The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-31
Tie Wonders of hydrogen.

IN relating his experiences to re-
preventative Of st. Nichols, a celebra-
ted aeronaut grew somewhat philoso-
phicai as we'll as reminiscent. His
observations aanesrnins hydrogen are
certainly atrikiug.
II have often wondered" he said
one day, "as my basket has swept me
along, what there is in this silken bag
above me- that lifts me thus over
mountains and cities. look I'M into
the balloon through the open mouth
aud see nothing; hear nothing;
smell nothing. None Of my senses 8
answer my call; yet somehow, strange
~, in way that I can't explain, /
perceive Q presence. It would not be
at all the same to me were the balloon
filled with air, though it would be the
same to all my senses. Again and
again have noted this thing, that
hydrogen makes itself known to men
when they are near it,
He paused moment as if to observe
my attitude, to see if it were one of
scofiug. I made no remark except
to beg him to go on.
'sAfter all,'' be continued, seven
the books allow TO hydrogen proper
ties that are very amazing. It is the
lightest Of all things; it is the nearest
approach we know Of to absolute moth
ing. Who can say that it is. not re-
lated to the land of nothing, to-
He hesitated and did not go on.
"Ios: meant" said I.
81 don't know what I mean. only
wonder. Take this case that happen.
ed at Ogdensburg, New York, during
an ascension we made there. We Lad
filled the balloon with hydrogen, and
were just ready to start when the
valve cords that hang down inside the
bag from the valve at the top became
twisted and drew up out of reach
from the basket. In vain I tried to
get them free by reaching up with
sticks and handled things; the
cords would not come down, and, of
course, no sane mau would make an
ascension with his balloon valve be-
yond control. There was nothing fol-
it but to get inside the gree: gas bag
and undo the tangle with my hands.
So l called fifteen or twenty men to
catch hold of the netting and pull the
balloon down over me until l could
reach the valve cords. Then r.
wait minute" I interrupted.
"Were you standing inside the bal
loon so that you had to breathe hydro
gen?"
The professor smiled. 81 stood in
side the balloon, but I breathed moth
ing; I held my breath, which is one OF
the things I have practiced. Before
went inside told my wife to note the
time by her watch, and If I did not
come out before one hundred and
twenty seconds had passed to have
the men drag me out. You see knew
could hold my breath one hundred
and twenty seconds, but no longer.
"Well, we carried out the plan, and
freed the cords in less than my limit
of time; and then came the uncanny
part of it--at least it seemed So to me.
had read that hydrogen will NOT
transmit sound, but had never tested
it. 1t is true had at various times
taken hydrogen into my lungs, but
never had [ tried to speak in hydro
gen, Now was my chance, and, with
all my remaining breath, I shouted
as loud as could inside that balloon.
Think Of it; there were my wife and
the men only few feet distant, witt,
only the thinnest tissue of silk be.
tween us, and gas that was like moth.
ing. Yet my cry, that would have
reached perhaps half mile in air
could not penetrate that little void.
10 those outside the balloon it was
as if Ihad not opened my lips. They
heard nothing, not even a whisper.
believe you might fire cannon in.
side bag of hydrogen, and no faint
est rustic of the discharge would
reach yours ears. So, you see, q
world Of hydrogen would be a voice.
less world