The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-04

DAY EVENING
anything Of the strange apparition and
attention riveted in the air were OBJ
livious Of passing automobiles and 9TH
er road traffic.
Goes Up 5000 Feet.
Over the island Of Reichenau, the
airship ascended to a height Of 5000
feet, but this was only for few min
utes. 1t came down to its previous
level to save gas, which escapes more
easily in the thin air Of the greater al
titudes. Had 1t not been for these
maneuvers 1t would have been impos-
sible to have kept up with the airship
in 80 horse power automobile. The
traveller in the air could easily have
outdistanced q car Of this power. Al
lowing for the time lost In maneuver-
ing the airship was proceeding at the
rate OF about 80 miles an hour. The
news OF the departure OF the airship
from Lake Constance and the direction
1t was taking, had. during these first
over the country and as 1t progressed
the spectators were more and more
numerous. The greetings were en-
thusiastic.
At Stein the Rhine valley widens
considerably, forming the lake Of ZelL
Z,
airship rose first, came down again to
an altitude of about 1000 feet and con-
tinued at that height until II again re-
entered the Rhine valley. not far from
the famous castle OF Hohenwiel
This stronghold. unconQuered for q
thousand years until the coming Of Ma
poleon today was q mute witness of
the marvellous achievement Of the Ma
poleon of the air. Over the old feudal
castle. the airship swept silent and
Ivy nj -
flashed their greetings to the intrepid
sailors of the air above.
Passes Over the Mountains.
There was a faint wind from the
northwest in the beginning which was
apparently quite powerless to in
fluence either the speed of the airship
or its course. This wind later changed
and blew from the southeast from
which direction it was helpful to the
the airship was quickening its pace
considerably, going at the rate of
probably 81 miles an hour. In the for
ward gondo1a are five men and in the
after gondola three members Of the
crew. One of the men from the for
passed Hohenweil was seen to ascend
a ladder and disappear in the great
body Of the ship.
Something may be wrong with one
Of the 16 small balloons filling the in
terror of the giant. but it is impossible
to ascertain The ship quickly disap-
peared behind the mountains, putting
an impossible barrier between herself
and a pursuing automobile; five min
utes later 1t was possible to sight her
again for an instant, floating smooth
ly along with silent stateliness and
majesty fully in keeping with the
tranquility of most beautiful sum-
mer day.
II the weather remains unchanged
as it promises. the airship undoubted-
ly will reach Mayence long before her
scheduled time and the count will
have ample leeway for his projected
return to the Lake of Constance by
way Of Metz and Stuttgart.
At Scaffhausen every point OF van
tage was taken. The whole city turned
out to give the airship welcome. The
surrounding hills and the roofs OF the
houses were crowded with enthusiastic
spectators. Hats, handkerchiefs and
hands were waved in mad welcome,
and the old fortress at Schaffhausen
thundered a greeting from its guns.
This was the signal prearranged to an
nounce to the citizens the advent of
the airship. The terrace like streets
afforded a fine view of the progress OF
the ship. The local band had been
playing as high up in the air as pos
sible, on a rocky precipice. overlook
ing the railway station and it played
as long as the airship was In sight
AS the long car sped over the rythmic
city to the drumming of its motors,
the people acclaimed it with a mighty
shout.
Hes coming"
HE is here!" they cried.
Crosses the Rhine.
They have witnessed an epoch
h,
wonder Of the performance is heard
from all sides. The people congratu-
late each other. strangers speaking
with strangers and all are proclaimfng
the wonder they have seen.
The airship swung over the falls of
the Rhine, and from the abyss nature
itself sent UP a tremendous, thunder
ing welcome to the man who had con-
uuered the air. Besides the roar of
the mighty falls the shouted greetings
of the people who were crowdDng the
roofs and streets, of Laufen were
puny.
Thousands of tourists crowded the
windows and the grounds OF the
Schweizerhof, the great hotel which
fianks the falls of the Rhine to witness
the spectacular fight. The effect Of
this flight on some of the people that
witnessed it was remarkable. Some
laughed wildly and apparently with
out control. OtneTS TdlSeO THEIR NoiCcS
in effectual cries of encouragement;
others wept and still others gazed
mutely at the apparition in the air. As
the airship turned bend in the river
beyond, Lauffen, an old man feeble,
white of beard and wrinkled of face
was crawling painfully to the top of a
hill. He reached the crest all out of
breath Just in time to see it disappear.
"Ah. 1 have seen It," he exclaimed.
He struggled to follow on in the direc-
ton the ship had disappeared. His
rpoarfoip I4o foffarod ona