Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-14
AIRSHIP MAKES
DOUBLE FLIGHT
KNABENSHUE TAKES MINING
MAGNATE WITH HIM
LUCKY SPECTATORS TREATED TO
SHOWER OF COIN
Both Ferris Balloons Expected to
Make Simultaneous Ascent Soon,
with View of Reaching
the Mississippi

Roy Knabenshue made two flights
from Chutes park yesterday afternoon.
| On the first he was accompanied by e.
Oscar Hart. president of the famous
Grubstake mine. who took sail of ten
minutes and came back to earth an en-
thusiast on the subject of aerial navi-
cation. Knabenshue's engineer, George
Deussler went up with him on the seq
ond trip, and they assembled to height
OF 1000 feet, which is the highest alti-
tude to which Knabenshue has taken
his dirigihle in Los Angeles. He steered
it against a strong wind at that height
and came back to the park as en-
thusiastic over the working of his air
ship as Hart was on his first trip.
"They told me it was the greatest
sport found, and 1t surely u.s." said
Hart as he climbed off the framework.
I'D certainly like to go to the camp on
that boat. There's nothing like it."
Don't you go fooling around Skidoo
with one of them things, Oscar" adj
Some bad man would certainly shoot
it up, and then you'd be down"
Knabenshue insisted that Hart be
strapped to the frame, as it is some
thing of a feat for a novice to ride on
the slender spruce struts, but when the
ship went up he found the precaution
unnecessary, as Hart was perfectly
self-possessed throughout the flight. He
followed Knabenshues instructions in
leaning forward and sideways for bet
ter steering of the ship, and repeatedly
waved his hat in answer to the shouts
of his friends.
How are you, PainIess?" he called to
a friend he recognized on the edge of
the crowd, when the airship passed over
the ball park for the fourth time. Hart
exercised the prerogative of a Nevada
millionaire to scatter money freely by
showering coin upon the spectators
when the ship crossed the park. As 1t
went up he dropped a greenback, which
caused several moments of painful
anxiety to the crowd of boys who
watched it's f1uttering.
On the second ascent Knabenshue
pointed the nose of the ship west and
sailed as far DIS Hoover street, making
an excellent test of his dirigible's sail
ing qualities. On the way he threw out
sand, and on going higher struck cur
rent at Union avenue which made the
ship stand still moment.
"Give her more speed, he said to
Deussler, and the engine was sent up
to 1000 revolutions a minute. The point
at the front end of the gas bag was
pushed back into the envelope until it
appeared lige a large hole in the bal
loon. But the propeller pulled the air.
ship forward, and at Hoover street
Knabenshue steered steadily around.
He came back literally with the wind
and crossed Chutes park almost at rail-
road speed. Coming down lower he
found calmer air and easily made one of
the graceful landings which bring
cheers from the crowd.
Il tell you she's the great ship
there's nothing to beat her. said
Knabenshue after he had tucked the
dirigibte away in the big barn, and as
it is the fourteenth he has built his
opinion should be heavier than air.
Double Ascension Planned
The next big aeronautic feat is likely
to be a double ascension of the Ferris
balloons, UNITED States" and Amer
ican," equipped for another attempt to
get across the desert and mountains.
Dick Ferris is convinced that the
theory of a feasible eastern journey
with racing balloons which led him to
bring the two race winners here was
proved by the flight across the Colorado
river made by Captain Mueller. AS he
has sunk something over $1,000 he
thinks he has spent enough to demon
trate the aeronautical possibilities of
Los Angeles, but he offers to donate
the use of the balloons and hydrogen
gas plant if some one else will fur
nish $500 to finance the undertaking.
Several of Ferris friends have taken
the matter up and hope to secure
enough voluntary subscriptions to
make another long distance flight.
Captain Mueller believes it is possible
to travel to the Mississippi river or be-
yond, and is staying in Los Angeles to
give his services for the trial.
Ferris will not state how much the
ascensions of the UNITED States and
American" cost him. THE world has
no use for a loser" he said last night.
Il am never Il loser; l don't believe in
that attitude. But I feel convinced
that transcontinental trip is pos
sibility, and If made from Los Angeles
1T will be the greatest sort of an adj
Vertisement for the city, especially If
accomplished in the winter.
ut ought, however. to be under
taken without regard to the necessity
of an admission fee, so that the balloon
need not be sent up until weather con-
ditions show a favorable day. If the
expense is dependent on the admis-
sions, then the manager must keep
faith with the crowd, but II undertaken
for the sport and science in it a delay
of a day or two will not matter.
Captain Mueller, in whom I have a
great deal of faith, has mapped out q
plan as a result of his local aScensions,
which, to my mind, makes entirely
feasible long trip. He knows the
currents and proposes to utilize them
as far as possible the first day, coming
down over night and keeping on in that
way to the Mississippi river or fur
Their
I'VE have learned a good deal about
ballooning on the trips attempted last
month. Now I'd like to see that
knowledge utilized, for T am sure 1t
will accomplish a long trip to the east.
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