The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1908-08-07
DIRIGIBLE BALLOON STARTS ON
TWENTY-FOUR HOUR
JOURNEY.
IS H0MEWARD BOUND
CROWDS GATHER IN EVERY TOWN
TO WATCH THE GREAT
AIRSHlP.

from its floating dock on the dark
green waters of Lake Constance early
this morning the great dirlgible air
ship of Count Zeppelin was sent away
for "a twenty-four hours journey in the
air to Mayence and return. Late to-
night the apex of the triangular flight
had been turned and the monster of the
air, with nose pointed southwark was
skies toward Friedrichshafen, where, II
is hoped the journey will end Wednes-
day.
The flight to Mayence, however was
not an uninterrupted one, for some.
thing went wrong with propeller
while the ship was speeding along
above the valley of the Rhine and
Count Zeppelin was compelled to bring
the airship down to the surface of the
river at Neckheim, three miles from
Maysnce. where repairs were effected.
The dirigible balloon again was sent
on high and the trip that probably will
prove record one was recommended
The quiet village and small towns
along the shores of Lake Constance
awoke this morning to find that the
great event for which they had waited
for weeks and months had occurred
Count Zeppelin had started on an
epoch-making journey. A majority of
the scant population of Friedrichshaf-
en-, however, despite the strict secrecy
Of the counts associates. got wind that
something was about to happen and
assembled before daybreak at MunZell
opposite the flowing balloon shed.
Z At 6:15 O'Clock the colossal ship of
the air began to move slowly and
emerged from the shed.
The airship lowered for a moment on
the surface of the lake, and then in a
voice which showed the habit of giving
commands, Count Zeppelin shouted:
Loose ALL" The four propelIers of
the machine. two fore and two aft. re.
sembling fish fins, began to sound their
drumlike melody and carried the craft
horizontally about 200 yards in the dir.
with bows turned toward the land.
Then 1t circled gracefully and headed
for Munzell.
The airship sped on in businesslike
manner.
A correspondent Of the Associated
Press followed the airship in an auto
mobile. but found it almost impossible
to keep up with it, as the balloon was
making more than forty miles an hour
motor cac was compelled to ascend
| hills, cross railroads and circumvent
other obstacles.
Near the island of Recenau, three and
a half miles northwest of Constance,
however. Count Zeppelin tested the
agility Of his craft with such success
| LDt 81, II, =
uncouthness which was apparent while
PIT was resting immovable outside the
shed on the lake gave place to the con
viction that nature had always In
tended 1t to sweep majestically through
the air.
Leaving the lake Count Zeppelin
threw a message from his balloon ad-
dressed tc his secretary at Friedrich
shafen, saying:
Thus far everything has gone we'll
Greetings to my family"
The count swept onward toward
Neuhasen out-distancing all the auto.
mobiles following his flight.
The occupants of the motor car
could, however, see him in the heights
circling over the Rhine falls which
seemed to thunder forth a welcome
from their depths. This was mingled
with the loud cheering of thousands OF
persons along the banks Of the Rhine
and was taken up by the sojOurners in
all the summer resorts along the river.
The progress OF the airship was
splendid and it was only after passing
Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. at both OF
which cities ovations were given It.,
that the balloon appeared to slacken
its speed. Then when the citizens
OF Mayence could see it plainly ap-
preaching the craft came to stop
above Mackenheim and slowly de
scended to the river. Everything
seemed outwardly to work smoothly
There was no hurry on board the pla'
forms and the craft alghted in the
center of the stream with the bottoms
of the fore and aft platforms gently
touching the water
At 2:4o p. m. the airship rose again
from the rapidly flowing Rhine and
scared momentarly over the spot
where her injury had been repaired,
then turned her bows toward Mavence
where she arrived at II O'Clock and
passed over the gas lighted city almos,
beyond the view of the populace which
had gathered in the streets expecting
to witness the passage Of the bal
loon.
Quickly the airship left the town be
hind, soaring onward for short dis.
tance. then after executing a few man.
euvers the craft was turned homeward.
If the airshiD maintains the speed at
which it was travelling today it should
arrive at Friedrichshafen tomorrow
morning.
Every man. woman and child on its
route witnessed the flight OF the great
airship with absorbing interest.