The evening times., 1898-07-01

and assures the authorities that, unless
he should encounter cyclone or one of
those terrible West Indian hurricanes, he
can sail his balloon clear over the city of
Santiago and secure accurate reports of
the whole situa ton. That there is great
danger in such a mission. even more than
in the operation of captive balloon. he
readily admits, but he feels confident that
the presence of mind which has never
failed him yet in the numerous hair
breadth escapes of his up-and-down ca
reer will contrive to bring him through
safely; at least he has far more chances
of success than any theorist without
practical knowledge of the art of aero
nautics. The only thing he stipulates is
that he is to have free hand and to
manage the expedition after he gets
afioat his own experience and instinct
teaches him. In other words, he does not
want to be hampered by orders or red
tape on such an occasion.
While the authorities will probably in
sist that the general plan of the expe-
dition should be under the direction of
General Greely. they realize the necessity
of expert aeronauts in this line of work.
and the principal point is to determine
whether Prof Stevens can do all that
he promises. Therefore the ascension
at Glen Echo will be watched with inter-
est by number of Government officers,
and Prof. Stevens will endeavor to prove
to them that he can accomplish all he sets
out to do.
By way of practical proof. he will di-
rect his attention to the disposition of
troops at Fort Alger. Va. which is some
six or eight miles across the Potomac
from Glen Echo. Although he has never
seen the camp and since the withdrawal
of the soldiers who Were sent to Santi-
ago on the Yale and Harvard. has no idea
of the number or disposition of the
troops he will give an estimate from his
own observations of the forces in Vir-
ginia, their disposition and the best
method to attack them, presuming them
TO be Spaniards instead of United States
troops.
He feels confident that he can vindicate
his ability in this line. and If the Govern
ment will stand any possible damage that
may be done TO his airship. he is willing
to sail 1t over the camp and permit the
shaI pshooters to see what they can do
toward hitting 1t. "Of course / would not
remain in the car merely for an expert
ment. although | feel confident that the
Spanish could not hit me. However
American soldiers are better marksmen.
and it is barely possible that chance
shot might brng me down. Therefore. as
soon as get within range. | would simp-
ly cut loose my parachute and drop out
of harms way, leaving the boys to bang
away at the balloon to their hearts con-
tent This would also illustrate my meth
cd of escape in case any accident should
happen to the balloon and prove my
ability to land with my observations at
almost any point desired.
II am not afraid of falling into the
sea. provided there are boats nearby to
pick me up. Neither would l object to
taking a military observer up with me.
provided he were man with plenty Of
nerve and some little experience in this
line. Still, as general proposition
should prefer to go it alone. as l have
perfect confidence in my ability to take
care of myself on land, water or in the
air."
Prof. Stevens will make his first as
cension promptly at noon on July Fourth
from the grounds of Glen Echo which
are especially adapted for the starting
of such an experiment. In case the first
flight is not entirely satisfactory to the
authorities he is willing to make subse-
Quent ascensions and to submit to any
tests which they may see fit to propose.
But his ambition is to be sent to Cuba
on the next expedition for Santiago. and
feels confident that he can materially
assist in simplifying the situation there
by observing the disposition of the Span
ish troops. the city's system of defenses
and also keeping a sharp lookout for the
reported re-enforcemeRts from Gen.
Pando.