The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-24

without venturing to guess why. See
ing that no harm came from the aerial
explosions the toilers speedily lost in
terest in the matter, but the scientists
continued to try and puzzle it out. 1t
now develops that these mysterious
sounds proceeded from an earthly
agency temporarily experimenting in
the clouds, and were caused by the fir
ing of a small cannon from a balloon
by the Rev j. M. Bacon, a divine who
is sufficiently interested in matters con-
nected with the region between earth
and sky as to undertake to solve aerial
problems at the risk of his life. / called
on the reverend gentleman recently and
obtained from him detailed eXplana-
ton of the causes that led him to in
vestigate in person the mysteries of the
upper air and the result of his curious
experiments.
1T was my purpose" said Mr.. Bacon
in beginning his explanation, ito de-
termine the penetration of sounds as
cending from the earth. 1t has been
evident that there is a mysterious
something in the air that causes a very
marked variation in the travel of
sounds; also there has been noticed a
subtle, almost indefinable, tension al
ways present when thunderstorms are
brewing. No balloonist has been ven
turesome enough to investigate the
mysteries of a thunderclap, but to du
plcate the artillery of heaven for the
purpose of experimenting on the origin
of sounds from above occurred to me
as being possible. Having this object
In view, I made a balloon ascension,
taking with me small cannon mount
ed in the car and supply of ammuni-
ton as part of the cargo
arrangements were made that
i,,s NtN1n taly limo MI Pa
over London itself, and some also over
open country; and shortly before sun
set in the still heavy air of a summer
evening the balloon rose to an altitude
ranging from 1000 to 5000 feet. A dozen
signals were fired the first hour and
others from time to time. Many highly
interesting and valuable reports came
to hand in due course. A gentleman
within doors heard, as he thought, rifle
practice miles away. A little later he
supposed they must be volley firing.
Three minutes after his easements rat
tied and he felt sure it was artillery;
but the next report brought him to the
window, where he saw the balloon in
the air. The attention of another OBJ
server was arrested by what seemed
cannon shot. short and sharp, and ap-
parently five miles off. Then came
second shot nearer, different in effect,
and rumbling on like thunder. A SINH
lar difference IN the reports was noticeu
by many. From one point they would
ALWAYS be heard as single bangs, from
another always with reverberations,
and this, no doubt, simply in conse-
ouence of some popularity in the OBJ
servers immediate environment. In
| some directions, however, sound was
borne with peculiar intensity. As heard
from Hampstead Heath one report at
least four miles off, was described as
very startling. To a cyclist in the su-
burbs the explosions were as cannon
sounding above the surrounding traffic.
In another SPOT the shots were heard,
not startling in themselves, but with
stunning after thunder. In Chelsea the
furniture in the rooms was shaken, and
some thought that heavy wagons were
being discharged in the streets.
"These are samples of a vast number
of Independent reports from the balloon
itself the observations made were quite
distinct. and at the same time uniform