The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-15
BALLOONS IN WAR.
A Novel Battle in Cloudland Nearly
Thirty Years Ago.


The announcement that the balloon is
destined TO play a role I'm the present war
with Spain recalls the aeronautic exper-
imcnts made by the French during the
great war in 1870 and u. As early az iI92
balloons were used for military signalling
in France. But. in our times. during the
siege OF Paris by the German troops
frequent attempts were made by French
men TO communicate with those inside
the beleagured city, and 10 Nespd.ch men
and matter from the capital by means
Of balloons. In Paris itself. under the d.
rection Of Postmaster Rapport, a balloon
post ana transport service was estab-
lshed for carrying persons and Govern
mental as well as private mail matter
from the beseged capital. Among the
public men leaving the city In this way
NJ. Gambetta will ever be remembered.
Homing pigeons were 'lso sent nr fn's
route to carry news back 10 Paris.
total OF slNtY-siX balloons. accDr..lts go
Tissandier's I'm Ballon Pendant le Siege
de Paris" left the besieged city. and l6S
persons. 10. l9l Kilograms OF postal matter.
including 100000 letters, 1853 homers five
dogs. and two boxes OF dynamite. were
despatched by the aerial route. or tho
balloons. hfty-two descended in France.
five in Belgium. four i'm Holland. two IN
Germany. and one I'm Norway. only five
Of them were captured by the Germans
and two were never heard OF. having
been lost I'm the ocean.
OF all voyages of that time however
none could compare for exciting and per
ious Incidents with that Of the well
known aeronaut. NJ. Nadar who left
Tours for Paris with important Govern
ment dispatches AT o clock one hne De-
cember morning. At II he was In view
81. E.f
ing about 1900 metres above Fort Char
enton. Nadar suddenly observed second
balloon on the horizon. Thinking IL 20 be
one leaving Paris. the French aeronaut
at once displayed the tricOlOr or his
country. and the other balloon responded
by exhibiting the same Nag. Gradually
the two balloons approached one another.
being drawn In the same direction by the
same current OF air. When they were
separated by only a short distance scv-
eral explosions were heard, The stranger
he'd commenced 10 fire shots az Madras
balloon-the "Intreplde hich began
to descend rapidly The French flag had
by this time been replaced IN the other
balloon BY the Prussian cOlOrs. The Pa
risians, who were watching the audr
from the forts below and Who now re-
allied the true character and object OK
the last arrival, cried out thar tner
plucky compstriot was lost. But tney
were mistaken.
Nadar had scrambled from the car UP
the netting Of his airship after me hrst
shot from the enemy. 20 stop hoie mane
In the tissue. Presently ne descendea 20
the car as the balloon risnted ltselt, ana
throwing out a qudhity or "a.las''
caused It TO rise higher and hisn~t' men
SELLING his rife. he hred shots WIN tapio
succession into the Prussian' WHICH Sue-
denly spit and sunk 10 the earth. on
reaching the ground a detachment OF
Ihlans. who had been watching the COM
bar from the plain. picked up the German
oorona,,ts ana rode on 10 the Prussian
outpoasts. Nedar then aiighted In safety
within the girdle Of the Paris ior''. meet
Ga, win an enthusiastic ovation Tor his
-, in the first balloon Guel.-BaIti-
more sun.