The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-12-02

Warhabie AErfaI Exploration on rec
1rR. Secured from and published 70ifh
H'nyfyations mate Of the TRIP, by c0nr-
fsrr of The Technical Worla, Chicago.
Last fall participated in an experience
that for its wonderful phases has never
been duplicated.'
and lighted it, and then glanced toward me
us If to ask il 1 wished to hear what he
had to divulge. He is a very remarkable
man, of that rare type fast disappearing.
For more MAN half century he has made
his home in the heart of California's majes-
tic mountains. and like the Poet of the
SicrIIS," he wears flowing rhtrInrrhnI
beard, and hair to match, and Is himself
q student md poet by nature.
I settled myself In my chair with an ap-
prcciative nod, and John Bennett began
what is truly most remarkable story.
II am the oldest graduate of. Of Yale III. IN
this that brought to the ranch a party
OF scientists from my old university, l am
not at liberty to name them, for they are
coming again to try another experiment,
and until that has been made, the whole
thing is a secret of thers.It will not do any
harm to tell as much as l intend to, how
ever.
"They brought with them q dirigibc bal
loon, and conhdcd that they were going to
make an ascent and study the topography
of the Si"rras so as to be able to make an
turn ont that way however, rs you will see.
- In n sort Of superficial way / have al.
ways been interested in aorostattcE ana
KINDRED sciences; and when they asked ne
to accompany them as guide and compan-
lon | accepted the invitation with aI1crity.
We went farther up into the range, and
made camp. They took their machine out,
and began the work Uf assembling tIr
parts; ana I want TO say here that II WAS us
complete thing as ever man made. Tu"rr
was everything calculated 10 mas" ln' trip
4
Cidcnt. It's pretty cold up On top uf the
range above timber line, and nrrauGvmcnts
hnd been made TO prevent this condition
from rctGTiiug the experiments. The car
OF the balloon was made Of isiuglHsS over
frame Of aluminium. 1t was entirely en-
closed, ana was heated from an electric
motor, which also propelled the machine.
Hydrogen gas was used as the lifting
power, supplemented by another motor. and
oxygen was manufactured ana supplied to
the occupants Of the car when the atmos-
phere became too rarihcd for comfortable
breathing. Provisions were stored for til"
party-enOugh to last six men a week
and when the ascension was made it seemed
that not thing had been overlooked. All
sorts Of thermometers, barOmctcrS and Their
mometers were taken along, and everything
necessary for the proper study of the CON
ditions that might confront the party after
leaving the earth.
1T was a sparkling morning when the
signal was given, and we arose with
bound and were soon soaring over the tops
of the snowy peaks. Never shall | forget
that sight as gaZcd through the sides and
bottom of the transparent car. S bright
was the sunshine that we were forced to
draw the green silk curtains Mt some of the
windows. Within five minutes we were
looking down on toy mountains that were
dropping away from us as stone drops
from the top OF a tall building; and the
atmosphere had become so rarchcd that the
oxygen tank was opened into the car, and
the heating motor was started. Far off
TO the west, we could see the tiny valleys,
and still farther an endless blue cXpansr
that marked the Pacific Ocean. Many men
have eXultcd in the view from a balloon.
but few have ever had the experience Of
making an ascension to height above