The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-07-03


the spring term perimcnting on our
own account and exploding u vas,
amber OF gas balloons.
The spring term closed on June 20
aud al the boys went home, except
my chum Jarvis and myself, who, in
consequence of spending so much
time experimenting. had been "con.
ditioned." and had a weeks hard work
:, make up in our Greek.
Rather than have it hanging over
US all summer and into the next year
we agreed to do il at once and have
done with il. Permission was accorded
To Us TO 60 on living in our rooms
al the hall. and the resident profes-
sor in Greek consented TO give Us an
extra examination.
1t was dreadfully hot during the
last four days OF June. but we toiIei
away with Greek grammar and lexi-
con. hoping To get home for the
Fourth of July; and we should have
done so, but our Greek professor ate
too much cantaloup on the day set
for the examination, and thought for
ls hours he had appendicitis.
1T proved to he no such serious
trouble, but il hindered our plans.
The professor was not able to exam
Inc us till the afternoon of the third,
so we could not possibly get home
Tor the Fourth.
Jarvis was furious.
'Confound cantaloup." he grum-
bled. And confound professor that
doesn't know better than to eat it,
No use to .art now. We couldn't
gee home," he ragged on. IL won't
spc.u the Fourth in n railway ca-.
Let's stay here and shake the old
town up! Let's send up balloon at
midnight. Wen make it rain here
tomorrow"
Rather an incendiary sentiment. the
reader will say. but we had been shut
up with Greek for six long, hot days.
We had access to the laboratory in
Chemistry hall, where we had our
balloons. and generated the oxygen
and hydrogen gas for exploding them.
There was quantity Of cotton
cloth paper and glue. which had not
been used; and that evening we made
balloon ten feet in diameter. which
we succeeded in charging, outside the
window. with oxygen and hydrogen
from the laboratory rctorts. in the
proportion Of two TO one. that being
the formula by which the two gases
unite TO produce water-and a par
ticnlar ear-splitting explosion.
We finished the balloon. and had
he gas generated at little past
II o'clock: and then, after charging
large Leyden jar from the static
electrical machine, we started out to
usher in the Fourth of July.
We had large ball Of strong ma
Mia Irvine and spool Of small cop
per wire. the ends Of which were at
tachcd for spark at the base Of the
balloon.
We led our balloon. like risky
colt. along the lane at the rear Of
The chemistry building. and out across
the campus 70 the edge Of the pine
woods. Then we let IL rise.
The night was very dark and still.
but clouds had risen in the north and
west, and there was frequent glow
Of lightning in that quarter.
There's a shower coming!" Jarvis
exclaimed, as the balloon began its
ascent. 1--WE shall have to make
haste"
But rs vet there was not breath
~ wind stirring; the balloon had
risen and hung directly overhead, and
vas pulling hard at its restraining
string.
We knew from past experience that
when the electric spark acted on the
two gases the explosion would be
something tremendous: but we
thought that al height Of 800 or 900
feet. out there by the woods. no
damage would follow.
And perhaps none would have FOL
lowed. II all had gone as we planned,
out Jarvis had n great deal OF trou-
lie connecting the wires He was