a local mechanic has
devised an arrangement which is n vast
improvement on the old method and does
away with one pole. He has set up G tall
pole, about seventy feet in height, and
from that there is a swinging arm about
ten feet long, which is dropped until it is
in horizontal position. In the free end
is pulley, on which runs a rope that is
connected with the ring at the top OF the
balloon, and by it the sphere is raised to
the required height The use of this, it
has been proved, saves time and mini
mixes the chances of danger, When it is
time to let go the rope that holds the bal
loon in place is freed, by one motion it is
pulled out of the ring, the arm is quickly
raised to a horizontal position and the in
hated bag can rise with its attachments.
The initiation of balloon sixty feet in
height is by means of hot air and smoke
produced by the use OF from fifteen to
twenty gallons of gasoline and kerosene,
according to the state of the weather, and
the time occupied in the imitation is from
twenty-five to forty-five minutes. That
also depends on the state OF the weather.
for the colder the atmosphere outside the
balloon the greater the time required in
initiating and the more fuel required. Di-
rectly below the suspended balloon is
driven into the ground an iron cylinder
having diameter of about three feet, and
this is the hue for the furnace beneath.
Running from the furnace there is dug in
the sand, or more solid earth, narrow
channel about three or four feet long, the
end farthest from the balloon ending in
deep pit. IN which stands the man who
feeds the furnace.
The balloon, having been hung from the
top, is stretched at the mouth to its capa-
city of extension and the edge held down
by circle of sacks of sand. This having
been done a circle of men and boys form
around the outside of the sphere and hold
it steady by means of straps sewed to it,
and it is also held by means OF guy ropes
to prevent it from swaying and coming in
contact with the flames from the furnace.
These preparations having been made "a
watch'' is placed inside the balloon, that
is man who holds wet sponge between
his teeth and covers his face with hand
kerchief-the sponge enabling him to
breath without inhaling the smoke, and
the handkerchief protecting his eyes from
the burning sensation that smoke pro-
duces.
His duty is to watch the height to which
the flames raise above the top of the cylin-
der, and to announce the fact to the man
in the pit who is the feeder. Ali being in
readiness for feeding the man in the nit.
who is provided with tin basin filed with
oil or gasoline, and has a small tin cup in
his hand, throws several cupsful of the
liquid into the furnace and then runs "a
mine to it, This is long piece of news
paper saturated with oil, and that is ig-
nited. Then the feeding is done in a
measured way by throwing a cupful of
liquid through the channel to the fur
mace, and afler that few seconds the
voice of the watch is heard cali
ing out 'tive feet" twelve feet" 'six