The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-04

THAT BALL OF FIRE
PROFESSOR FIND OUT EXPATIATEs
ON THE PHENOMENON.

ON THE PHENOMENON
Just . Story Though There are Flying Ma
chimes Being Attempted Upon sh~ Lines
He sussesu- Fact Fiction sd Fnu
sion Of the Late M~.sor,c Display
Three Dangers of electricity With -
spiral Mosion-Maehine Te.vsis 500
Miles In One and Oas- Haif Seconds.
The following letter to che Eagle gives
full scientific treatise OF the late me
teor whioh passed over this city:
Murkey Gulch. Kan. July 1. 1897
Friend Ginck:-You have been fully
advised through correspondence conduct
ed Tor years past Of my electrical expert
ment and my undoubted belief that my
electric boat, or il you prefer TO call II.
flying machine. would prove a success.
My first experiments were made 10 Sc
cure with electric aid q spiral upward
movement, and being successful with 1t
I found horizontal layers OF electricity.
the frst only one mile above the earth,
and heavily charged. The second one
mile higher charged. and only At an al
tituds Of two miles with . third layer OF
much less volume three miles above the
earth, as ascertained by barometrSs in
dicatiOns.
To obtain an approximate calculation
Of the number Of volhs 20 be found In the
| first or lower strata, the engineer and
myself always observed before going up
how much electricity was exhibited in
the tails of our horses. then our pet black
cat had her fur rubbed one way, with a
sudden reversible action soon after.
Tho next and last object noticed was
our red headed girl seated on the pump.
| II her hair riz from stroking it the wrong
way. and she screamed the conditions
were all right for a supiral ascension OF
our boat. described the boat to you
| as being built like stern wheeler with
innumerable fans for propulsion, worked
by an electric engine and in the bow was
a large bulls eye lantern similar to tina;
on q locomotive. and behind II was To-
Gated the refrigerator tank filed with
ice TO cool the electric current Is IT pass
ed from engine to bulls eye.
It is needless to say THAI my first flight
was not a success. as % many witness-
ed 1t. Neither was 1t a failure. but II
Nigh be described as no Ensushmans
drink Of half and bait.
| Last week we intended % take only a
spiral upward ride near to The first hor-
izontal layer OF electricity. and as I was
busy with matters connected with the
boat. / left 10 the engineer the duty OF
estimating approximately the amount OF
electricity in it. by observing horses
tails and stroldng the cat and red head
cd girl.
When the engineer came aboard the
boat he failed to report the prevailing
atmospheric conditions. and failed to
ask him conssrnig II 50 thinking all
was well the anchor was tripped and the
boat swung around in sympathy With
the spiral current, giving Us q most
beautiful and pleasant sensatton which
can only be described (and appreciated
by ono who has been there) BY one who
goes to bed spiritually full and then
finds bed. chairs tables. lap. ETC.. all
gyrating In circular whirl. AS we
| were ascending tho engineers mind be
came enerossed on subjects disconnect-
ed with his duty; he failed to regulate
/ our elevation by the lower brake and
| We reached the hrst lower horizontal
strata. As soon as we did so our boat
vac thrown from its upward spiral
| movement on a tangent. bows on along
the horizontal layer. The engine work
ell with ehe additional supply OF cleo
tricity SO fast that the fans action made
more revolutions per second than Fly
could with the movement OF its wings in
keeping pace with a locomotive running
at a speed Of 100 miles an hour. AS we
had not contemplated making this trip,
our refrigerator had only two tons OF
ice, and the greater supply OF electricity
passing through it to the bulls eye Ian
tern a11ead, caused II 20 Immediately
melt. thereby creating Q vacuum In the
REFRIGERATOR and tt had to burst. blowing
out our bulls eye viameter. myself and
the unfairhfui engineer. Il was fortu-
nate that he and I were so completely
filed with the electric fluid. as by the
explosion Of the refrigerator / struck a
hayrick about 200 yards long. estimated,
and burned a hole clean through IL and
when emerged the hay had cleaned me
OUT Of all my electricity. Then on look
ing about found near me the viameter
registering chat n one and one-han sec
onds We had accomplished the unpre-
cedensed distance Of 800 miles. My next
thought was Of my engineers fate. and
looking up I saw him seated on the top
his bones by the electric current. and
tho flames of the burning hay was tast
reducing the bones 10 aches.
The supposed meteor which passed
over Wichita was only my boat in which
I took my first ride involuntary. The
bali Of Are was the electric rays passing
through the bulls eye. and the cannon
like noise heard was from the bursting
Of the refrigerato tor. and the swishins
sound following in the work was made
by the fans, by q current OF 2s0,o00 voi1
ascertained by estimation. the me7eor
registering the amount having melted
and become no est.
1 now have only $l0o. 600 for another
investment. and will experiment IN
no pes OF being sele by electrical aid 90
reaoh r:aen orth pole and for planting on
that pole the flag Of Eplur1ous Ununn.
Your friend.
PROFESSOR FTNDOUT.
P. S. Applications wifi b. received
and considered Cor appointment % en-
giaser Cor my next boat. ou; such from
"a; men viii DOT Be considered. to- n
case Of accideR, cnsir suffering might
be prolonged
p. S. secondly. AZ. Hutchir son and