Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-05
A Fortune Flies While It's Owner Tries.
Conu in
a W Fndst m
andD or Tiers

balloon of huge dimensions to which
was attached the airshlp The airship
was fitted with powerful motors and
with steering apparatus. The bal
loon was Intended to give the airship
buoyancy, while the motors. acting In
combination with the steering appara-
tus, were intended to drive It in any d.
rection. The work OF constructing the
monster airship lasted nearly four
years, and the trial trips took place In
the vicinity OF FrederickshaYen in the
fall of 1900. The airship was not only
intended for aerial navigation, but was
constructed in such a way that If II
CHANGED to alight on water 1t would
float as buoyantly as any ordinary ship,
consequently there was no danger in
maneuvering above Lake Constance.
ON A CALM DAY.
The first trial trip was made on a
calm day, and appeared to be success
full; the airship rose TO good height,
and SO far as could be judged from
appearances, Unanswered freely and
answered to the helm. But appear
ances were deceptive. The second trial
trip ended In one accident, and the
third trial trip resulted in another ac-
cident. When there was any wind at
all maneuvering became impossible and
the steering apparatus broke down.
<tANtl ltSlo
In 1900 Count Zeppelin announced that
he would resume his voyages In the
following year and that he would car
ny out the necessary improvements
during the winter. But when the next
year came the airship was still fail
ure Finally II was broken up and
cast away as worthless curiosity
The count, who had then reached the
age OF SO, was in deep despair and his
wife was likewise keenly distressed at
the failure of his lifelong efforts. He
publicly announced that ne had decid-
ed to abandon his efforts TO solve the
problem of aerial navigation and that
he would retire TO live in seclusion for
the remainder of his days. He disap-
peared from the public view for n
time, but apparently he could find no
peace In inactivity, for soon afterward
he was again at work collecting money
In order to construct another airship.
NOW LIVING HUMBLY.
During the last few years of his life
he has been living very humbly on an
allowance made to him by wealthy
relatives, and has been inhabiting a
four-roomed cottage in remote VIII
lage in south Germany, where living IA
more than cheap. He succeeded in col
lecting the necessary funds for the
construction of another airshlp. and
lulS was iplllpltANAl III tIlt ldli Oh lnlb
year. Previous to his trial trip Count
Zeppelin declared that II he failed on
this occasion. he would terminate his
efforts by blowing out his brains
The first trial trip took place In Sep
TENDER, and like the corresponding trial
trip six years ago was a comparative
success But the following trips were
also like the corresponding trips six
years ago, comparative failures and the
apparatus sustained mishaps and the
steering gear failed to work efficiently.
Once more the trial trips have been
POSTPONED until next year. In order that
the lndomitable count may devote the
winter To celebrating his improve
ments. These trips were watched by
the king Of Wurtemberg and by dis
tingulshed company of expert aero
nauts.
II is a lamentabe fact to have to re-
cord that they passed unanimously an
unfaYorablc verdict on the creation OF
Count Zeppelin's inventive genius.
The airshlp according 10 their opinion,
is nothing more than balloon with
a superfluous apparatus attached 10 II,
which failed TO achieve the desired OBJ
feet. II IS practically certain that after
so years OF uneSampled perseverance,
Count Zeppelin Is doomed TO complete
failure.
There Is sonnet, ing unspeakahly trag-
ic IN the fate OF .his high minded arts
tocrat. After squandering his estates
and his fortune, after reducing his wife
10 restitution, and his only daughter
10 penury, and after having deprived
himself or all the good things OF this
life and thus transforming himself
from wealthy mngnate OF the land
into n beggar, dependent ON the char
ity of relatives he viii be compelled
TO confess that his life OF labor has
been spent IN vain and that his gray
hairs will sink into the grave In sOr-
might have been brilliant career IN
other spheres NJ activity.
RUDOLPH Won ELpHRERG