The morning news., 1897-08-15
AERIAL EXPRESS TO KLoNDlKE
AERONAUT LEO STEVENS TO DE-
LIVER GOODS.

ChiIcat IL KIOndike Cargo
Weighing LOO Pounds.
New York. Aug. 1.-THE last of this
month, or the first of next. l expect to so
to Klondike in a balloon
While the steamships are overcrowded
and the cars packed to suffocating, shall
be where there is plenty of air % breathe
and where 1 shall rot be cramped for ell
bow room. l shall be soaring 10 the gold
fields, thousands of feet above the rest
of the goldward- bound travellers!
The terms of my trip are these: A syn
dicate of Fulton street business men,
headed by N. Miner, a business man of
New York city, proposes to ship provis-
ions TO Klondike, and I agree to transport
them there Tor him. l agree to get them
there by balloon in three days, while he.
iourneying by sail, takes three weeks or
three months to make the same trip. /
am to go to Alaska with my packet and
TO return for another. l am to take as
many cargoes as can, and to receive
certain sum for each bale of goods 1 de-
liver in safety in the gold fields
AS every one knows, they are freezing
in Klondike and starving. The suferings
this winter, after the Yukon becomes un-
navigable will be something terrible TO
oontemplate. Where one man survives
hundred will perish. With gold in their
eager hands they will fail to the ground
faint for lack of nourishment and shiVer-
ing for the warmth which gold cannot sup
ply.
Any company that can succeed III se'-
ting food and warm clothes out 10 lnese
miners this winter will make fortune
The first man to land a cargo of sealskln
coats. ready for wear and half ton OF
Tea whisky and vegetables viii bring PACK
mare gold than any one man has been
| able to dig 4t,,ra
Mr. Miner proposes to send me OUT 'hele
with these things. So anxious. Is ne ~
have me succeed that ne olaeI' PI't 5r hi
| centaee of the ultimate pronts. but p'l-
| 1oortst does not do business in TINS way.
| / cav TO him: you pay me so much anu
| I will land the cargo of stun IN Alasha pS
| balloon No and, no pay! For each 'rlp
| I demand a certain sum. You nave -
trust me to so to Alaska, instead oi 70
| E1lorida. and in return l give you my uie'
| for if l fail it Will be ole Win Ile 'ii9
! and no mistakei" .,.....,
The proposal is to start from Chlcat with
| a balloon containing ul20'OJO cuD4c leeu u
gas. An assistant and myself VIII occupy
| the basket which is suspended oeioW tLe
| balloon Beneath the basket VIII mans
the bundle of goods.
| 10 manufactHre this balloon, there was
purchased from New York concern 2,5OO
| yadrs of the finest six, very light ana very
| closely woven. These goods are very
| strong The balloon Is to be painted win
| a new gutta-percha mixture, Whlch VIII
| make it as alright as boiler Inc net
| ling. instead of being the ordinary knotted
| cordage which wears and chafes, will be
| fat webbing. The advantage OF such ma
| terial can readily be appreciated. Inc
| balloon will be globe-shaped, with a neck
| seven feet long, which very nearly reaches
| the basket About twenty-five Ieet peioW
| the car will be attached the merchandise.
| We can easily carry 1,7OO pounds of goods.
| The trip will take us between two ana
three days, and our provisions Will be
| canned goods. beef and crackers lemons,
| whiskey and apples. With these, Whch
| are nourishing yet not heavy we can noat
| with the winds for three days and not sur
fer from lack of sleep. II we need 70 ooze
| off for an hour or so my assistant ana /
| can "spel.' each other. one remaining on
watch all the time. This IS necessary for
| fear of reverse current
| We do not expect to make the trip all
in one straight line, ffiSe rocket shooting
from its holder. 1t may take US four or
| five days We may have to cast anchor
| ana wait another wind, or we may have
to return for more gas, but this latter
| case / do not think probable.
| Our trip would have to be made on a
| favorable wind. After settling upon the
| point from which We will start-the eX-
| act spot-we must wait until the wind Is
blowing towards the northwest. Then as
| soon as we observe the right current we
| must make inquiries of the United States
| weather bureau upon the probable
| strength and durability Of the wind; then
quickly filling the balloon, we must arise
ana away.
The cost Of the expedition, exclusive
| of the goods. will be something like
this The wind guys. ropes. basket, bal
last bags and hydrogen gas generator VIII
| cost about $3.50. The balloon will be the
| ordinary one. but would require triple
coat of gutta-percha. This will make II
| as tight as a drum, and in five days |
will not lose more than 1000 feet of gas.
This will leave me plenty for a descent
| and plenty in case of accident, In strik-
| ing an adverse wind current.
| The merchandise is, | understand, TO
| be purchased in New York city and
| shipped across 10 San Francisco. Mr..
| Miner. however, being a business man,
| may conclude to purchase further west,
| and not so very far from the point of
| starting. He will buy the goods and ship
them 20 our balloon shanty," which will
be a small house erected for the starting
of the balloon and the making of the
| preparations, and will come himself to
the spot to see US of.
The goods will be done up in square
bale 70 look not unlike load Of hay, only
| more compact Il will be attached TO
ropes and wires hung from concentrating
ring. until IL swings twenty-five feet be-
low the basket.
While we are waiting at the shaniy we
| viii attach The bale Of goods and get ready
TO start. As soon as the right wind blows.
| or there arc indications that u VIII blow.
| / will start up a specially constructed hy-
drogen gas generator which will manufac-
| ture 10000 cubic feet Of hydrogen gas In
| fourteen hours, so that In less than day,
sixteen hours we will be ready for the
| start.
Ia making trip into an unsettled coun-
| try. famous for It's cold, biting winds, We
win take along great plenty OF furs and
| viii dress az the start like EsqumauX. As
we do not have TO exercise, we can wear