The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1903-08-07
GREAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN
MADE in AERIAL NAVIGATION

dirigible balloons. for some daring
navitators have succeeded In rising
to me almost incredible altitude Of
5000 feet. Since the terrible cat
astrophs Of the .zenfth." whom Croce.
Opinsllt ana scvil perished at an aiti-
tude Of g. 100 feet, 1t had been believ.
Eed that man could never 90 higher
because Of the great difference OF
equilibrium between the inner pres
sure Of the blood and the exterior
pressure Of the atmosphere. The
contrary has now been demonstrated
This ascension was made by the
German aeron&sits, Bervon and Sur
ing. about two years ago. but the
reports of 1t were 20 contradictory
that it is only now that from the
official version. we can draw It's true
oonductions. The balloon. with ca
pacity OF 5000 cubic yards Of hydro
gen and three-fourths inflated, start
ed at 1850 enc morning in the plain
of Tempel, near Berlin.
Forty minutes later 1t reached an
altitude Of 16.e05 feet. and assumed
q conical shape, turning to the right
and passing south Of Potsdam. The
temperature which, at the start. had
been 74.s Fahrenheit. had fallen 70
20 degrees.
A mile higher, the aeronauts be-
gan to inhale oxygen. not so much
from Immediate necessity as BY pre-
caution to husband their strength.
The balloon was maintained con-
stantly in its ascensional course by
the throw Of increasing quantities of
ballast. After q time II ceased NOV
ing. and this allowed a series OF OBJ
servations to determine its exact
position.
A few more bags Of ballast being
thrown over. the balloon again rose.
After three hours Of sailing the bal
loon had risen-to $4,000 feet: an hour
later it was 1886 feet higher.
At this great altitude the influ-
ences Of atmospheric pressure re-
duced to third Of its normal value
and OF a Temperature fallen to IS
degrees below zero Fahrenheit. to-
gether with the fact that on the pre-
vious night they had slept barely
three hours. gave the aeronauts an
Irresistible desire to sleep, although
they fought this Off for a while by
calling each other.
Physical exertion became more and
more painful, and was finally lin
tied to reading the instruments ana
throwing out ballast. The last read
ing of the thermometer and Of the
anerofd and mercurial barometer was
made at $4,000 feet. at 3:1s p. m.
After thiA the two aeronauts fell
into a syncope. Berson,
seeing his companion faint, had Just
enough strength left to open the
escape valve before faintaing In MS
turn. The registering barometer
showed that the impulse Of tho last
throw of the ballast caused them to
rise after this until they reached
$4,000 feet. and then the balloon be-
gan to fall from loss Of gas.
? The fainting fit Of the two aero
nauts was followed by a deep sleep.
which lasted three-uuarters OF an
hour. When they awoke the balloon
was falling rapidly. and at that mo-
ment they were at an altitude OF
about 10000 feet. They felt depress-
ed and had a sensation Of intense
heaviness In their hands and feet.
which made 1t impossible for them
to move. They were. however, able
to resume direction of the balloon
after while. and made fresh OBJ.
All that saved their
lives was their fur clothing and rein
deer rugs. the warmth of which kept
them from dying in their sleep.
CAMILLE PLANTATION. =