Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-05-24
DARING AIRSHIP TRIP
AERONAUr GODDARD TO CROSS
ATLANTIC IN BALLOON


1t will Be a Monster Affair-W;ll Carry Ten
Persons with Provisions for Several DAYS
Voyage and Sleeping Apartments are Pro-
vided-All Sorts Of Scientific Instruments will
be Provided to Keep an Accurate Record
Will Sail From New York for Paris in Au-
tumn-The Balloon will Remain Bouyant 90
Without RefiIlins.
Louis Gedard, the most famous
and daring of French aeronauts, has
announced his intention 10 make n
balloon voyage across the Atlantic
ocean from New York to Paris. He
will ship his balloon to New York and
start on his aerial voyage from there
early in the coming autumn. His
reason for making the start from there
is that steady west winds prevail in
the North Atlantic at the time of year
selected.
GODDARD has already crossed the
Mediterranean in balloon and has
performed many other remarkable ex-
ploits in what may be called marine
aeronautics. NJ. GODDARD states that
under favorable conditions the journey
can be made in four days and four
hours. With 80 degrees deviation to
the north or south the journey can be
made in l2a days.
The famous aeronaut will make
this tremendous journey in a balloon
of his own invention, which has al
ready been employed with much sue.
cess. Its principal feature is an ar
rangement of small reservoir balloons
around the main one. His latest bal
loon with which he will make the
transatlantic voyage includes eight
reservoir balloons. These are ar
ranged in circle around the reser-
voir of the main balloon. They can
be used if necessary to supply any
losses of gas in the main balloon.
Owing to this system it is really inn
possible for the whole apparatus to be
brought to the earth with sudden
collapse. There are so many separate
envelopes to bs punotured that tnis
could hardly happen.
M. GODDARD has called his new bal
loon La France" It is without
question the greatest balloon ever
launched. Instead of the simple bas.
ket which we are accustomed to see
with balloon it carries q structure of
two decks, with sleeping apartments.
This building is hung by ropes to a
great ring under the main balloon.
On top is the upper deck, which is
completely exposed to the air and
sunshine. Under this is the lower
deck, which is also the roof of the
house. The lower deck will be useful
as working place in rainy weather.
Barometers, thermometers, tele-
scopes, and all kinds of scientific in
struments which can be used in bal
loon will be hung in the rigging in an
ingenious manner, 50 that there will
be no danger of their falling off. The
house is the most wonderful thing
ever heard OF in aeronautics. 1t has
windows, beds and all kinds of furni.
ture strongly made OF the lightest pos
sible bamboo.
Attached to the house are two large,
seaworthy life-boats to be used in case
the aerial travellers are compelled to
take water. This remarkable balloon
is constructed to carry 10 persons.
They will be NJ. GODDARD, three assist
ants and six passengers. Among the
assistants will probably be NJ. Edouard
Surcouf, who is an expert in balloon
construction. Who the passengers
will be has not yet been decided.
The passengers will be required to
help to pay part OF the expense Of the
voya ge, which will be about 2OO,OOO
francs. An interesting feature OF La
France is the larder. All the meat,
vegetables, wines, and go forth, will be
hung up in the rigging, high above
the heads OF the passengers. There is
no better place possible for keeping
food than the air, high above the At
lantic ocean. GODDARD claims that La
France can remain in the air for &C
days and travel $1,000 miles without
| renewiny its suDply of gas.