The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-12-13
N CONFEDRATE AERONAUr
inc Attempt Made to Destroy Grants
Army by Means OF an Air Shin

a low days ago person who had
oeen reading an account OF an experl
mont trip OF Count X,ppelin's air sh,n
remarked that In u fow more Years
people will travel In air instead OF on
the solid earth. Iron and steel rails
will lose their value because railroads
| will go out OF use. Tho new mode of
travel will bo moro pleasant, for there
Will be no dust and, by rising higher,
as necessity may require, the happy
traveller may keep cool.
travelling in the air by means OF
balloons ts not OF vory remote date
The first successful experiments in
this line wore made in France about
1888, whom the balloon sailed across
the Seine and part OF Paris, remain
ing In the mir twenty five minutes. a
balloon was used for military obscrva.
tion at the battle OF Flourus, fought In
1884. e'
~ great deal concerning aerostation
can oe lound In books and newspapers,
out thero Is one experiment that seems
10 nave escaped the notice OF tho Gu
rlous, and OF which thcre is no record
81 far as the writor knows.
IN the winter Of 1864 IS Gen. Robert
r.. Loe and his army were defending
Petersburg, Virginia. The troops
were stretched out along tho lines
perhaps at the rate Of one to every one
| hundred yards. Rations wore scarce
| ana clothlug sCant, and there were
| many othcr dlscomforts, but the spirit
OF INC veterans were superior to all OF
these depressing circumstances and
| they were able to enjoy Is good thing.
| mcGowan's brigade held tho work
not far from Battery 10 (or the Star
fortl and near whcro the great dun
was 0uilt. One cold, raw day the bri.
gaze was called out, without arms, tC
near q speech from scientific person
nge who was introduced as "Profs' )
Blank. The Old soldiers crowded
around and took their seats on tho
cold ground, and he unfoldcd his scheme
for dcmor"llzing and driving away
Grants army. He had just invented
an air ship.
In shape it WAS something like a
o1rd and Tor that reason be had called
IT. ~ Arts Avis, or The Bird Of Art, "
which was the meaning Of the two
Latin words. The frame was made OF
hoop iron and wire. IL WAS covered
with white oak splits. 1t was to be
run by l-horsc power engine and one
man to each bird would be sufficient.
Inc engine WAS to be In the BODY OF
the BIRD and to furnish power .Or keen.
ing the wings In motion. ~ small door
at the shoulder WAS opened or closed
10 control the direction CT tho Bird of
Art. n door under the Throat was
opened when it WAS desirable to de.
sccnd and door on JOp OF the neck
when the operator wished TO go higher
lncro was machinery bv which the
| tall could be spread out or closed. In
The body OF the bird there was room
Tor number OF shells and the opera
Tor oy touching aspiring with his foot
coulu drop them upon the enemy from
| Il safe distance.
Tho Professor said that nc bad
completed one Dlrd and made q test OF
te speed, ana how it would wOlk. He
Iled IL 10 u Hat car, which was coupled
20 iast engine. IL WAS attached tC
the Hat cav with long, strong ropc.
The word WAS given and tho railroud
engine started OF At great speed. The
Bird OF Art' dld tnc same and had
no trouble In Keeping up with the iron
horse without pulling on tho rope.
The "Profcssor concluded his re.
marks by saying he needed it'll,
more money TO max. birds enough &c
destroy Grants army, and asked tn,
Ola soldiers To contribute one dollar
cach TO the cauae. Many OF them dlu
anI the Professor moved on and dis
appeared.
NO DOUBT many Of the survivors have
forgotten this incident, but not lonp
ago the writer met John w. Butler, 8
com hmerclai traveller, who beiOnged tt
the Ilth 5. &. ", in lS6l, and at cd him
LA you ever hear Of the 'hrli5 Ayisr
ne replied Z" certainly have heard
OF 1t, for | gave dollar TO it,
toHERT IL. ElEMplIJLI..
Aobcyillc, November %.