The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-14

The second trial of Count Zeppe-
Inns colossal airship is described III
press reports from Friedrichshafen as
being a notable success. After rising
to q height of about two thousand feet,
the vessel remained poised at that
level for three-quarters of an hour. II
then made a series of tacks, and went
through certain turning maneuvers'
afterward travelling with the wind IN
what is described as "a generally cllN
cular direction" for about six miles,
the velocity of the wind at this time
being about eight miles an hour. 1t Is
said that later. in freshening breeze,
the air ship turned and made head
way" against the wind. Eventually
the vessel descended with great ease
and steadiness to the lake." and was
towed to its shelter. The stability and
steering powers Of the airship are de-
scribed as being excellent.
If the above reports are correct, we
still know as little about the actual
practical value of Count Zeppelin's
machines as we. did before. 1t has
been proved merely that an airship
of this kind can ascend, maintain its
equilibrium, and be navigated in any
desired direction, provided the wind
does not much exceed the strength of
gentle breeze. 1t has yet to be
shown that in stronger Winds say e.
from twenty to fifty miles an hour,
this airship can perform the same evo-
lutions. If it should show that it is
able to maintain speed Of, say, only
twenty miles. an hour against a strong
wind, aerial navigation by the balloon
type of airsh:pwil have an enormous
stride in. these, closing days Of the cen
tury. Enough has been accomplished
to render .fhe further trials of Count
Zappelin'sscostly and carefully thought
out design a matter of worldwide in
terest. ~. =. - =, .,sasf 20
The idea sgpon which Count Won Zep-
pelin's successsso far attained, ap,
pears to be based, is that the envelope
or outer portion Of the balloon should
be of such material rs to hold the con-
tanned gas for as long a period as pos
sfble.: THE difficulty has not been the
making Of gas i'm great quantities nor
the buoyant power Of large volumes
suitably contained, but Its retention in
the envelope or receiver. Acting upon
this idea. the Count has produced a
material which would hold hydro
gen, the buoyant element being the
lightest substance known, eSfor ffye
~ eks without appreciate loss. q. 8
he cigar-shaped envelope has a ca
pacity of 11,000 cubic metres of this
gas lone metre equal to 39.37 inches).
The exterior of the balloon; is covered
with protective surface Of pegamold
and silk. The total weight. of the ship
and crew is estimated not to exceed
10000 pounds. The ship when conf
pleted resembles a huge cigar, made
chiefly Of aluminium 1t is 415 feet
long, and the cylinders proper is forty
feet in diameter. The, total depth,
including the gondolas in which the
passengers sit. Is about eighty feetss,
The framework of this huge cylil.i
der consists Of aluminium bands,
twenty-four in number. The interior
of the cigar is divided by sixteen YER.
tical ribs into seventeen compart-}
ments, each of which contains an in
dependent balloon. made of material
which the manufacturer calls "ballon-
In" The first ascent was to have