The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-02
,iw zIpPiII,s ,IKsHir suI
How ., Looked to an American Nh" Was In a
Boat on Lake I onstancc.

bN"" " ''S'' w S'
boat on Lake I constance.
From re- Ndcutkcc Sur1ud
Ernst II kron.hagc Wa one ~ TIA" spectators
~ IN" triu made hy count /"ii"lit'- n'trs
| m,rh,ur 81 Il ON Iphc constance Ia an
account oi ~" experiment. written hv Mr..
krou.har" h." describes ~" performances
of he nf-hjp a. decidedly Interesting
few tourists decided :" remain a few
weeks longer IA NJ" hope ~ being witt s->es To
this "poch-mHking experiment, ~aN- Nr hron-
shage and "" did not stay n vain ON the
18th ~ October W. received authoritative
word - kou-rtry that tn" ascension would
positively taxi place. hdttIuE heavy Wind,
on tie. afternoon of the Wednesday ioilowing
ON "Wednesday. therefore. ". boarded a
steamer. aud procscded out upon the lake.
leaving ~" steamer finally AZ lwmeu~trad.
eight miles from koustanI. on III" north shore.
for three, mile, further on and about half way
to the IMPORTANT port of friedorichafen, - the
big uondnscript structure wherein the Count and
his workmcH hav" created aud housed m" latest
wonder Of NJ" world T. va. now already
Ias' . O'Clock and stu no signs Of activity
were noticeable True. there wer" two large
steamers anchored near the balloon house,
upon Or Of which our field glasses deserted
the ROYAL remnant Of W~urtrmburg But
II' Nf'Nlliil- NlNil Va INV 'All'A'' wv ''''f' =
dragged th"m-rlye' into another hour ana
still no encouraging sign \ rulnor, when
we afterward ascett1iucd 20 have been me
truth. then made III" rounds that the hiig
had not returned from the hl.u' on which, ha
had set out early that mGrniny ana ny
steamer. but moi her royal consort Most
OF our party were content 10 remain, IA IA"
Nirtshnus where they were comfortably set
tied behind their big stems Of Munich beer.
But the United States cont !ugent with two
others hired a rowboat aud set out Tor the
SCENE ~ action.
We soon distinguished the general features
of a balloon house. which looked Tor all tn"
world ike a tobacco she'd. except that there was
n row OF eleven windows all along the side.
But later INSPECTION proved II 10 be a remarka-
BILE structure tie most, perfect. OF IL KIND
ever devised The building ~ 49, feet long.
IS broad and CA high. and gracefully rests on
ninetv-fve pontoons. II Is ANCHORED AT one
point only. so that i may turn, hkr a weather
ed in order TO diminish the rcsistahIe 81 the air.
The balloon. which in its proportions conforms
closely to those Of the house, rests on a pom
toon platform Of its own. and may be easily
moved ia and out through the large portal
ia the front end The advantages Of such a shed
tor the experimental trials oi the machine are
run against. again. ~ The shed always points 10
the leeward. tho inventor gains the and Of the
wind IN getting the ha loon out of the shed with
the minimum Of dangers and the maximum OF
speed
fIlHTit ltIl-NlN va ~ Wv nv NI'' "f''
We were startled hv 2 ringing cheer from the
nearby shore Quickly glanciug back to the
SIZED, our sight was sIaddened Gy ~" ,SH sm
selves 10 the breezes from the topma-t flag
star Then we knew that our expectations
wa. drawing TO a close What we're our feelings
when y few minutes later tho white pointed
peak OF the aerial monit"r .ioNE n"Ian TO ISSUE
home Slo WY. mRjestiCally. the entire length
~ This whit" and silent creature foatcd, out
half y mile Instant from the shoi The cables
holding the balloon were quickly loosencd.
and the whole gigantic mass vas held IN post
tion by FIVE score or more uf soldiers OF the
balloon division ~ the German Army After
a few hearty hsndshakes with the officers in
command Of the float. the Count, his engineer
and three intimate friends took Their place,
in the cars, the word was given, and then -
NO. the balloon did not shoot up like q sky
rocket. ~ Wa see them ~ the county fair. Il
seemed rather to hang quietly IN the air for a
while, like q sea bird poisinn for fight slowly.
gracefully: maje,,lcaily II rose ,he 1o5I" fglre
the breeze. standing forth IN clear relief against
the dull. gray, sky Like some wizard Of, old
meek submission. The speed OF ascent was
soon increased. and when at y height ~ about
.ix hundred or seven hundred feet the pro,
through the air, the Wind being then ~ H.,
back Then followed the more amazing tx
ex pectations. The balloon obeyed it's master
like a perfectly trained, horse. Il, turned 10
the right, IL turned 70 the leff. Win Va" WIND
and against the wind. and finally turned rap
Idly around on its own axis. several tlnes. BY
means of the running weight the balloon then
frequently changed from its horizontal posi-
ton to the obliuue with perfect safety. Like
\ trained animal II rose, as II were. on It's hind
legs or kIelt down at a word from tts trainer.
always regainIng the most perfect e0ullib-
rum, After this successful exhibition. the
count proceeded to the more difficult task of
sailing directly against the wind q test not
only If the slrship's speed. but of the efficacy
Of its course against such Odds Here agnln
the effort was n distinct success The steer
Ing gear worked perfectly. and two fast cleo
trio launches, which started directly under
meath the balloon, were unable 10 keep up
with IL or course the wind WAS not severe,
hut stu il was brisk enough 10 give tue pro
l-ellar, and rudiers an adequate test.
The air ship was now operating NJ n height
Of l.vO feet. and ~ this J~unCtIre passed directly
over our heads.
But IN" deepening shadows along tho tree
lined shore began 10 warn u that the N-sptr
hour WAS drawing near. and II Ne wanted to
catch our steamer II was high time 10 leave
III" scene Of our afternoon pleasure. A.
We mere now nearer to tTlederlCl shafen than
lmnenstaHd, "" turned our course ia this
direction. "" continued To watch the air
ships rnano'uvring-t III dl-tanc" aud darkness
Comhiued To hide II from our sight"