The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-08-16
THE PROBLEM OF THE AIR.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
The disaster which overlook NJ. SAN
tos-pumont in his latest attempt to win
the Dsutsch prize, and aimos; cost him
his life, forcibly indicates how far the
problem Of aerial navigation s from
being solved. With favorable breeze
the airsh!p had rounded the Eifel tower
and was on its way back TO the starting
point. while the inventors ardent su-
porters we're premaiurelly rejoic.ng IN
his success. when 4 sudden gus. Of wind
sent {: broadslde. In NJ San;os-Du-
monts own expressive words, like
ship in a storm. the balloon pitched and
rolled, now and then recovering Its nor
NAL position" Under the pressure Of
another gust the forward end of the
balloon was forced down until The ropes
connecting /; with the frame caugh; in
the propeller. which struck and broke
ths wires NJ. Santos -Dumont perceived
at once that the only thing to do was
10 descend as soon as possible, but the
mischievous wind blew his craft back
toward the tower. and then. veering
once more, dashed it against a building.
Thereup1n the balloon burst, and the
whols machine would have dropped into
A courtyard II the under framework had
not caught and hung on a projecting
corniee. The motor was not damaged,
the balloon can be readily repaired, and
the pIucky aeronaut. who escaped un-
hurt. intends to continue his expert
ments: but we are informed that the
man who put up the prize of 100000
francs in the interest Of science wept
when he saw wha; was happening, and
is inclined 10 regret that he is no; a, lib
erty to withdraw his offer.
VI. Santos Dumont who IS Of a re-
markedly sanguine nature and has &
grea. fortune at command. would seem
from his statement 10 b no; only unlls-
mayed. but capable Of gathering new
encouragement from his recen; expert
ence He viii probably say ,ha, Il the
balloon had been properly inflated
which ne knew it was no:; If the ropes
attached it to the frame had been so al
jus,ed tina. they could not have caugh
in the propeller, and the motor hai no
thus become imperative, he might havt
accomplished the object Of his ambition
and captured the prize, for the monel
value Of which he doubtless cares moth
ing. That is possible, though +. seem
more likely that the wind would hav
defeated him even Il it had no, brough
about the collapse OF his machine. A
all events. in consideration Of the pur
pose which the prize is designed 20 pro
mote. It Is scarcely 10 be regretted tina
he did not succeed. For success woul'
have been accidentsl-the result Of con
dluons which he could control only i
an extremely limited degree-and
might have appeared in the eyes Of tn
world that a great victory had been wo
in a field Of scientific research and &C
tivity which is still obstinately contest
ed by the forces of nature.
We would not be understood as imply
ing that no progress has been made b
N. santos-Dumont and other !ngeniou
contributors to the solution Of fascir
ating problem, but It seems fair TO sa
that the chief value Of their efforts cor
sists in the evidence they have furnishe
that the possibilities and uses Of aerl'
navigation must forever remain cor
fined within narrow bounds There
good reason to believe that sirshiDs wI
be so far perfected as to serve the pui
poses Of scientific and military observe
ton to an important extent, perhaps
ways not yet foreseen; but the concll
sion to which successive exDerimen
more and more clearly point is that the
can never possess the slightest CONNIE
cial utility. "