The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
BALLOONS In BATTLE
War Department After Fly
ING Machine.
FIRST AMERICAN INVENTION
Was Brought to the Attention Of
Congress In 1S22-The Inventor,
Thoroughly Mastered the Intricate
Problem of Aerial Navigation.
Rx RrnoLPn DE zApP.


That the balloon and airship are bound
10 play most serious factor IN tmes of
war is fully realized by the War Depart
ment and in keeping with this impress
sion, its authorities have invited the SUBJ
mission Of aerial machines for a practical
test.
The contest IS open 20 all comers, the
successful inventor to be awarded the
privilege Of making experiments at the
governments expense. The time for the
submission Of diugihle balloons expired
last Wednesday, and there is quite a col
lection OF the craft in the hands OF the
War Department The date set for the
closing of the submission of airships
heavier than air is February l. The ma
chimes viii be subjected TO practical tests
at Fort Myer before the final awards are
made
1t is probably not generally known tnat
this matter of flying machines was
brought 20 the attention OF Congress as
early as 1922 or Monday March 25 1922.
/ Representative Minor Of Pennsylvania.
/ presented 10 the House the following peti-
ton. which was read for information:
James Bennett, a mathematician OF
the city OF Philadelphia. 10 the honorable
/ the Senate and House OF Representatives
of America in Congress assembled most
/ respectfully shoWeth. That you- petit
toner having invented a machine by
which man can fly through the air
/ can soar 70 any height-stecr in any di-
/ rectIon-can start from any place, and
alight without risk or injury; and, where
/ as a like machine has never been in
iyented in any country or age Of the world,
so as TO be applied TO purposes Of prac-
/ teal utility. and as lt is more than prob
/ able that artificial flying would not FOR
/ a thousand years to come be brought 30
/ the same degree OF perfection had uoJ
your petitioner under Providence accom-
plished 1t. and as 1t must be evident 70
/ all that letters patent would be OF little
I use 70 the inventor in consequence Of
I various notifications or Improvements
/ which might lee made, and which never
would have been thought OF had not the
way first been opened by your petition
/ er. lie therefore solicits n special act of
+ Congress Of the United States to secure
/ 20 him and his heirs for the term OF forty
years. or for such other term as IN their
wisdom may be deemed Just the right Of
I steering flying machines through that
portion of earths atmosphere which
/ presses on the United States. or so far
as their jurisdiction may extend. BY
granting your petitioners request the
honor of the invention shall be conferred
/ on the United States. J. Bennett 4. and
/ n, Philadelphia, February 13 lS-2."
After the petition had been read Mr..
+ Minor moved 90 refer il q the Commit
tee on Judiciary. but t.is motion was op-
/ posed by Nr. Sargent on the ground that
/ his committee did not undertake 20 soar
into regions so high; that the duties Of
I the Judiciary COMMITTEES were nearer the
earth. Mr. Walworth thought the petit
ton should be referred TO the Committee
on Roads and Canals. But the House re-
fused TO do this. The petition was finally
laid on the table. About a week later
% be correct, the lst OF April, Repre-
sentative Keyes presented q petition from
David T. Lee, Of Philadelphia, IN which
the petitioner claimed 20 be the original
inventor OF the flying machine he men
toned in q petition from James Bennett
Lee ia his petition prayed that no right
or privileges may be granted 10 said Ben
nett on account Of said invention but
that Congress grant him U.eel exclusive
right and privilege Of navigating the at
mosphere either with flying machines or
with uavigabIe balloons throughout the
United States. The two petitions were
referred 10 a special committee, but there
IS no record that the committee ever
made a report on the merits of the flying
machines. If Congress had taken the
ar.
but that we would by this time have
been flying through the air instead OF
making speed with automobiles.
Ballooning is fun Of excitement. par
ticulaTly when the conveyance IS used in
times Of war. During the Franco -Prus-
sian war, in l67o-1. there occurred in
broad daylight, and in full view of Paris,
one of the strangest duels on record.
fight with pistols in the sky. A French
war balloon, the Intreplde was floating
IN the air about 5000 meters above the
fort at Cbarenton. Presently there ap-
peared on the horizon another balloon.
also flying the French colors.
The second balloon, borne upon a higher
current, came up rapidly, until within
short distance of the Intrepide. Then it
descended to the same level. and az II
came close the spectators below were
amazed TO hear a series Of sharp reports. !
The sounds were at first thought to be |
demonstrations Of victory or signals. until
one o. the aeronauts was seen to fling |
himself into the network Of his balloon |
and cling 10 its sides. During this time !
the other balloonist continued to dis |
charge shots from his pistol.
The IBtrepide was pierced in several |
places, and descended rapidly To the
spectators below the scene was iDcom- |
prehensible. until suddenly they gazed |
upon the victorious balloon they saw the
French flag removed and black and |
white standard foated in its place The |
CRY Went ID Treason. It's a Prussian /
balloon. The Prussian ballOOnist has de- |
strOyed the Intrepide." The French bal
loon. however, was not destroyed As Il /
descended rapidly toward the earth, the /
aeronaut, climbing into the network. /
quietly repaired the rents made by his |
adversarys well-aimed bullets, and. cast /
ing out ballast. rose again to renew the /
contest He fired many times at the /
Prussian balloon. making several large /
rents in the silken bag.
The gas escaped rapidly. and the invad- /
ing balloon sank with terrific velocity i
toward the earth. the wind carrying il /
beyond the city walls. detachment OF /
Uhlans. who had been following the /
course Of the contest, were on the plain 1
and at once rushed forward and sur
rounded the Prussian balloonist. He was
carried off by them; but although evil
dently severely injured no particulars
regarding him were ever learned.
During the siege Of Paris a large num-
Der of balloons Gin all sixty-four). most of
them specially made for the occasion,
were sent up, and in this way there es-
capped from the beleaguered city not less