The San Francisco call., 1904-04-24
DIRIGIBLE
BALLOON IS
A SUCCESS
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the many trips TO follow. He then gave /
the command TO let go the ropes, and in |
The midst OF the waving OF hats and
great cheering the ship slowly ascended
into the heavens like an enormous bird.
just at the moment she started on her
fight a beautiful American flag was
unfurled from her stem, which fioated
I.acefulIy out on the soft summer
morning air. There was scarcely a
breath OF a breeze, and when the
ship had mounted several hundred
feet Captain Baldwin gave an exhibi-
tiOn OF what he could do with her.
DESCRIBES CIRCLES IN AIR
He turned her completely around, de-
scribing circles at his win, while the
shining propeilers glittered iu the
bright sunshine. making. at the same
time. a loud, whirring sound. equal TO
the commOtion created by at least a
dozen automobiles when in full action.
Then he started out on a southerly
course, ana turning over her large can
vas rudder TO port. she Obeyed the helm
snd at once turned her course toward
the Pacific Ocean. During this tlme
she had been rising very fast and grad
ualy running into colder currents.
Suddenly The machinery stopped. This
Tax caused by the inability 20 keep the
mixture OF air and gasoline at the right
proportion. Had Baldwin been familiar
with the running Of the motor, or had
Belcher been on board, the results
would UnQuestiOnably have been of an
entirely different nature, and the ship
would probably have been steered back
10 her place Of starting.
AS il was, when Baldwin found be
could not start the engine. he simply
let the ship drift over toward South
san Francisco, letting the gas slowly
escape until he came to a soft, grassy.
half marshy spot near the San Bruno
road. midway between Benefits tam
merry and the Contagious Diseases
Hospital. Here a big crowd of boys
and children had collected. They
grabbed hold of the long ropes that
were hanging from the ship and made
them fast 70 some piling. The ship
theu quietly settled down upon the
turf The balloon portion OF the ship
WAS then partly detached and the gas
allowed TO escape, and inside OF ten
minutes after landing the shining yell
low silk with its net covering was
rolled up into a small parcel ready to
be returned to town.
MACHINERY UNDAMAGED.
The working part Of the machinery
was entirely undamaged. When En-
gineer Belcher learned about where
the ship would land he rushed to the
scene as fast as possible. He examined
the motor and found It in perfect
shape and condition and at once ran
il al full speed as it lay upon the
ground. The light. aluminium frame
of the craft was twisted at both ends
by the landing. The damage was
small and a couple Of days work viii
have the ship in running order again.
In the inclosure from which the
ship started on her aerial flight the
crowd Of spectators. composed of the
inventor Of the machine, several OF the
stockholders and The mechanics and
others that were interested in her con-
.struction. watched her leave the, place
OF her berth. Expectancy was depicted
on every face as she quietly and gently
scared upward. Silence reigned. The
face OF DR.. August Greth was study,
and, as he saw that her machinery had
her we'll under control his features
frightened and he felt rewarded for
the arduous and steadfast fifteen years
work he has devoted TO his invention.
The young engineer, F. W. Belcher,
who had the placing Of the motor in
the airship, was also tremendously in
terested. When the ship commenced
10 slowly circle in the air, showing to
the spectators who were patiently
watching her that she was under per-
feet control Of the navigator, a great
burst Of applause went up from them.
ENGINEER BELCHER EXCITED.
. The engines were still working with
great vigor, but when they suddenly
ceased a gloom settled over the inter-
csted watchers below. Engineer
Belcher at once shouted out:
The engine has stopped working
Captain Baldwin does not understand
the manipulation OF the motor ma
chine. and does not know how to keep
the mixture proper. He VIII not be
able TO start II again, because he does
. not know how 70 DO it. am sure that
AAAAe - AlAE IdAot u IL. Inc engine Is
all right, and II I had gone UP with
il ] am positive it still would be work.
ing. I am perfectly familiar with all
the details OF this machine, and know
ii is in lrst-class shape. am terribly
disappointed that Captain Baldwin
forced me to get out OF the ship lust
at the instant that she was about TO
ascend. I have never been up in a bal
loon, but know that my engine was
IN such absolutely perfect shape that
had I been in charge of it the results
would have been successful At any
rate, the ship shows she viii be a sue
cess
DR.. Greth was naturally laboring un-
der a great strain of excite
ment, and when the machinery
Of the ship suddenly stopped he
was the picture OF absolute de-
spair. The other stockholders were
naturally pleased with the splendid
beginning and triumph that the ship
'-chieved At the outset OF the journey,
and expressed themselves as pleased